As the field of graphic design has spread into the domain of the web, it is very easy to forget its origins were in the art school. Cutting and pasting used to be literal cutting and pasting with scissors and glue. Technological advancements with the computer, Internet, scanner and email have dramatically simplified the job of the graphic designer, while simultaneously giving him or her more control over final products.
Some designers still work in the physical medium, at least initially. They may still draw, trim and paint manually. Even if this is their preferred method of creating, they still scan the final design into a computer before presenting it to the client. This alone has dramatically cut down on the time needed to turn around a project after receiving and incorporating the client’s feedback. Colors can be changed with a few clicks of the mouse and portions of the design can be re-sized easily. In the “old days,” these kinds if readjustments would require recreating the project from scratch. (And maybe having to do it again and again for finicky clients.) Now, both client and designer have greater control over the final product.
Getting the work to the client has been greatly improved thanks to email and web hosting sites. A physical piece doesn’t need to be created until both parties are satisfied with the design. Final typesetting can occur before the design is emailed to the printer, who can easily make copies of any size all thanks to the computer. All of this new technology has made the overall process cheaper and easier, as cumbersome equipment with specialized tasks has been made obsolete. A skilled graphic designer only needs a powerful computer and the talent to envision and complete a project to be considered one of the best.