Graphic design guide
Scope of the guide
graphic designer are two titles that largely describe the same profession in Turkey today; The real difference between them is not in the words, but in the level of decision and responsibility one takes on a project. It is not a reliable criterion to distinguish one person as a person who only implements and the other a person who only produces ideas. To choose the right specialist, it is necessary to compare the role, experience in similar work and delivery responsibility.
I graduated from Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Graphic Design Department and I have been in this profession for more than 19 years. I use both titles when describing my own work. In this guide, I explain where the words come from, how they are used in business life, and which ones you, as an employer, should focus on in your ad or when looking for a designer.
Short answer: the difference is in the role, not the title
Two people may have the same title, but one can only adapt ready-made designs to different sizes, while the other can establish the entire visual system of a brand from scratch. The opposite is also possible: someone using the title of "graphic designer" can develop a campaign idea, while someone using the title of "graphic designer" can mainly prepare the production file.
Therefore, these three questions provide more information than the title:
- What decisions did this person make in the project?
- Which tasks did he carry out according to a direction determined by someone else?
- What usable files did it deliver in the end?
The story of words: graphic artist, graphic artist, graphic designer
Graphics shares the same root with the professional names that came into Turkish from Western languages; In German, the word "Graphics" is still used for this profession. For many years in Turkey, the person who prepared posters, advertisements, book covers and packaging in agencies, printing houses and publishing houses was generally called a graphic designer. Since the word grew up intertwined with printing culture, it is heard more frequently in printing and production environments today.
The expression graphic designer is the English equivalent of "graphic designer". It is often stated that the term "graphic design" in English was used by American designer William Addison Dwiggins in the 1920s. This title also came to the fore as the expression "graphic design" became widespread in the names of university departments in Turkey and the business world began to work with international titles. As web, mobile and social media jobs expanded the scope of the profession, the emphasis on "designer" became more preferred.
Graphic artist can be encountered in everyday speech. It would not be right to say that it is the wrong word, but when looking for professional services or writing an ad, saying "graphic designer" or "graphic designer" describes your need more clearly.
In recent years, titles such as “visual designer”, “creative designer” and “digital designer” have been added to these. These are often not a new profession, but names of the same profession that emphasize a specific field of work.
Scope of work: what do the two titles mean in practice?
In some workplaces, titles are deliberately divided according to task distribution. In these institutions, "graphic designer" mostly refers to layout, adaptation, pre-press preparation and mass production in accordance with the existing identity. “Graphic designer” describes the person who carries out the entire work from brief to concept to delivery.
However, this distinction is not an industry rule, it is the institution's own preference. In another company, the same roles may be written with exactly the opposite titles. In small businesses and freelance work, the two parties are almost always united in the same person.
It should also be added that implementation also requires decisions. Re-arranging a product description that does not fit into the price list without compromising the readability of the table requires at least as much design knowledge as producing the initial concept. Considering practice as “work done without thinking” means ignoring half of the profession. I have listed all the duties of a graphic designer in detail in the What does a graphic designer do guide.
Level of responsibility and decision
Looking at decision level rather than title is a healthier way to compare two people. You can think of design decisions in roughly three layers:
- Implementation decisions: Correctly moving a determined visual language to a new size, page or product. Resolving text overflows, cropping images, complying with printing conditions.
- System decisions: Defining the page layout for a catalog, cross-measure rules for a campaign, or components for an interface. Making rules that others will follow.
- Directional decisions: Determining the general visual approach of a brand or campaign, gathering the work of different experts in a single line. This is usually the art director's responsibility.
The decision level is about experience and seniority, not title. A beginning designer mostly works at the first layer; As experience increases, one gets closer to system and direction decisions. I also explained this progress in the graphic designer, art director and creative seniority guide.
Education: does the diploma determine the title?
In Turkey, this profession can be entered in several ways: graphics and photography departments of vocational high schools, two-year associate degree programs, four-year undergraduate programs, courses and self-learning. Department names may vary as “graphics”, “graphic design”, “graphic design” or “visual communication design”.
None of these automatically give a person a specific title. Graphic artist and graphic designer are not among the legally protected titles like medicine or architecture. Someone with a bachelor's degree can introduce themselves as a graphic designer, while someone who has started the profession with a course can use the title of graphic designer. Educational background helps you understand the foundation, but it is examples of work in the field and role in those jobs that demonstrate expertise.
How are titles used in job postings?
In job postings, variations such as "Graphic Writer", "Graphic Designer", "Graphic Design Specialist", "Visual Designer" and "Junior" or "Senior" prefixes are seen side by side. The ad title usually reflects the company's habit. The real information is in the task list.
| Mission statement in the announcement | The role it usually refers to |
|---|---|
| Adapting existing designs to different sizes, pre-press preparation | Production-intensive, application-focused role |
| Page layout of catalogues, brochures and presentations | Role requiring editorial and layout experience |
| Creating corporate identity, developing campaign ideas | Role making concept and system decisions |
| Producing regular content for social media | Rapid mass production and digital media knowledge |
| Managing a team, checking the visual consistency of work | Senior designer or art director |
If you're a job seeker, match this list of tasks to your portfolio instead of getting hung up on the title. If you are an employer, clearly state the duties and expected deliverables in your advertisement rather than the title.
Comparison table
The table below summarizes how the two titles are most commonly perceived in the industry and what this perception actually corresponds to. The middle two columns describe general trends, not hard-and-fast rules.
| Criterion | Frequently described with the expression "Graphics" | Frequently described with the expression “graphic designer” | What to actually look for? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin of the word | Print culture, occupational name passed down from European languages | University department names equivalent to “Graphic designer” | Origin does not determine work quality |
| Common use | Printing house, publishing house, production-oriented teams | Agency, in-brand team, digital product teams | Environment and projects in which the person works |
| Focus | Application, layout, preparation for printing | Concept, visual system, consistency across media | What decisions he made in the portfolio |
| Decision level | Applying the given direction correctly | Establishing the direction or system | Seniority and responsibility in similar job |
| Typical output | Adaptations, print files, layouts | Identity system, campaign main visual, interface | List of delivered files |
| Education | Vocational high school, associate degree, course, master-apprentice | Undergraduate, associate degree, course | Not training, but work examples shown |
| Fee | Not dependent on title | Not dependent on title | Experience, field, responsibility and workload |
Two roles in the same catalog business: who does what?
Consider a product catalogue. On the one hand, there are system decisions such as cover approach, color and font system, template of product pages and the layout that separates product groups. On the other hand, there is the placement of hundreds of product information into this template, resolving extended names, cropping images, processing price changes and preparing the file in accordance with the printing house's conditions.
In a large team, these two sides may be assigned to different people: one builds the system, the other implements it. In the catalog work I prepared for Pedaş, the two sides converge on me. This showed me that if the system is installed without considering the problems that will be encountered during implementation, even the best cover will fall apart on the dense inner pages. Instead of considering the two roles superior to each other, it is necessary to accept that your project needs both.
One person in a small business, separate roles in a large team
Small and medium-sized businesses usually work with a single designer. This person is expected to both establish brand direction and train daily adaptations. In such a case, the title debate loses its meaning; What you're looking for is someone who can work on both layers.
In large agencies and corporate teams, separation of roles provides efficiency. An art director determines the direction, one or more designers carry this direction to different media, and the prepress specialist prepares the files for production. Here too, titles vary from institution to institution; The job description should be taken as basis.
Which one should you look for as an employer?
The title question will resolve itself if you start from your need:
| You need | Experience you should be looking for | How to write in an ad or message? |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptation of existing designs to different sizes | Application and file preparation | “Adaptation and printing file suitable for existing identity” |
| New brand identity | Designer who established an identity system | “Logo and corporate identity system design” |
| Multi-page catalog | Editorial design and information dense layout | “Product catalog page system and preparation for printing” |
| Product packaging | Packaging and production conditions information | “Packaging design and expansion files for the product series” |
| Regular social media content | Digital media and mass production | “Monthly social media visual production” |
| Web or mobile interface | Interface and user flow experience | “UI design, components and delivery to developer” |
| Campaign idea and team guidance | Art director experience | “Campaign visual direction and application control” |
You can use the right graphic designer selection guide to compare candidates by portfolio, scope of proposal and work method.
Career-wise: is there a “transition” from graphic artist to designer?
There is no formal transition; because there is no official step between the two titles. What is actually happening is the growth of responsibility. A designer who starts with implementation progresses over time to establishing a system and then determining direction. Even if your title remains the same, your portfolio should show this progression.
In your CV and portfolio, rather than the title, be clear about: which decisions you made on which projects, which part you shared with someone else in the team, and which files you delivered. A narrative that leaves the employer guessing the title is more valuable than which title you choose.
Frequently asked questions about graphic designer
Do graphic designer refer to the same profession?
In today's Turkey, largely yes. Some organizations use the two titles for different job descriptions, but this is not a hierarchy that works everywhere. To decide, look at the person's job description and role in the portfolio, not the title.
Is there a salary difference between a graphic designer and a graphic designer?
His salary is not the title; It determines the experience, field of expertise, responsibility undertaken, city and way of working. For this reason, there may be significant differences between two people with the same title. I have also discussed the factors affecting the salary in the graphic designer salaries guide.
Which title is used most in job postings?
Both titles are widely used and vary from company to company. "Graphic designer" can be seen more frequently in digital and corporate jobs, and "graphic designer" can be seen more frequently in printing and production-oriented jobs. Read the job listing rather than the ad title.
Is it wrong to call yourself a graphic designer?
It is used and understood in everyday language. However, when looking for a professional service, writing an ad or introducing yourself, saying "graphic artist" or "graphic designer" explains the need more clearly.
Can a graphic designer design a logo?
Of course, if he has relevant experience. Logo design depends on identity design experience, not title. Ask to see not only logo presentations in the portfolio, but also how the logo is used in a small size, in a single color and on different materials.
Do a printing house graphic designer and an agency graphic designer do the same job?
They share a common foundation, but their daily work is different. Graphic designers working in the printing house usually check the incoming files, edit them and prepare them for printing; It is a fast and technical job. The designer at the agency spends more time on the concept and adaptation side of campaigns and brand works. Experience gained in one medium pays off in another: the designer who knows print encounters fewer surprises.
Should I introduce myself as a graphic artist or graphic designer in my CV?
It is a practical way to choose the expression used by the advertisement you are applying for. More importantly, it is to show with concrete projects in which areas you work and what decisions you make under your title. You can include both statements in your profile to be found in search engines and platforms.
Why are the offers of two people with the same title different?
One quote may cover only the main artwork, the other may also cover adaptations and production preparation. The extent of text, photos, source files and revisions also changes the price. Compare the same job listing instead of the title.
Is diploma or portfolio more important?
The two give different information. Education shows the learning history, and portfolio shows examples of practice and decisions. Instead of relying on a single criterion, listen to how the person solves a task that is close to your needs.
Do you have a design project?
This guide provides information about education and profession. You can share your existing content and delivery expectations for your design project.
- Communication purpose of the project
- Mediums to be used
- Needed deliveries
