Graphic design is all about creating visual content to communicate messages clearly and effectively. This means using layouts, colors, images, and typography to tell a story or support a brand’s goals.
Digital designers work in varied specialties. They focus on diverse elements and tools. However, the core idea is the same: to make information clear and compelling.
In this guide, we explore 13 essential styles of graphic design for 2025. Each section defines the style, highlights key elements, and tools. We provided sample use cases and graphic design examples.
Brand Identity Design
Brand identity design creates a company’s visual identity. Visual identity includes a brand’s logo, color palette, and overall look and feel. It incorporates typography and establishes design rules for their consistent application.
The goal is a cohesive brand guide or style guide that makes the company instantly well-known. Designers make full branding strategies and implement them to achieve company goals.
Use cases:
- Brand designers work on logos
- Logo design
- business cards
- letterhead
- brand books
- branding for products or services
For example, when Airbnb rebranded in 2014, the design firm created the LOGO:
This logo and related elements (colors, typefaces) form Airbnb’s visual identity. A strong brand identity helps customers recognize a company at a glance.
UI/UX & Web Design
UI/UX & Web design covers the creation of user-friendly digital interfaces for websites, mobile apps, and software. “UI” (User Interface) design addresses interface appearance, involving buttons, icons, and navigation elements.
UX (User Experience) design considers how the interface works and feels for the user. Design includes a clear layout, intuitive navigation, and consistent visual style. Designers use wireframes and prototypes to plan pages and flows. They also apply visual design elements like color, iconography, and typography.
Tools/techniques: Web app designers use software such as:
- Figma,
- Sketch,
- Adobe XD,
- Webflow.
- They collaborate with developers to implement designs in code (HTML/CSS/React, for instance)
- Many times use platform-specific tools (e.g., Apple’s Interface Builder or Android Studio) for mobile apps.
- A strong sense of user testing and responsive layouts (so designs work on phones, tablets, and desktops) is essential.
- Availability (like choosing high-contrast colors and clear fonts) is also important.
Use cases:
UI/UX designers work on everything from e-commerce sites and mobile apps to dashboard software and interactive kiosks.
- UI/UX Principles
- Responsive Design
- Wireframing and Prototyping
- Visual Design
- Information Architecture
- Interface Elements
Example:
Spotify’s design team is known for a dark-themed interface with bright green accent colors. Spotify engineers explained how they improved their signature green color. This change helped make the on-screen contrast and readability better in the user interface. This attention to interface colors and contrast is a good example of UI design in practice.
Advertising & Marketing Design
Advertising and marketing design involve creating visuals that promote products, services, or ideas. These designs aim to grab attention and persuade viewers. Key elements here are bold imagery, compelling headlines, clear calls-to-action, and on-brand messaging. Designers must balance eye-catching graphics with the marketing message.
Tools/techniques:
Here are some of its types-
- Magazine & Newspaper Ads
- Infographics
- Social Media Ads
- Banner Ads
- Outdoor Advertising (Billboards, Posters, etc.)
- Brochures and Flyers
- Packaging Design
- Email Marketing Graphics
- Promotional Merchandise Design
A classic example is Volkswagen’s famous 1959 ad for the Beetle. The advertisement employs a simple image of a small vehicle framed by extensive white space. Alongside the slogan, “Think Small,” this minimalist design effectively underscored the message of Volkswagen’s compact dimensions. Many people often cite this ad as a high point of advertising design because of its clarity and impact.
Publication & Editorial Design
Publication (print) design is the creation of layouts for magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, reports, and other printed materials. The goal is to present text and images in a visually appealing, readable way. Key elements include grid layouts, consistent fonts, and clear hierarchy with headlines, subheads, and body text. It also involves margins, columns, and high-quality images or illustrations.
Tools/techniques:
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
Use cases:
- Magazine Layouts
- Newspaper Layouts
- Book Design (including covers and interior)
- Ebook Design
- Newsletters (print and digital)
- Brochures
- Catalogs
For example, a design team might change The New Yorker magazine. They would place pull-quotes and images to break up long text. Design guides say that good publication design uses tools like the right font and line spacing.
Packaging Design
Packaging design is the design of a product’s packaging. It includes boxes, bottles, labels, and more. The goal is to protect the product and attract customers. A good package must clearly convey what’s inside and stand out on the shelf.
Tools/techniques:
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Dimension
- Blender
Popular Use cases:
- Product Boxes
- Labels and Tags
- Flexible Packaging (pouches, bags, wrappers)
- Bottles and Jars
- Cans
- Shipping and Mailer Packaging
Packaging designers combine structure and surface art. They use guidelines in Illustrator to create mockups. These designs are for boxes, labels, or wrappers. They help protect the product and make it look appealing to buy.
Environmental Graphic Design
Environmental graphic design (often called experiential design) covers large-scale graphics used in physical spaces. This includes signs and wayfinding systems in buildings or campuses. It also covers murals, trade show booths, museum exhibits, and any graphic element in the built environment. The goal is to enhance the space’s look and help people navigate or interact with it.
Key elements: Large-format printing, bold signage, maps or directories, and murals or wallpaper. Designers think about how graphics fit with buildings.
For example, they create signs with high contrast. This makes them easy to see down long hallways. They also design floor decals that match a building’s theme. Get-at-ability is key: signs often must use pictograms and clear typography.
- Tools/techniques:
- vector design tools (Illustrator) for scalable graphics,
- 3D modeling or CAD programs (like SketchUp or AutoCAD)
- Use cases:
- Wayfinding Systems
- Signage
- Murals and Wall Graphics
- Exhibit and Display Graphics
- Branded Environments
- Public Installations
- Interpretive Graphics
Illustration & Art in Graphic Design
Illustration design involves creating custom images and drawings that support communication. Unlike general graphic elements, illustrations are usually hand-made or digitally drawn to fit a specific message or style. Key elements include creative drawing, consistent art style, and the ability to convey ideas visually. Illustrations can range from detailed digital paintings to simple vector icons or infographics.
Tools/techniques:
For Illustrators, use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, or Clip Studio to draw.
Here are some works involving Illustration & Art in Graphic Design:
- Custom Illustrations for Branding
- Editorial Illustrations for Publications
- Spot Illustrations
- Technical Illustrations
- Character Design for Branding or Marketing
- Icons and Iconography
- Patterns and Textures
- Murals and Large-Scale Artwork
- Book and Album Cover Art
Key takeaway: Illustration designers create custom visuals like icons, characters, and infographics. Applications include brochures, packaging, and web pages. Their work improves branding and storytelling in a project.
Motion Graphics & Animation Design
Motion graphics design involves creating animated graphic elements. This style integrates graphic design and video/animation. Key elements include moving text, animated logos, transitions, and visual effects. Motion graphics designers bring still graphics to life.
Tools/techniques:
Adobe After Effects (for 2D/3D animation), Cinema 4D or Blender (for 3D motion), and Premiere Pro (for editing video). Designers often start with storyboards and style frames, then animate using keyframes, easing, and timing effects.
Here are some works of Motion Graphics & Animation Designers:
- Animated Logos
- UI/UX Animations
- Product Animations
- Animated Infographics
- Animated Advertisements
- Character Animation
- Motion Graphics for Presentations
- Visual Effects (VFX)
- Animated Icons
“Motion graphics designers use different software to make 2D and 3D animations. They create animations for title sequences, commercials, music videos, and more.”
Key takeaway: Motion graphics designers animate visuals. Advertisers often use this style in commercials, social media videos, and tech product videos. Dynamic motion catches the viewer’s attention.
Infographics & Data Visualization Design
Infographic design is a specialized graphic style that turns data and information into visual stories. An infographic combines charts, icons, images, and minimal text to explain a topic at a glance. The basic visual elements that represent details or data. Good infographics use color and graphics to highlight the most important information and make complex data easy to grasp.
Tools/techniques:
- Designers use Illustrator or InDesign along with data tools.
- Some use specialized chart software (Excel, Tableau, D3.js) to generate graphs.
- Some individuals employ integrated platforms for infographic creation, such as Venngage or Canva.
Here are some works of Infographics & Data Visualization Designers:
- Statistical Infographics
- Informative Infographics
- Timeline Infographics
- Comparison Infographics
- Geographic Infographics 1 (Map-based)
- Flowchart Infographics
- Data Dashboards
Key takeaway: Infographic designers visualize data. They create charts, diagrams and annotated visuals to make information clear. An infographic typically uses minimal text and memorable graphics to tell a data-driven story.
Typography Design
Typography design focuses on the creative and effective use of text. That’s all about arranging type (fonts) to make content readable and visually appealing. Key elements include font choice, font pairing, kerning, line spacing, and hierarchy. Good typography design guides the reader through the text and evokes the right tone (formal, playful, techy, etc.).
Tools/techniques:
Designers use any graphic software InDesign, Illustrator, even web/CSS) to set type.
“Typography design is all about arranging typefaces, characters, and words on a page… fonts also need to be legible and easy to read”.
Here are some works related to Typography Design:
- Typeface Design (creation of font families)
- Font Development and Engineering
- Logotypes and Wordmarks
- Custom Lettering and Calligraphy
- Typographic Systems for Branding
- Typographic Layout for Print (books, magazines, etc.)
- Typographic Layout for Digital (websites, apps, etc.)
- Hierarchical Typography in Design
- Kinetic Typography (for motion graphics)
- Typography for Packaging
- Typography for Environmental Graphics (signage, murals)
- Typographic Illustrations
- Pairing and Selecting Typefaces
- Establishing Visual Hierarchy with Type
Key takeaway: Typography designers specialize in font and text layout. They pick and arrange fonts to be attractive and clear. Even a simple poster becomes a much stronger design when the type is well-chosen and spaced.
Presentation & Slide Deck Design
Presentation design is the graphic design of slide shows. It includes corporate presentations, educational slides, and pitch decks. The aim is to make information clear and engaging in a talk or video.
Key elements are consistent slide layouts, clear headings, and effective use of visuals. Designers often create master slides to keep fonts, colors, and logos uniform.
Tools/techniques: The main tools are PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, or Google Slides. Advanced designers might also use Adobe XD or InDesign to create slide artwork, then export it to PowerPoint. Animation is a major part of this style (simple builds, transitions, and embedded videos). A good presentation has minimal text on each slide – bullet points or short statements – paired with diagrams or photos.
Here are some works of Presentation & Slide Deck Designers:
- Pitch Decks (for startups, sales, etc.)
- Educational Presentations
- Marketing Presentations
- Conference and Speaking Decks
- Webinar Slides
- Corporate Communications Presentations
- Status and Progress Reports
- Data-Driven Presentations
- Template Design for Presentations
Key takeaway: Presentation designers make slides that support speakers. They focus on clear layouts, readable text, and polished visuals. Their slides might include animated transitions and charts. Although often overlooked, good slide design (like well-chosen fonts and images) can make complex information easy to follow.
Social Media & Digital Content Design
Social media design involves creating graphics specifically for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Digital media is a hybrid style that blends advertising, branding, and sometimes motion.
Key elements are platform size (e.g. square Instagram posts, vertical Stories, banner ads), eye-catching images or short videos, and on-brand style. Often, these graphics use bold text overlays to ensure the message is legible on small screens.
Tools/techniques: Designers use Photoshop, Illustrator, or tools like Canva and Figma to build social templates. They must stay updated on each platform’s best practices
Here are some works created in the field of Social Media & Digital Content Design:
- Social Media Post Graphics
- Social Media Story Graphics and Templates
- Cover Photos and Profile Pictures
- Visuals for Blog Posts and Articles
- Branded Templates for Social Content
- Banner Ads (for websites and ad networks)
- Visual Content for Landing Pages
- Interactive Digital Content Visuals
- Social Media Carousel Posts
Key takeaway: Social media designers create graphics (static or animated) sized and styled for online platforms. They use brand elements and concise text to engage users. Though they have a fast turnaround, they still rely on design principles like hierarchy and color balance.
3D & Immersive (AR/VR) Design
A newer category is 3D and immersive design, which covers graphics in three dimensions or virtual/augmented reality environments. Key elements include 3D modeling, spatial interaction, and realistic textures. Designers build 3D assets for product visualizations, architecture renderings, or AR filters.
Tools/techniques: Besides 3D modeling software, designers may use game engines (Unity, Unreal) to create interactive experiences. Packaging designers use 3D to simulate a box on a shelf before printing. Websites and ads increasingly use 3D product images instead of flat photos.
Here are some works created in the field of 3D & Immersive (AR/VR) Design, often intersecting with graphic design:
- 3D Modeling: Product Models (for visualization, e-commerce, advertising)
- Character Models (for animation, games, marketing)
- Environmental Models (for visualizations, simulations, virtual tours)
- Architectural and Interior Renderings
- Objects and Props for AR/VR experiences
- 3D Logos and Text
- 3D Animation: Animated Logos in 3D
- Product Animation
- Explainer Videos with 3D elements
- Short Animated Clips for digital platforms
- Augmented Reality (AR) Design: AR Filters and Lenses (for social media)
- AR Experiences for Marketing and Advertising (e.g., try-on features, interactive print)
- AR Overlays for informative purposes (e.g., pointing a phone at an object to get information)
- AR Applications for product visualization (e.g., placing furniture in a room)
- AR Experiences for educational content
- Virtual Reality (VR) Design: VR Environments and Scenes
- Interactive VR Experiences (for training, entertainment, education)
- 360-degree Images and Videos
- VR Showrooms or Virtual Tours
- Immersive Experiences: Designing interactive elements and user interfaces within 3D/AR/VR spaces
- Creating visual assets for mixed reality (MR) applications
- Developing visual narratives for immersive storytelling
Key takeaway: 3D/immersive designers create graphic experiences in three dimensions. They use modeling and VR/AR tools to bring brands into virtual space. Though technical, this style is increasingly important for realistic mockups and interactive visuals.
Conclusion:
Understanding these 13 design styles can help you make smart career and project choices. Many designers specialize, but a well-rounded professional knows a bit of each area. If you enjoy branding and giant-picture identity work, brand identity design (logos, style guides) might be your path.
If you love tech and users, UI/UX design is key. Motion artists focus on animation (e.g. motion graphics), while illustrators draw custom images for any media.
To advance your career in graphic design, build a portfolio that highlights your chosen styles. Practice with the right tools: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, InDesign, Figma, or Sketch. for UI, and Blender or Cinema 4D for 3D. Stay current on trends and understand design principles.
FAQ
What tools do brand identity designers commonly use?
How does one select the appropriate design software?
The project’s nature determines the choice of design software. For layout and print, utilize InDesign or Affinity Publisher. For digital interfaces, employ Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.
Photo-based advertisements are best handled in Photoshop. Illustrations and logos are created in adobe Illustrator. Motion graphics require tools such as After Effects or Cinema 4D. Align the software choice with the specific design task.
