Types of Graphic Design: 50 Powerful Categories Explained

Graphic design is everywhere – from the logos you see on your favorite brands to the stunning visuals that make a website pop. But did you know that graphic design isn’t just one thing? 🎨 It’s a universe of creativity, filled with various types that serve different purposes. 🤩 Whether you’re looking to create a brand identity, design a website, or even explore digital art, there’s a category for that. But hold on… this world is more complex than you might think. 🔍

In this post, we’re diving into over 50 types of graphic design—classifying them into categories and subcategories, so you can easily navigate the visual universe. 😎 Ready to discover which type fits your creative goals? Let’s get started… but beware, you might be surprised by some of these! 🤫👀

👉 If you’re a beginner or new to graphic design, make sure to check out our previous post on the basics of graphic design to get a solid foundation! You’ll learn everything you need to know to start your journey.

List of all graphic design explored by Nmpire

But that’s not all! To keep you on track, here’s a sneak peek of the Top 8 Types of Graphic Design that you should definitely explore: we cover all of them in-depth in our blog, so make sure to explore more articles on graphic design here at Nmpire. Everything you need to learn about graphic design is right here! 🎨👑

Graphic Design Categories & Subcategories: Over 50 Types to Explore

Graphic design is a vast field, filled with a variety of types, each serving unique purposes. In this post, we’ve covered over 50 types of graphic design we have discovered based on research, all classified into different categories and subcategories. Here’s a breakdown of the key categories, with plenty of subcategories that will guide you through the creative process! 🎨✨.

1. Visual Identity Design 🎨

Visual Identity Design is the core of any brand’s image, focusing on creating a consistent and visually appealing identity across all platforms. This category encompasses several subcategories, each essential for establishing a brand’s presence which include.

• Logo Design 🖋️: Creating a unique symbol that represents a brand.
• Brand Guidelines 📚: Defining visual and style elements that ensure consistency.
• Stationery Design 📝: Designing branded materials like letterheads and business cards.
• Business Cards 💳: Crafting a small, branded piece of design for networking.
• Letterhead Design 🧾: Designing official branded documents.

Learn more about visual identity design and its impact on branding.

2. Marketing & Advertising Design 📣

Marketing & Advertising Design is all about creating visuals that grab attention, communicate a message, and drive action. The subcategories in this field include a variety of designs meant for both digital and print marketing efforts. Examples are

• Social Media Graphics 📱: Visuals made for social media platforms.
• Print Ads (Posters, Flyers) 🖼️: Ads designed for print media.
• Digital Ads (Banners, Email Templates) 💻: Visual ads for online platforms.
• Email Marketing Campaigns 📧: Designing email newsletters or promotional materials.
• Billboards & Outdoor Advertising 🏙️: Large-scale outdoor designs that capture attention.

Learn more about how marketing and advertising design boosts engagement.

3. Product Design 🛍️

Product Design focuses on designing the physical and digital elements that influence product presentation. Whether it’s packaging, mockups, or labels, each subcategory plays a critical role in the product’s appeal to consumers. Examples include

• Packaging Design 📦: Designing attractive packaging for products.
• Product Mockups 🧴: Digital prototypes showcasing a product’s design.
• Label Design 🏷️: Crafting labels that communicate product details.
• Box Design 📦: Creating aesthetically pleasing and functional product boxes.
• Retail Displays 🏪: Designing in-store displays to highlight products.

Learn more about product design and creating an impact through packaging.

4. Web & User Interface (UI) Design 🌐

Web & UI Design focuses on creating intuitive and visually engaging designs for websites and mobile apps. The subcategories here focus on enhancing user experience while ensuring the design remains aesthetically appealing. examples

• Website Design 💻: Designing the overall layout and visual structure of websites.
• App Interface Design 📱: Designing intuitive and attractive mobile app interfaces.
• E-commerce Platforms 🛒: Designing optimized online stores.
• Landing Page Design 🖥️: Crafting pages that drive conversions.
• Email Template Design 📧: Creating attractive and responsive email templates.

Learn more about web & UI design and how it enhances digital experiences.

5. Publication Design 📚

Publication Design is crucial for creating printed or digital materials that are easy to read, informative, and visually appealing. The subcategories here revolve around producing effective layouts for various types of publications.

• Magazine Layouts 📰: Designing captivating layouts for magazines.
• Book Covers 📖: Designing unique and appealing covers for books.
• Newspaper Design 🗞️: Crafting layouts for newspapers and daily publications.
• Catalog Design 📑: Organizing and presenting products or services in catalogs.
• Annual Reports 📈: Designing visually effective corporate reports.

Learn more about publication design and how it impacts media.

6. Motion Graphics Design 🎬

Motion Graphics Design involves bringing static visuals to life, often for digital media, advertising, or entertainment. The subcategories here involve animation, video graphics, and digital storytelling.

• Animation 🎥: Creating moving visuals and animated sequences.
• Video Graphics 🎞️: Enhancing videos with creative graphic elements.
• Infographics 📊: Designing visuals that simplify complex data.
• Explainer Videos 🎬: Crafting short, engaging videos that explain products or services.
• Title Sequences 🏷️: Designing the opening graphics for movies or TV shows.

Learn more about motion graphics and how animation brings stories to life.

7. Environmental Design 🌳

Environmental Design focuses on designing spaces and visual systems that guide people through physical environments. This category covers areas like signage and event branding to improve how people interact with spaces.

• Signage 🪧: Designing informative or directional signs.
• Exhibition Graphics 🖼️: Creating engaging visuals for trade shows and exhibitions.
• Wayfinding Systems 🧭: Designing systems to help people navigate physical spaces.
• Event Branding 🎉: Developing cohesive branding for events like conferences or festivals.
• Retail Design 🏬: Creating visually appealing store layouts and display

Learn more about environmental design and how it shapes physical spaces.

8. Illustration ✏️

Illustration Design involves creating unique hand-drawn or digital artwork for various applications. Illustrators bring concepts to life through visual storytelling, enhancing everything from books to brand identities.

• Editorial Illustration 🖋️: Custom artwork for newspapers, magazines, and blogs.
• Book Illustration 📚: Illustrations used in novels, children’s books, and more.
• Digital Illustration 🎨: Creating artwork using digital tools and software.
• Concept Art 🎭: Visual development for movies, games, and animation.
• Character Design 👤: Designing unique characters for branding, games, and comics.

Learn more about illustration and how it enhances creative expression.

9. 3D & Environmental Design 🌍

3D & Environmental Design focuses on building immersive and interactive experiences, from 3D modeling to virtual reality. This field plays a huge role in gaming, branding, and architecture.

• 3D Modeling 🏗️: Designing 3D objects for games, animation, and product design.
• Virtual Environments 🌐: Creating digital spaces for VR and AR applications.
• Interactive Displays 🖥️: Designing touchscreens and digital experiences for exhibitions.
• 3D Packaging Design 📦: Designing and rendering realistic 3D packaging.
• Augmented Reality Graphics 👓: Enhancing real-world interactions with digital overlays.

Learn more about 3D and environmental design and its role in modern creativity.

10. Game Design 🎮

Game Design merges storytelling, graphics, and user experience to create engaging video games. Designers in this field focus on visuals, UI, and overall player experience.

• Game Interface Design 🎮: Crafting user-friendly menus and HUDs.
• Character Design 👾: Creating unique and engaging game characters.
• Environment & Level Design 🏞️: Designing immersive in-game worlds.
• Game Concept Art 🎮: Visualizing game elements before production.
• HUD Design (Heads-Up Display) 🕹️: Developing on-screen game indicators.

Learn more about game design and how visual elements influence gaming.

11. Typography 🔠

Typography Design focuses on creating custom fonts, typefaces, and lettering to enhance branding and readability. It plays a crucial role in visual communication and branding.

• Custom Fonts ✍️: Creating unique fonts for brands and products.
• Typefaces 🅰️: Designing complete sets of letters with distinct styles.
• Lettering Design 🖋️: Hand-drawn or digital letter art.
• Logo Typography 🖌️: Designing brand-specific type treatments.
• Kinetic Typography 🎥: Creating animated text for videos and digital media.

Learn more about typography and how fonts influence design.

12. Corporate Design 🏢

Corporate Design ensures businesses have a professional and consistent brand identity across all platforms, including print and digital media.

• Annual Reports 📊: Designing professional reports for businesses.
• Business Cards 💼: Professional networking card designs.
• Brochures 📑: Informative booklets for corporate communication.
• Corporate Presentations 📊: Designing slideshows and visual reports.
• Invoice Design 💳: Designing branded business invoices.

Learn more about corporate design and its role in professional branding.

13. Infographic Design 📊

Infographic Design turns complex information into engaging, easy-to-understand visuals that communicate data effectively.

• Data Visualization 📉: Representing statistics graphically.
• Statistical Infographics 📊: Turning raw data into appealing visuals.
• Interactive Infographics 🖱️: Clickable, engaging data presentations.
• Process Infographics 🔄: Showing step-by-step processes visually.
• Timeline Infographics ⏳: Presenting historical or project timelines.

Learn more about infographic design and how it simplifies data presentation.

14. Book Design 📚

Book Design ensures that physical and digital books have an attractive, well-structured layout that enhances readability.

• Hardcover Design 📖: Designing sturdy and attractive book covers.
• Layout and Typesetting 🖋️: Arranging text and images for readability.
• Children’s Book Illustration 📘: Illustrations tailored for young readers.
• Recipe Book Design 📒: Organizing food photography and text.
• Coffee Table Book Design 🛋️: Visually striking large-format books.

Learn more about book design and how layout influences readability.

15. Editorial Design 📰

Editorial Design is all about arranging text, images, and graphics in a compelling and readable way for print and digital publications.

• Newsletters 📨: Designing engaging company or magazine newsletters.
• Catalogs 📖: Structuring product catalogs for print or digital media.
• Zines 📚: Designing independent publications with creative freedom.
• Journals 📓: Structuring academic or literary journals.
• Editorial Layouts 📰: Designing print or digital editorial spreads.

Learn more about editorial design and its importance in media.

16. Fashion Design 👗

Fashion Design combines creativity and commercial appeal to create stunning visual aesthetics for clothing, accessories, and branding.

• Textiles & Print Design 🧵: Creating patterns and prints for fabrics.
• Fashion Advertising 👠: Designing marketing materials for fashion brands.
• Packaging Design 🛍️: Crafting unique product packaging for fashion items.
• Apparel Graphics 👚: Creating prints and illustrations for clothing.
• Fashion Illustration 👗: Hand-drawn or digital fashion sketches.

Learn more about fashion design and its role in branding.

17. Social Media Design 📱

Social Media Design focuses on creating engaging and visually appealing content for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

• Instagram Graphics 📸: Designing posts and stories.
• Facebook Cover Photos 📘: Custom banners for profiles and pages.
• Pinterest Pins 📌: Crafting visually appealing pin designs.
• YouTube Thumbnails 🎥: Designing eye-catching video previews.
• Twitter Graphics 🐦: Optimized visuals for Twitter branding.

Learn more about social media design and how visuals impact engagement.

18. Event Design 🎉

Event Design ensures that visuals for events—from invitations to signage—are cohesive, professional, and impactful.

• Event Invitations 💌: Designing themed invitations.
• Conference & Seminar Designs 🏢: Branding large-scale events.
• Event Signage & Banners 🎪: Designing informational and promotional materials.
• Party Decorations 🎈: Creating themed visuals for celebrations.
• Wedding Invitations 💍: Elegant custom wedding invites.

Learn more about event design and its role in branding celebrations.

19. T-shirt & Apparel Design 👕

T-shirt & Apparel Design plays a key role in fashion and branding, focusing on wearable graphics that make an impact.

• Graphic Tees 👚: Creating stylish and artistic T-shirt designs.
• Sportswear Design 🏅: Crafting jerseys and athletic apparel.
• Streetwear Graphics 🏙️: Designing urban-inspired apparel.
• Print Design for Apparel 🧥: Creating fabric prints and patterns.
• Hoodie & Cap Design 🧢: Designing graphics for casual wear.

Learn more about T-shirt and apparel design and how it influences fashion.

20. Advertising Design 🛍️

Advertising design focuses on creating visuals that grab attention and persuade the audience to take action. From TV commercials to print ads, this category covers all the essential visual content needed for marketing campaigns.

• TV Commercial Graphics 📺: Designing visual elements for TV advertisements.
• Radio Ads Visuals 📻: Creating visual content for radio and online audio ads.
• Print Ad Design 📰: Designing print materials like posters, brochures, and flyers.
• Direct Mail Design 📮: Crafting visually appealing direct mail pieces that reach customers’ mailboxes.
• Sponsored Content Design 📰: Creating branded content for media outlets and online platforms.

Learn more about advertising design and how it drives consumer engagement.

21. App Design 📱

App design is all about creating a seamless and intuitive experience for users on mobile applications. This category focuses on the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to ensure smooth, visually appealing app functionality.

• Mobile App Design 📲: Designing mobile apps with a focus on usability and aesthetics.
• UI/UX for Apps 📱: Creating interfaces and user experiences that are intuitive and engaging.
• App Icons 📱: Designing small, recognizable icons that represent apps.
• App Promotional Material 📢: Designing visuals to promote and advertise apps.
• Mobile Dashboard Design 📊: Crafting visually effective and user-friendly app dashboards.

Learn more about app design and how it enhances user interaction with technology.

22. Web Banner Design 🖥️

Web banner design focuses on creating graphics that are used in digital advertising, mainly through banners and pop-ups. This category ensures that ads are eye-catching, interactive, and designed for maximum engagement.

• Banner Ads 🎯: Designing visually striking banners for digital advertising.
• Display Ads 🖼️: Crafting image-based ads for display networks.
• Animated Web Banners 🎬: Creating engaging animated ads for websites.
• Static Web Banners 📸: Designing still image banners for digital platforms.
• Pop-up Ads 🛑: Designing eye-catching pop-up ads for user interaction.

Learn more about web banner design and how it grabs attention in the digital space.

23. User Experience Design (UX) 🧑‍💻

User experience (UX) design focuses on the overall feel and usability of a product or service, ensuring that users have a smooth, efficient, and enjoyable experience. UX design plays a key role in web and app development.

• Website UX Design 🌍: Designing user-friendly website layouts and interfaces.
• App UX Design 📲: Creating smooth and intuitive user experiences for mobile apps.
• Interaction Design 🖱️: Designing how users interact with a product or service.
• Usability Testing 📝: Testing the usability of designs with real users to improve functionality.
• UX Prototyping 🔨: Creating interactive prototypes to test the user experience.

Learn more about UX design and how it enhances user satisfaction.

24. Digital Art 🎨

Digital art is a modern form of art created using digital tools. This category includes a wide range of creative expressions, from concept art to digital painting, and everything in between.

• Concept Art 🖌️: Designing initial visual representations of ideas for projects like movies and games.
• Digital Portraits 🎨: Creating lifelike or stylized digital portraits of individuals.
• Digital Collages 📸: Combining different digital images to create a new artistic composition.
• Digital Painting 🎨: Using digital tools to create paintings with a variety of styles.
• Vector Art 🔲: Creating scalable, high-quality digital art using vector graphics.

Learn more about digital art and how technology has revolutionized creative expression.

25. Print Design 🖨️

Print design involves creating visuals for materials that will be printed, such as flyers, posters, and magazines. The goal is to create designs that are visually striking and effective in communicating a message in a tangible format.

• Flyers & Brochures 📰: Designing marketing materials that provide key information.
• Posters & Billboards 🖼️: Creating large-format designs for events or advertisements.
• Magazines 📖: Designing editorial layouts and visual styles for magazine publications.
• Catalogs 📚: Designing catalogs for showcasing products or services.

Learn more about print design and its role in creating lasting impressions.

26. Web Development Design 🌐

Web development design combines design with coding to create functional and visually appealing websites. This category covers everything from website layouts to full web applications, ensuring both aesthetics and usability.

• Front-End Design 💻: Designing the visible aspects of websites that users interact with.
• Back-End Design 🖥️: Developing the behind-the-scenes systems that make websites function.
• WordPress Themes 🌍: Designing themes for WordPress-based websites.
• Website Layouts 🖥️: Creating structured layouts for websites, ensuring user-friendly navigation.
• Web Application Design 🖥️: Designing complex web applications for various purposes.

Learn more about web development design and how it combines creativity and functionality.

27. Virtual Reality Design 🕶️

Virtual reality design focuses on creating immersive experiences in a virtual environment, often used in games, simulations, or product showcases. This category requires a combination of design and 3D modeling skills to create realistic, interactive spaces.

• VR Interface Design 🖥️: Designing intuitive and interactive virtual reality interfaces.
• VR Environment Design 🌍: Creating realistic or fantastical environments for virtual experiences.
• Virtual Product Showcases 🛍️: Designing virtual spaces to display products.
• 3D Environment Modeling 🏗️: Creating 3D models of environments for virtual reality applications.
• VR Game Design 🎮: Designing virtual reality experiences for gaming.

Learn more about virtual reality design and how it shapes the future of interaction.

28. Photo Manipulation 📷

Photo manipulation is the art of modifying photographs to enhance or completely change their appearance. This category includes a variety of techniques, from retouching to creating composites.
Learn more about photo manipulation and how it enhances visual storytelling.

• Retouching ✨: Improving and enhancing the appearance of photographs.
• Composite Images 📸: Combining multiple images to create a new, seamless visual.
• Digital Photo Effects 💫: Adding special effects to photos for artistic purposes.
• Color Correction 🎨: Adjusting colors and lighting to improve the overall photo quality.
• Restoring Old Photos 🖼️: Repairing and enhancing old or damaged photographs.

29. Digital Collage Design 🖼️

Digital collage design involves combining various digital images and elements to create a new, cohesive visual piece. This category is great for artistic, experimental design projects.
Learn more about digital collage design and how to create unique visuals with mixed media.

• Mixed Media Collage 🎨: Combining various digital mediums to create a layered artwork.
• Digital Scrapbooking 📑: Creating digital versions of scrapbooks using images and graphics.
• Photo Collage 🖼️: Designing compositions by arranging photos in creative ways.
• Abstract Collage Art 🎨: Designing abstract visual compositions using different media.
• Retro Collage Designs 🎶: Crafting nostalgic visuals with a retro aesthetic.

30. Corporate Identity Design 💼

Corporate identity design focuses on creating a strong, unified identity for companies or organizations. This category is essential for establishing a recognizable and professional image in the market.

• Brand Identity Design 🏷️: Creating a cohesive identity that includes logo, colors, and visual elements.
• Marketing Collateral 📑: Designing materials like brochures, flyers, and business cards to promote the brand.
• Brand Strategy Design 📈: Developing strategies for consistent brand messaging and design.
• Identity Systems 🛠️: Crafting visual systems for brand consistency across various platforms.
• Visual Branding 🎨: Designing visual elements that define a brand’s image.

Learn more about corporate identity design and how it strengthens brand recognition.

I advise you to start by picking a subcategory that resonates with your interests and goals. Whether you want to specialize in branding, digital marketing, or even product design, choosing the right niche will help you build your skills faster and stand out in the industry. 🚀✨

And if you’re looking to level up your graphic design career, why not try out some platforms to connect with clients? Fiverr 💻 and Upwork 💼 are excellent places to find freelance gigs, and I’ve linked to them here—check them out and start building your portfolio! 🎨👩‍💻

Currently, we are working on publishing our own graphic design resource 📚, but in the meantime, if you’re eager to dive deeper, this affordable e-book on graphic design has been a game-changer for me! 💡 It’s available on Amazon at a very reasonable price, and it covers all the essentials you need to master graphic design. Trust me, it’s worth the read! 📖🔥

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, taking the first step is key! 💪👑 Dive in, explore the categories, and don’t forget to grab your copy of the ebook to accelerate your learning journey! 🎯🌟

And if you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, why not start freelancing today? 💼💸

Get started now—your creative future awaits! 🌟🎉