You Need Creative Help… But Who Do You Hire? Is a Graphic Designer Right For You?
- Cameron Design
- Jul 28
- 5 min read
I just received a message from someone looking for a freelance graphic designer.
As soon as I clicked on the listing, I spotted an issue. It said:
“Ideally this person could help us with web design, print design, prepress, UX design, animation, illustration, infographics, and logo design.”
My jaw dropped, that is an entire team of people. A couple different departments worth of skills at least!
This happens a surprising amount. You know you need SOMETHING done on the computer, and the end result is visual. But what does a graphic designer do??
So if you’re sitting at your desk wondering what kind of creative help you need, and whether a graphic designer is the right person, this post is for you.
What a Graphic Designer Does:
Graphic designers solve visual communication problems. This can include:
Designing printed materials (flyers, brochures, posters, packaging)
Creating logos and brand identity assets
Designing for digital (web ads, social media posts, email layouts)
Working within existing brand guidelines to create consistent visuals
Most graphic designers are skilled at one or maybe two of these bullet points, but not all. Each bullet point is highly specialized and requires years of experience, skills, and different knowledge to get good at.
Graphic designers often work in collaboration with photographers, illustrators, copywriters, web developers, marketers, and printers, but we are not all of those people.
Common Confusion: Who Does What?
Here’s a quick breakdown of roles that often get lumped into “graphic design” job listings:
Role | What They Actually Do | Common Software | Years to Be Mediocre |
Web Developer | Codes and builds websites (front-end, back-end, or full stack) | VS Code, GitHub, WordPress, Webflow | 2–3 years |
Web Designer | Designs on-screen elements like web ads, banners, UI mockups | Photoshop, Figma, Adobe XD | 2–3 years |
UI Designer | Designs the visual layout of a product (buttons, menus, typography, colors) | Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD | 2–3 years |
UX Designer | Plans how users interact with a product through research and testing | Figma, Miro, Maze, Notion | 2–3 years |
Animator | Creates motion graphics and animated content | After Effects, Blender, Cinema 4D | 2–3 years |
Illustrator (Artist) | Draws custom imagery digitally or traditionally | Illustrator, Procreate, Photoshop | 3–4 years |
Copywriter | Writes brand messaging, headlines, product copy, and more | Google Docs, Notion, Grammarly | 2–3 years |
Marketing Strategist | Creates outreach strategies like campaigns, SEO, and funnels | Google Analytics, SEMrush, HubSpot | 3–5 years |
Social Media Manager | Plans, posts, and engages on social platforms | Later, Canva, Meta Suite, Hootsuite | 2–3 years |
Graphic Design for Print / Pre-press Designers | Designs printed items like packaging, brochures, posters, and business cards | InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop | 2–3 years |
Portrait Photographer | Takes professional headshots and personal branding photography | Lightroom, Capture One, Photoshop | 3–5 years |
Product Photographer | Shoots high-quality product photos for e-commerce or marketing | Lightroom, Capture One, Photoshop | 3–5 years |
Layout Designer | Arranges text and images in print or digital publications like magazines and books | InDesign, Illustrator, Affinity Publisher | 2–3 years |
Email Designer | Designs branded email templates and newsletters | Figma, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Litmus | 2–3 years |
Presentation Designer | Creates visually engaging slide decks and keynote presentations | PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, Figma | 2–3 years |
Infographic Designer | Translates complex info into visual graphics like charts and icons | Illustrator, Canva, Piktochart, Figma | 2–3 years |
Content Creator | Makes videos, blogs, photos, or graphics for marketing and engagement | CapCut, Canva, Instagram, TikTok, Lightroom | 1–2 years |
Reel/Influencer Creator | Films, edits, and posts short-form content to grow brand presence and audience | CapCut, InShot, Instagram, TikTok | 1–2 years |
Ecommerce Specialist | Manages online stores including product pages, inventory, and sales strategies | Shopify, WooCommerce, Klaviyo, Google Analytics | 2–3 years |
A graphic designer might touch a few of these areas (especially areas that use the same programs) because of our natural curiosity, but they’re not interchangeable, and getting someone with 15 or 20 of these specialized skills is going to be extremely rare.
So… Who Should You Hire?
Here’s a simple checklist:
You want a custom-coded website with specific functionality:
You need a web developer.
You want a visually appealing website or landing page that matches your brand:
You need a web designer.
You want a clean, modern layout for your app, dashboard, or software:
You need a UI designer.
You want your website or app to be easy to navigate and user-friendly:
You need a UX designer.
You want animated graphics, motion logos, or explainer videos:
You need an animator.
You want custom-drawn illustrations, icons, or artwork:
You need an illustrator.
You want product descriptions, brand messaging, or taglines written:
You need a copywriter.
You want to run ads, rank on Google, or launch a full marketing campaign:
You need a marketing strategist.
You want regular content, audience engagement, and growth on social media:
You need a social media manager.
You want business cards, posters, packaging, or any print-ready design:
You need a print or pre-press graphic designer.
You want polished headshots for your team or personal branding:
You need a portrait photographer.
You want clean, professional product photos for your website or catalog:
You need a product photographer.
You want books, magazines, or brochures laid out professionally:
You need a layout designer.
You want branded email templates or promotional newsletters:
You need an email designer.
You want a polished pitch deck or professional presentation for investors or meetings:
You need a presentation designer.
You want to visually explain data or tell a story with graphics:
You need an infographic designer.
You want videos, blog posts, or lifestyle content for marketing or community building:
You need a content creator.
You want trending Reels or TikToks that grab attention and grow your audience:
You need a reel/influencer creator.
You want to improve your online store, increase sales, or manage product listings:
You need an ecommerce specialist.
Still unsure? That’s OK.
A good freelance designer (👋 hi, I’m one) will often start with a discovery call to talk through your needs and help point you in the right direction, even if they’re not the right fit.
I would be worried if you call someone up and they say they can do whatever you need, but if they are willing to go over what their skills are, and are upfront with what they can do and their comfort level with new projects (hey, sometimes I am looking to learn new things too!), then they're a good egg who has been in the industry a while.
Why This Matters
When creative jobs are mismatched:
The project suffers (and so does your brand)
The designer burns out or gets frustrated by the ever-growing scope beyond their abilities
You waste time and money on the wrong fit
You might even get lied to! If someone says they are a professional dentist, plumber, tour guide, receptionist, lawyer, podcaster... it's correct to assume that at least one of those isn't up to snuff like someone who has been dedicating all their time and knowledge to one of those.
But when roles are clearly defined and respected, you get better results AND happier creatives.
TL;DR: Ask What You Need Before Asking Who to Hire
Don’t stress if you’re not sure what role you need yet. But don’t assume “graphic designer” is a catch-all term either.
Get specific about what you want done. Take a look at the handy table I made to help you find the right words. Getting the help you need, starts with asking the correct questions.
📍Written from Santa Rosa, California 🖋️ By Cameron Graphic Design