A graphic designer is typically associated with print and advertising (typography, layout). A visual designer is typically associated with apps (icon design, look and feel, design language). Obviously there is a lot of overlap and it's not hard for a graphic designer to get a job as a visual designer (most of the ones I've worked with, and my wife, are trained graphic designers working in visual).
Now how about motion designers (visual specialty)? Or 3D model designers (visual but usually industrial or game designers in this role)? Or interaction designers (UX but not visual related)? Or visual production artists (not really design, but often done by visual designers)? Or visual designers who specialize in pixels vs. visual designers who specialize in vectors?
Can you explain the difference? There's a lot of sub-specialty naming in the field and very little in the way of standardization. I'd see those as basically interchangeable. I see a pretty big difference in UX vs. GD/VD — Boxes & Arrows vs. gradients and brand elements, but I'd love to how you divide them.
I understand that view, but I don't think it's commonly understood that way. There are a lot of prestigious "Graphic Design" programs at colleges, but I've not seen many "Visual Design" ones. I do manage a team of 2 UX designers and 2 GD'ers. The UX team makes our apps work well and the GD team gives them their polish, but there is a lot of overlap between the two.
Great article, BTW, very interesting thought experiment.
The courses are generally called Visual Communication Design and tend to have a wider remit than older GD programs. Most of the stuff up this thread is spot on.
