WHAT IS GRAPHIC DESIGN ?

Graphic design to put it simply is taking the ordinary and making it appealing, through a range of methods, including but not limited to the creative use of type, colour, images, spacing and problem solving.
Graphic designers portray a message visually, be it in an advertisement, poster, magazine, or text book, graphics is used in everything.
Since graphics is the art of visual communication, the designer has to know what the message is before they can portray it, this is so they can create something appealing and unique, yet suitable, simple, not over bearing and easy to understand, this is where readability and legibility become apparent.
The main job of a graphic designers is not just to create something appealing or even sell able, its to transfer knowledge in the simplest fastest way possible.
A good example of transferred knowledge appropriately would be road signs, they are everywhere and we all recognize them because they are all so similar, though the use of colours they allow us to register different levels of importance and even fear, danger and warnings are most commonly block colours of red, white and black. Where as less dominant colours, are helpful and there to assist but nnt important on an everyday commute, like directional signs would normally be square and green, not intimidating and not grabbing your attention, but they are still there when needed. Graphic designers must know levels of appropriateness, a oiled up model would be used as attention grabbing visuals in an advertisement for say alcohol, not an advertisement for a toddlers cartoon, so appropriateness and knowing the consumer and client are all crucial elements when creating anything.
Knowing who and what to advertise is only part of graphic design, i think object placement is a major factor that is sometimes heavily over looked, yes through the use of type, colour and styles you can visually communicate your intended message, but how much, how little and where everything goes is important. This is where readability and legibility come in, for example if there i too much a client will just look away, not bothering to read everything, and if there is too little, perhaps its so uneye catching the client may never see it, and if they do, they wont have that same physiological effect that makes them want to know more or be interested enough in it to retain the message, a way to help retain a message on a company or specific object would be to brand it, using unique type, logos and more, so that like the road signs, when the clients sees that brand reoccurring they are more familiar with it and would buy or read it sooner than a weaker branded item.