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http://www.beyondgraphic.org

This site encourages debate and review of the professional title of "graphic designer" within the global graphic design community. Today's graphic designer has moved beyond graphic. The term "graphic" fails to accurately describe our profession to the business community and the public. We should consider replacing it with a more relevant, accurate description of what we do today. Why?

To make my personal view on this subject clear, I think that the sentiments are well-placed, but the diagnosis is weak and therefore the solution is flawed.

I completely agree that

"We have accumulated so many terms - old and new - that people in our own industry don't understand what we do, yet alone our clients."

"The term "graphic" limits the advancement of our industry."

I would humbly suggest that most clients are not that stupid, and with some experience they can learn to tell the differences between good and bad designers, and between professional and unprofessional designers.

But I have to say that the site is definitely thought-provoking, in a way that is useful to our community. So have a read, and make up your own mind.

Cheers, ALPT

"I think graphic designer is correct, the problem is that our industry is not regulated and therefore anyone is allowed to call themselves a graphic designer. Perhaps we could look at this angle as an association istead.

Thus, the title is degraded and undervalued when your client's accountant's 15-year-old daughter 'designed' a logo that they would like you to get to print."

"The umbrella term graphic design loosely describes what millions of creative individuals do. it is an approximation but its a name thats here to stay and rightly so.

For the design disipline to be coherant and respected by the business world (which is where we have to survive people) designers should be consistant with what they call themselves rather than apply there skills to their job titles.

Trying to win over clients this way can misinform people and can be damaging to fellow designers.

I am a graphic designer with this skillset and this is what I can do for you. This is more appropriate than to come up with a term that still does not describe everything that you do.

Designer have to be adaptable and skills come and sometimes become less relevant. Markers anyone?

different clients will need different skills and most designers have mixed skills at various levels. Why limit yourself by calling yourself one thing? If your a specialist you can say so: graphic designer specialist in.......

I think these ideas keep everone on the same pages of the phone book listings. it also increases the potential share of clients. In addition designers are still competitive because the term graphic design + is no longer disguising what a designer can do better that others. or hiding that particular skill some client is after.

This should have benefits for everone in this field"

"VISUAL COMMUNICATOR"

This is what I have (secretly) been calling myself for some time. I too called myself a Graphic Designer. (But I started life as a Commercial Artist). But I'm content with "Visual Communicator"....for now. But Creative Communicator is starting to sound good too ; )"

"I make "pretty pictures" - at least that's how my job title was announced in front of 20 engineers and project leaders at my place of employment today.

No wonder I get no respect and a minimum wage."

"I weigh in with the old commercial artist term. Or graphic artist. Or graphic designer. I think they're all fine terms for what we do. Are plumbers now water facilitators? I think the term serves well and I can't see an overwhelming need to change it.

If the public doesn't understand what a designer does, then the fault lies with the design community. Graphic design, after all, is about communication and if we aren't communicating our message clearly, then we should address that. I'm intrigued by the new direction of the world design community (an example was the Vancouver design conference this fall). Maybe we all need to broaden our horizons and market ourselves appropriately.

The name, though, I think still works and doesn't need to be changed. I think it's integral to change the public perception instead of changing the name of the vocation."

"How about "Graphic Designer". Call me silly, but what do we really do? We design graphics, that's what we do. Some of us design publications, some of us create web sites, some of us make incredible 3D animations for film and tv, some of us conceive identities for business, some of us even do all of the above and even more. All are graphics, all are designed and alll are created by people like you and me, graphic designers."

"I tend to term myself a "Media Services Consultant" as this describes what I do in a broad sense while giving some idea. Most people that I've introduced myself to in this way usually catch on to what it means, but it also allows for further discussion as to some of the things that I can do for them. "Media" is everything that communicates something, whether it be a website or a piece of paper or a poster. "Media Services" are things that are done to media whether it be drawing, creation of a poster/brand/website/business card/TVC etc. "Consultant" means that I can go from concept development, to the actual process of the service to providing the entire solution. This description is a little vague, I know, but it seems to encapsulate the entire service provided. The business name also does not say "Graphic Design" or even "Design", but "Communications". Another broad but encompassing term that gives me flexibility to change as the world and the market changes."

"I think we should call them 'miracle workers' at 5:30pm Friday when they have to stay back until 11, 'nuts' when the computer blows up for no apparent reason or the printer mucks things up, and 'wankers' when they start talking about how good they are."

"Aesthetics Expert

This is the only title I think could obfuscate the point more... I love getting the "so what do you do for a living?" question, then saying "designer". "What do you design?" They ask. "Oh, all sorts of things really." I say. "So like pretty pictures and stuff, huh?" They expectorate. [Me smacking forehead against wall]"

"I think most of you people need to get over yourselves and be content with the fact that you are doing what you love doing."

"Visual Consultant"

"The title Graphic Designer should be change to Design Executive."

"I lived in a share house for 6 months with a exchange student that was constantly bugging me about doing another uni course. I kept telling her that I've studied for three years and am quite happy in my current job as a graphic designer. One day she just blurted out, 'Why don't you study some more? It must be SO boring just designing graphs all day!!'

Needless to say I got out my portfolio and made it clear that making up pie graphs in Word is not part of my job description..."

"This has been said before in other postings, but I'll point it out again:

The biggest hurdle here is that we still haven't agreed whether the title "graphic designer" is an all-encompassing term for anyone who makes a career out of visually rendered design (the official AGDA definition in a nutshell), or a specialist title for a particular sector of the design industry - in particular, digital media design. The latter seems to be the assumption made by most postings on this site.

We must remember the diversity of application in the commercial sector. It ain't all about corporate image design and websites."

"I personally do not have a problem with the term graphic designer. Although I am open to discussion on the matter. Certainly there are some good and valid points made on the byondgraphic website.

However, I don't see why we need to let "graphic design" be such a literal definition. If graphic designers are doing more than picture and text based material well so be it. I always find it mildly amusing that people argue that even the broader industry does not know what a graphic designer does and yet they continue to refer to "us" as graphic designers while trying to make their point.

Furthermore, if a client does not know what you can offer them, then how is that the industry's fault? And people want to call "us" communication designers!

Taking this a step further I would think it incorrect to state that nobody knows what a graphic designer is, or does, there is a level of recognition there, no matter how minor. So, to change our label now could create even more confusion. Again, is this the best way for us to communicate who we are and improve our level of recognition? Why not simply communicate better as to who we are and what we do, rather than coining a trendy new label and reinventing the wheel.

One of my previous employers labelled themselves "visual communicators", which was great, we thought to ourselves, "yeah that sounds pretty good" and yet after a few years we reverted back to the term "graphic designers" becuase our clientele could better understand what we did by describing ourselves as such.

Parallels to lawyers and accountants is nice, but does anyone really think we will achieve genuine parity with these professions? Like it or not, a business can start and survive without our input. They may not last as long or be as successful as they could be, but for instance, the tax man won't come chasing them if they haven't lodged their corporate identity papers every year.

I think that graphic designer as a term is still okay, although I am prepared to be convinced that its not, but I'm not yet! We are a relatively young profession it will take time to achieve a place, or acceptance, among our professional peers and clientele.

In the interests of being a little controversial it seems to me that some people who wish to change the term graphic designer have evolved to be more than graphic designers. Which is great by the way. So despite being individually successful there seems to be a need by a person, or business, to still wish to identify with graphic design. Why? Businesses grow, people's skill sets develop, there is nothing wrong with that. Just as there is nothing wrong with being a graphic designer.

I would argue that for the most part graphic designer is a perfectly acceptable and appropriate term. For those of us who can do more, well here's your chance to make yourself stand out from the crowd and create your own business niche. Don't let me hold you back."

"I think what is being said about changing the title of "graphic designer" to something more appropriate is a good idea.

Before I began studying Graphic Design I thought it was all about designing business cards and brochures. I have since found that we do a whole lot more of that and these days I think clients are looking for someone who can do a whole package for them. Posters, business cards, branding, packaging etc....

Graphic designers do need a title that reflects the work they actually do and would in turn increase the publics interest in the profession and the benefits they would gain from seeking the services of a designer. In regard to the above comments about the public being stupid or not stupid, it has nothing to do with it. Most of the public don't know what Graphic Designers actually do, so until the title is changed to something more appropriate, we won't see an increase of clients in our industry."

"I read the site last week and found it amusing that it warrants an entire web site. Given that 'graphic design' is integral to identity, it constantly stuns me that graphic designers do not want to declare their core comopetency. What the hell is wrong with being the best damned graphic designer tehre is? It is a very clear identity to have and one which I believe more should be proud to wear."

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