Difference between Graphic Design and Illustration

Both graphic design and illustration are significant forms of visual communication, and they frequently require the same tools and expertise because of this people often get confused between these two terms. How and why they are made are the primary differences between illustration and graphic design. Graphic design is typically regarded more as a commercial art. Most people consider illustrations to be fine art. Most of the time producing graphic design has a business objective in mind whereas Illustrations are closer to works of art. Graphic designers use strong design concepts to convey an organization’s or company’s views, while Illustrators often create art for their own personal aesthetic.

Graphic Design vs Illustration

What is Graphic Design?

Graphic designing is a way of expressing ideas in visual form. It can also be defined as a practice of communicating one’s ideas and messages through visuals. A thorough selection of colors, typefaces, images, symbols, and other design components is made in graphic design in order to meaningfully enhance the visuals. The foundation of graphic design is frequently visual identity, which uses logos, typography, color schemes, photographs, and style guidelines to convey a brand’s essence and emotion while maintaining consistency across all other designs. Graphic Design sometimes also refers to “Communication Design”. Graphic Designers work in both print and digital media. They produce a wide range of materials, including digital billboards, digital flyers, business cards, product packaging, magazine ads, catalogs,  advertisements, motion graphics, website design, and email marketing.

What is Illustration?

Illustration can be defined as a form of art in which one’s story, message or text is depicted visually. Illustrations can be realistic or abstract in style, It can also be simple or very complex. In most of the cases illustrations are widely used in books, magazines, posters, animations, medias and comics. Illustrations comes in both medium, that is in sketch form and in digital form. Illustrations are also used as a decorative elements in graphic designs. Illustrators mostly works for themselves and with their own imagination and ideas.

Difference between Graphic Design and Illustration

	Graphic Design	Illustration
Description	It is concentrated on the overall layout and the many elements of the design.	It is centered on producing particular visuals.
How it Works?	Animation, text, and other design components are used in graphic designs to create a coherent statement.	On their own, illustrations convey a cohesive idea.
Nature	Quickly changing, applying design components, following trends, and utilizing technological expertise in digital graphic design.	Gradually changing yet utilizing ancient techniques for arts and crafts. Occasionally using elements of digital design.
Goal	Deliver the brand’s or the client’s message as precisely as possible.	Idea or message should be communicated for the consumer to understand.
Components	Using typography, images, copywriting, and design to communicate ideas or information.	Using fine art mediums like painting and drawing, one can create artwork that tells a story.
Tools	Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Pixlr, Affinity Photo, Affinity Design etc.	All of the drawing, painting, and sketching tool suites from Adobe, ArtRage, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate and Photoshop.
Skills Required	Copywriting, using graphic vectors for operation, UX/UI or site design, and more.	Highly specialized artistic skill sets, such as painting, collage, and sketching, either by hand or digitally.
Used in	Corporate spaces for magazine layout, typography, branding, and other business graphics.	Creative spaces for the visual representation of a concept, sometimes with textual support or utilized by companies that use graphic design components.

Conclusion

Graphic design and illustration are similar in nature but different in application. Both of these techniques are used in order to communicate a person thought to another person. The technicalities of these are distinct and that creates a difference between these two.