ALL IN THE EYE

Graphic designing is a key element of a film/TV production, thereby, enhancing the visual aspect of storytelling

- ANISHA GAKHAR

One of the most distinguishable traits of humanity is the ability to create art. The creation of aesthetically pleasing visuals has the ability to bind humans together, by means of a few brushstrokes and a lot of creative imagination. Graphic design for filmmaking, however, is not exactly a replica of fine art, which is meant for a few of those people who have the eye for detail needed to understand paintings. Graphic design is driven by the idea of communicating to large audiences, so as to enhance the output of a scene or sequence. The elements of design help build a pedestal for a widely acclaimed piece of design or film. In recent years, the role of graphic design in film has become more established, with more and more directors recognising the importance visual artists play in bringing their visions to life.

In its most basic form, the effect of graphic design on cinema is found in film titles or promotional material such as posters; however, this limits the effect of design on film to print or typographic sources only. The correlation between graphic design and film can be found in fundamental design elements such as composition, colour and forms of visual communication. These design standards serve as the foundation of any piece of artwork, still or moving. A background in the visual arts has an important relationship with cinema, particularly when strengthening the message and artistic quality of a film.

In film and television, graphic design extends to even the minutest details—like the newspaper an actor reads during a scene, and the packaging on merchandise in a store display—all of which must match the genre, theme and historical period in which the story is set.