Compare areas of expertise and ways of working
Compare areas of expertise and ways of working
Brand designers
Brand designers develop the identity mark and usage guidelines, helping different touchpoints feel consistent.
Publication and packaging designers
These designers work with dense information, product variants, physical dimensions and print preparation.
Digital product designers
Digital product designers focus on user flow, screen states, interface components, and handover to the developer.
Graphic designers can specialize in different areas within the same profession: brand identity, packaging, publication design, advertising or digital interface. For this reason, it should not be assumed that every designer does every job in the same scope, just by looking at the title. In this guide, I explain the difference between the roles and how you can determine the appropriate expertise for your project; This is not a designer ranking or directory of people.
Designers working in the field of brand identity
When creating a new brand, color, typography and usage rules are as important as the logo. When reviewing a portfolio in this area, look for the small-scale appearance of the sign, its use of single colors, and its consistency across different materials. A strong presentation visual alone does not show that all the application rules have been solved. Editing the new brand and the existing identity are different tasks.
Designers working in publishing and packaging
Catalog, magazine or brochure design requires the ability to edit long content. Product groups, page flow, table and visual relationships are evaluated together. In packaging design, surface, folding, product types and the manufacturer's technical template come into play. In both areas, production file preparation is a broader responsibility than presentation mock-up.
UI/UX and digital product designers
In a web or mobile application, how the user completes a task is important. Sign-in, empty states, error, loading and different screen widths should be evaluated. Just a few beautiful screens doesn't mean the product flow is complete. Preparing a file in a tool like Figma and establishing the correct flow are different skills. Collaboration with the developer and component layout should also be asked during selection.
How do the art director and designer work together?
While the art director evaluates the visual direction and the consistency of different productions, the designer carries this aspect into concrete outputs. In small teams, one person can take on both roles. Large campaigns may require different roles such as photographer, copywriter, motion graphics specialist and developer. Consider team size not as a measure of prestige, but in conjunction with the tasks required by the job.
How do my areas of work fit together?
As Selçuk Aker, I work in the fields of brand identity, print communication and digital interface. Pedaş's logo, catalogue, packaging and exhibition graphics are examples of using different expertise together for the same brand. Yatcim website and ERP Software and Danone interfaces are my work on the digital side. You can review My portfolio selection and evaluate the works that match your needs.
One designer or multiple experts?
It may be practical to work directly with a single designer on jobs that require a common visual language and whose capacity is manageable. It may be necessary to separate tasks if independent specializations or multiple concurrent deliverables are required. Make the decision based on the number of jobs, technical needs and schedule. Compressing every service to a single person or establishing an unnecessarily large team may not be the right start.
In the Guide to comparing designers you can find concrete questions you can use in the interview. For the scope of working with me, you can go to my graphic designer profile.
Frequently asked questions about graphic designers
Do all graphic designers do UI/UX design?
No. Digital product design requires separate experience. Besides screen samples, also ask about the flow, status, and delivery approach to the developer.
Can a designer create both a logo and packaging?
Yes, if the designer has experience in both areas. Consider not only the logo presentations in the portfolio, but also the packaging samples applied to the production surface.
Is it possible to work with an independent designer instead of an agency?
Yes. If the scope and capacity needs of the project are appropriate, work can be done directly. It should be determined at the beginning who will have the tasks that require additional expertise.
Is the program used by the designer sufficient for selection?
No. Knowledge of the tool is important, but the rationale for visual decisions, file organization, and its role in similar projects provides a more comprehensive assessment.
Preparation for the first meeting
Share your requirements and existing content so we can agree on the design scope, responsibilities and deliverables.
- What areas of expertise do you need?
- Work to be undertaken by your internal team
- Single project or ongoing collaboration expectation
