Graphic Design
Graphic design could be thought of as a means of communication as it presents to the viewer, visually, a wealth of information regarding a subject. In the same ways as other forms of design, graphic design covers both the process of the design and the final design creation.
Graphic design is an ancient form of design, and spans many centuries, going as far back as when man first wrote on cave walls! Their has been a recent 'explosion' in visual communication over the 20th and 21st centuries and various forms of art have been seen be become more merged than ever, including graphic art, fine art and that used for advertising.
Graphic design is used whenever there is a need for a piece of text or imagery to have a 'creative twist'. Nowadays this has even been applied to multimedia design e.g. that used interactively. We use graphic design in an administrative field. For example, on road signs, office memos or even instruction manuals. When used in this way, they improve the readability of the document via pictures or a logo, and thus help the reader to absorb the subject matter.
Of course, a significant use of graphic design is in advertising and this is method to which we probably think of first and foremost. In this way, graphic design plays a substantial role in the branding of a product or service and can help to build a company's identity.
Graphic design is also used in entertainment. It has a huge part in the film industry, novels and theatre design, where it helps to set the scene and create the mood of the subject it represents.