Graphic design is an artistic discipline that visually translates an idea, a message or information. Graphic elements such as typographic characters, shapes, colours, photos and drawings are used, combined and laid out so as to create a whole that makes sense. We are as such surrounded by graphic design: a poster announcing an event, defending an idea in public space. The layout of a book, of a newspaper hierarchizes and organizes contents for a more comfortable, more accurate comprehension. Type design also affects the quality of the experience of reading a text. The structure of a web page guides the user’s eyes and moves them to the highlighted contents. Signage systems in public spaces help the users find their way, without having to know the premises or the language. Corporate identities, branding make it easier to recognize a brand at first sight.

Graphic design is a discipline that requires creativity, good knowledge of semiology ( study of communication systems using signs), rigor, skills and knowledge in  printing techniques and coding and the ability to listen so as to follow through with the creation of visual media starting from the expression of the need for the latter, through the creation and up to the production. The notion of context is present everywhere since the  result is strongly influenced by the target audience, the budget and also other “graphic” factors such as type face, colours, dimensions, etc.

Graphic design follows the development of new techniques of printing and diffusion. In the early 20^th century, graphic production followed and also supported the development in industrial production: advertising by means of posters, the development of the press, the rise of pocket books, etc. Throughout the 20^th century, technological progress has broadened the scope of image and text processing. The rise of digital technologies has also led graphic design to develop on dematerialised carriers of all sizes, such as computers, cell phones, allowing for an exploration of movement, depth or even translating instantaneous data.