Design is an incredibly broad field that transcends different areas of focus than most people understand. When it comes to designers, not many people know the different types of designers that exist, the most common ones are graphic designers, web designers, and UX/UI designers.

As an ever-changing field, you could face challenges when trying to choose the ideal designer for your project if you are not up-to-date with the latest trends and new updates in the field. Different designers have different specialties and skill sets that are unique to what they do, if you are not knowledgeable about these different types of designers, you risk working with the wrong person.

For instance, a graphic designer is a person who is skilled in creating graphic designs such as flyers, marketing materials, and other graphics. In situations where you need an illustration for a project, you might naturally want to work with a graphic designer whereas an illustrator could be a better option for more specific illustration projects.

How many designers exist? How do you identify the best designer for your project? If you are struggling to answer any of these questions, we have compiled a comprehensive list of 15 designers you should know in this blog.

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Who is a Designer?

A designer is a design professional who plans the form or structure of something at the ideation stage and goes through with the plan to develop and create the design.

There are various kinds of designers whose roles and expertise go from planning and creating objects (tangible and intangible), products, and games, to videos, graphics, magazines, processes, laws, digital interfaces, experiences, and navigation systems.

Most designers are critical thinkers, excellent communicators, and have creative minds that enable them to absorb new trends and integrate them into their design projects in a fun, creative, and exciting way. The most common ones are graphic designers, web designers, and UX/UI designers.

However, in subsequent paragraphs, we will identify the most common 15 types of designers you should know.

Top 15 Types of Designers

Here are the top 15 types of designers that you should know about.

1. Graphic Designers

A graphic designer, otherwise known as a visual designer or multimedia designer is a professional in the graphic design and art industry who is responsible for creating graphic designs for marketing and advertising materials.

Graphic designers combine images, typography, shapes, lines, and other visual elements to create a piece of design. Although these designers are often misunderstood to perform many other design functions, their key role is to create visual content in print, digital and mobile formats for marketing, advertising, and branding purposes.

Their Roles

Graphic designers mostly specialize in creating logos, social media ads, banners, graphics, website & blog images, packaging designs, slide decks/presentation designs, print designs, infographics, marketing brochures, manuals, billboard designs, etc.

Commonly used software:

Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Typography

2. Web Designer

A web designer, otherwise known as a front-end designer and visual web designer is a professional who is responsible for designing the overall look and feel of a website or webpage.

These individuals combine various visual elements such as the layout, colors, fonts, icons, and buttons to design a website in a functional and visually appealing way while also ensuring that the business needs and goals of the website are met.

Their Roles

They mostly specialize in designing websites and landing pages.

Commonly used software:

HTML, CSS, Javascript, WordPress, Squarespace, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Illustrator

3. Motion Graphic Designers

A Motion Graphics Designer also referred to as a motion graphics artist or motion design specialist is a professional with a smooth blend of graphic design and animation skills to create artwork for the web, television, and film.

These designers use their skills in visual effects, animation, and other cinematic techniques to bring life(motion) to their designs. They create motion designs for various media formats from videos to PowerPoint presentations, Gifs, and digital ads.

Their Roles

Motion graphic designers mostly focus on creating animated social media graphics, digital ads, infographics, logos, explainer videos, movie clips, trailers, commercials, title sequences, and GIfs

Commonly used software:

Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Animate, Cinema 4D, Final Cut Pro

4. Animation Designer

Slightly similar to motion graphic designers, animation designers are professionals responsible for creating moving images that tell stories or provide information.

These individuals specialize in either hand drawing, designing 2D or 3D characters, and creating computer-generated images. They are also known as 2D/3D Animators or Marketing Animators.

Their Roles

Animation designers create animated videos, commercials, video games, and animated films.

Commonly used software:

Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Cinema 4D

5. UX Designers

User experience (UX) design is the design area that focuses on interactions between human users and everyday products and services such as websites, apps, and other machines.

A UX designer is a key member of the product design team who works to bridge the gap between the user, the development team, and key business stakeholders.

Their main responsibility is to make products and technology usable, enjoyable, and accessible for humans. The UX designer must consider what’s best for the user and the overall user experience.

Their Roles

A UX designer’s main duties include prototyping, developing user personas, user flows, wireframes, and user testing.

Commonly used software:

Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, InVision

6. UI Designers

User interface (UI) design is the process designers use to build interfaces in digital software or computerized devices with a focus on looks or style. User Interface Designers are mainly responsible for creating interfaces that users find easy to use and pleasurable.

A UI designer conceptualizes and optimizes visual elements such as buttons, icons, typography, spacing, color schemes, and responsiveness that users interact with when working on a digital platform or tool.

Their Roles

UI designer’s key responsibilities include conducting customer analysis, design research, developing branding and graphics for user interfaces, user guides and storylines, user interface prototyping, and Interactivity and animation

Commonly used software:

Figma, Adobe XD, InVision, Sketch, Adobe Comp, Mockflow, Balsamiq

7. Brand Designer

A brand designer is a professional who defines and creates a company’s visual language. These individuals combine various elements such as typography, illustrations, colors, photography, logos, and icons to develop designs across a variety of formats, platforms, and environments.

They create logos, visual identities, apps and websites, out-of-home media, social media, magazines, games, physical environments, and more to help organizations establish and maintain a clear and concise brand voice, tone, and personality across digital and traditional platforms.

Their Roles

Brand designers are mainly responsible for creating brand logos, style guides, product packaging, and social media design guidelines.

Commonly used software:

Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Typography, SketchUp Pro, KeyShot, InVision

8. Art Directors

Art directors are responsible for planning the visual style, images, and overall look of a design project as well as managing the creative process on a more personal day-to-day level to ensure the message is communicated in the right way to its audience.

Art directors are excellent leaders and team managers who oversee budget creation and design selection. Otherwise known as digital art directors or senior art directors, art directors create original designs and direct the works of artists, designers, and other individuals involved in the project. These individuals have impressive design-thinking skills that they use to solve problems creatively.

Their Roles

Art directors oversee idea generation, artistic design elements selection, ad layout creation, design staff management, creating timelines and budgets as well as approving photographs, illustrations, and designs by other designers.

Commonly used software:

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign

9. Creative Directors

A creative director is the head of the creative team otherwise known as the creative manager and associate creative director. These professionals are skilled design team leaders with the outstanding project and team management skills.

These design professionals have the final say on the final design and what goes to the upper management as well as making improtant managerial and creative direction decisions. Although the role of creative design is best suited for someone with sound proficiency in one or more types of design, they must also have impressive design leadership skills and expertise.

Their Roles

The key role of a creative director is to manage the creative team, make strategic decisions, and oversee creative development.

Commonly used software:

Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

10. Product Designers

A product designer is someone responsible for the user experience of a product, using different design tools to create and execute solutions to a user’s problems.

Beyond creating the visual aesthetics of the products, they are typically more interested in figuring out how people will use the product and sometimes play a key role in the information architecture and system design of a product.

Product designers may sometimes be called user experience designers, customer experience architects, user interface designers, interaction designers, or information architects. The key difference between a product designer and a UX/UI designer is that a product designer is mostly involved in the entire design process of a product while a UI/UX designer focuses on an aspect of the design.

Their Roles

The key roles of a product designer are to create wireframes, prototypes, and journey maps and as well as oversee the entire product design process.

Commonly used software:

Figma, InVision, Illustrator, Photoshop, Adobe XD, Sketch, Adobe Comp, Mockflow

11. Illustrators

Illustrators are illustration design experts who focus on creating designs and images for various organizations, and industries. These individuals combine design, art, and creative skills to draw or create images for magazines, books, advertisements, posters, birthday or greeting cards, medical material, and much more.

Illustrators use different techniques. While some use traditional techniques like painting or sketching, others use illustration and editing software to create illustrations.

Their Roles

Illustrators work on different designs such as books, website images, magazine or newspaper designs, social media ads, blog post images, and packaging design.

Commonly used software:

Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate, Procreate, PaintTool SAI

12. Interior Designers

Interior design is the art and science of beautifying the interior of a building to give a more visually appealing and healthier look and feel to the interior users.

An interior designer is someone responsible for planning and identifying the requirements, budgets, and materials needed to create a space that is functional and appealing for homes and businesses. They work with interior materials, lighting, and colors to enhance the interiors for design purposes.

Their Roles

Interior designers’ key roles include creating diagrams, floor plans, layouts, and designing functional spaces.

Commonly used software:

Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD LT, SketchUp Pro, TurboCAD, Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Revit, Archicad 25

13. Industrial Designers

Industrial designers are design experts who are responsible for developing concepts for various kinds of manufactured products such as cars, home appliances, toys, electrical wares, etc.

They combine their skills in art, business, and engineering to create products that people use on a day-to-day basis through prototyping, testing, and iterating. These design experts also focus on the form, function, and ergonomics of a product when designing it.

Their Roles

Industrial designers use computer-aided design programs or software to create and edit the 3D models of various products such as machinery, medical devices, appliances, consumer and household items, cars, and consumer hardware and electronics.

Commonly used software:

Autodesk AutoCAD, SolidWorks, 3ds Max Design, AcceliCAD, MathCAD, Ansys.

14. Fashion Designer

A fashion designer is someone who comes up with designs that can be integrated into the production of different fabric and textile products.

Fashion designers do not only sketch designs for clothing but also accessories and footwear. They either work independently with their own fashion house or work as a member of a fashion house design team. If you are someone who is passionate about creating fashion designs and trends in clothing and accessories, then you might want to consider becoming a fashion designer.

Their Roles

A fashion designer makes use of existing fashion trends, materials, and personal creativity to create new clothing designs and product ideas.

Commonly used software:

Adobe Illustrator, CLO 3D Software, Browzwear, Tailornova, Blender, Valentina, Digital Fashion Pro, SnapFashun, DesignHill

15. Architectural Designer

Architecture is the field that specializes in forming ideas, planning, designing, and constructing structures and buildings. They might involve urban planning and other areas such as furniture design.

An architectural designer is someone responsible for drafting plans for houses, building, and outdoor spaces. Also referred to as information architects or business architects, architectural designers’ main focus is on building structures and translating concepts they receive from architects, engineers, and clients into drawings and 3D models.

Their Roles

Architectural designers are best knowns for technical drawings, building plans, documentation, and renderings.

Commonly used software:

AutoCAD, 3ds Max Design, Rhino, Grasshopper, V-Ray, SketchUp, Revit, ArchiCAD, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

How to Select the Best Designer for Your Project?

There are some factors that you need to consider when selecting the best designer for your project. They include:

Step 1: Identify your design needs and medium – If you are looking for the best designer for your design project, start by identifying the design needs with key details of the specifications you will need. For example, if you are just setting up your new business and need to develop your brand visuals, then you might want to consider working with a brand designer or a graphic designer in that area. Ensure that the designer you choose has the specific skills and expertise to help you achieve your design needs.

Step 2: Find the Designer – After identifying your design needs, the next step is to find the designer with the right skills and experience required to execute the project. You can do this by searching for them on online platforms, job platforms, social media, and online job marketplaces to help you find the right candidate.

Step 3: Review their work – Once you have found a designer that fits your requirements, the next step is to review their creative portfolio to check how well they have executed the previous projects. While reviewing their portfolio, be sure to ask important questions like

• What’s their contribution to the project?
• Was the project successful?
• What software do they use?

Step 4: Interview them – After reviewing their portfolio, the next step is to set up a 20 – 30 minutes interview to get to know them better, share the design project requirement with them and agree on other terms for the project.

Step 5: Hire them – The final step is to hire them when you are satisfied with their work and have both agreed on the important part of the project. You must have also agreed on the fee.

Final Words

Design is a broad field with different areas of focus or specialty. As you can see from the different types of designers identified above, you have to be very specific about your design needs and the skills required from each of them.

Before choosing any designer for your project, check out their existing works and determine the connection between your design needs and their skills and experience. Hiring generally can be a hassle, leverage social media and other online job platforms to find your best hires.

Looking for the best graphic designers, illustrators, motion graphic designers, and animators for your design project? Get in touch with our creative design experts at All Time Design today to help you create professional, beautiful, and high-quality creative designs.

All Time Design is one of the leading creative design service providers well known for its excellent service delivery and proficient graphic designers. Check out works.

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