Is this considered actual Graphic Design or part of photography? [closed]

Question

Kindly have a look at this. I'm not sharing the link of Instagram page because it might violate policies.

I've designed all of them. Most of them (where box, pills and sachets are present) are photo manipulations. That is, the product image and photo were separate things, merged together to look like a product photo shoot.

Apart from that, there are some GIFs and human photos with some text over them.

I do similar work (photo manipulation) for Facebook ads also. But those have little minimal look and text copies over design, so it looks like an ad.

Now, I'm enjoying this stuff, but I have a fear that I might stay behind other Graphic Designers. Sometimes I feel I'm doing the photography work, not Graphic Design.

Because, many times I assume that actual Graphic Design is illustrations done with colors and paths (like we do in Illustrator), logo designs and designs that contain colors and texts (not real photos). I'm possibly wrong while thinking this, but I don't have any reason for that.

So is this actually photography work or considered Graphic Design?

Answer 1

This will look more psychological analysis than a graphic design one.

I've designed all of them

You answered yourself. It is design, not photography.

I have a fear that I might stay behind other Graphic Designers.

Everyone on the planet will stay behind another colleague in some respect, so, no big deal here.

many times I assume that actual Graphic Design is illustrations

Nope, Illustrations are illustrations... made by Illustrators, so, if you are doing illustrations you are an illustrator... (I am very profound thinker)

done with colors and paths (like we do in Illustrator),

That is a specific tool for a specific type of illustration, vector illustration, but you can use a painting program, (which will make you probably a digital painter n_n) or you can use physical medium, like paper, ink, paint, pastels, chocolate muse, or icecream if you want.

But also you could do achromatic work ;o)

I'm doing the photography work

Are you using that device called the camera? That is the tool a photographer uses.

Are you controlling the exposure, illumination, changing lenses, rearranging the subject, and then "click"?

logo designs

That is a very specific branch. Logo design.

contain colors and texts

I talked about color, but text... this is a good one. Design without any text? probably still in the realm of illustration.

One technique of illustration is a "collage".

So is this actual photography work or considered Graphic Design?

I already answered this. No camera no photographer.

I'm possibly wrong while thinking this, but I don't have any reason for that.

You are actually wrong thinking this... because the whole point is this:

Now, I'm enjoying this stuff.

So, forget about branding. Yes, some definitions are interesting, yes sometimes we do things that are out of the scope.

This case is insignificant next to the power of... web design? where you are sometimes coding?

Unless you have some kind of "union labor contract" where your activities are super defined, all that is into the scope of a graphic designer. Photography? Yes, Illustration? yes, coding? sometimes, lettering, calligraphy? If you are talented enough. Branding, some marketing, some printing technical skill, some fixing computers also".

But in the end... who cares? just:

Now, I'm enjoying this stuff.

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Are you a graphic designer?

Here is the question. Are you solving visual communication problems to be sent to a public? then probably yes.

Answer 2

You have put together compositions which have photos, a little text and maybe some drawings, too. The results can be said to be graphic designs as soon as they are not random, but try to present something or lift something up - something that you want to tell or your customer wants to tell. They are not designs if there's no purpose. A purpose can be to show that you were able to do these. The photos seem to have high technical quality although they are blurry in your screenshot. The ability to shoot high quality photos is well worth a design but in this case the design for it is generated automatically by Instagram.

Do the watchers get impressed and do you have something more to say than "hey, I have composed this" is different thing.

Answer 3

I think this type of work generally falls under the broad field of 'graphic design', but I would also add it kind of touches on the lower end spectrum of the field.

I mean, you are clearly solving some problems there, creating compositions that communicate ideas, but this social media work has a very short life span and is generally paid in bulk by clients, with no long-term added value. True graphic design involves some more in-depth thinking, solving more elaborate tasks that help clients on the long run (branding, packaging, editorial).

Social media type 'graphic design' — as in, 'let`s stick these 3 words next to a stock photo somehow' — is often listed under day-to-day marketing services for most clients, and just creating stuff for Instagram will keep your work limited.

Then, when you want to move up to a true design job, you'll have trouble applying with just social media work.