Video: What is graphic design?

The work of graphic designers is all around us, but what exactly is graphic design? What does a graphic designer do? And how do they do it?

We sat down with some of the leading names in graphic design and put the questions to them. Our interviewees included Neville Brody, Morag Myerscough, Quentin Newark, Graphic Thought Facility and Applied Information Group.

What is graphic design?

What does a graphic designer do?

The process of graphic design

About our interviewees

Morag Myerscough

Studio Myerscough

Multi-award winning designer Morag Myerscough is the founder of Studio Myerscough and Supergroup London. Her recent projects include work for Barts & The London Children’s Hospital (above), the Movement Café in Stratford (pictured at the top of the page) and the Temple of Agape at Southbank Centre.

Quentin Newark

Atelier Works

Quentin first came to prominence at design studio Pentagram where alongside renowned graphic designer Alan Fletcher he drew the logos for the V&A and the signs for Norman Foster’s Stansted Airport. In 1991 he co-founded his agency Atelier Works, working with clients including British Rail, Phaidon Books, RIBA and Design Council – including developing the current Design Council logo.

Neville Brody

Research Studios & Dean of the School of Communication, Royal College of Art

Neville began his career designing record covers for the likes of Cabaret Voltaire and Depeche Mode, before becoming the influential Art Director of The Face and Arena magazines. His agency Research Studios is internationally renowned, clients have included Apple, BBC, D&AD, Deutsche Bank, Dom Perignon, The Guardian, Issey Miyake, Microsoft, MTV, Nike, Sony Playstation, The Times and Wallpaper*.

Huw Morgan & Andrew Stevens

Graphic Thought Facility

Huw and Andrew are the co-founders of Graphic Thought Facility, which developed identities for the Design Museum, Habitat and the Frieze Art Fair. Their recent commissions include store environments for M&S, exhibition design for the Science Museum, books for the Gagosian Gallery, wayfinding for Vitra, and campaigns for Kvadrat.

Tim Fendley

Applied Information Group

Tim is the a partner and Creative Director at Applied Information Group a design consultancy who have set the bar for urban wayfinding. Their work has included Legible London (above), I Walk New York and extensive projects with the City of Vancouver to help make it one of North America’s greenest cities.