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The Digital Divide And Its Implications For Graphic Designers

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BABIR International Journal for Human Sciences

Volume 3, Issue 1 January 2021

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The Digital Divide And Its Implications For Graphic Designers

Raqee Najmuldeen

To cite this article

Najmuldeen, R. (2021). The Digital Divide And Its Implications For Graphic Designers. BABIR International Journal for Human Sciences, 3(1),
27-33.

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THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR GRAPHIC

DESIGNERS

Raqee Sabah NAJMULDEEN1

Abstract
Technology has caused major changes in all fields including the field
of graphic designing. These technological advancements have led to
a large amount of new software to be created and many new fields
under the head of graphic designing to emerge. As a result of this
drastic technological change, challenges have been faced by people
working under the field. There has been created a gap in the
educational sector and the practical sector of graphic designing
(Sheila & Waarde, 2020, p. 232), ). The paper problem
arises,( traditional graphic designers have also been under a huge
challenge, being faced due to the rapid technological changes. Both
these issues arise due to the rapid and expensive technological
advancements being made in graphic design). These technological
advancements still seem to be continuing. Hence it is important to
address the current and potential issues. The objective of this paper
is to address the issues being faced due to the rapid technological
advancements by firstly assessing the impact of these advancements
on the field of graphic designing.
Key Word: Graphic Designing, Digital Divide, Implications, Graphic
Education.

1
Dr. , Baghdad University, [email protected]

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Introduction
Graphic design was initially a field based on print media. After the involvement of computer
technology and the emergence of the World Wide Web in the field of graphic design, it
changed drastically. The constraints that were available in the traditional form of designing
and ended as new technologies emerged. Creativity, career paths, and the ability to create
new designs were highly impacted under the field of graphic designing. Rapid technological
advancements had positively impacted these characteristics of the graphic designing field.
However, challenges were faced by everyone involved in the field due to not being able to
adapt to the rapid changes. The following paper discusses the impact of technological
advancements upon creativity, career paths, and the possibility of new designs under the
field. The challenges faced due to the impact technology had on this field have also been
discussed. Based upon the assessment, a gap has been identified with the possible
solutions mentioned in the conclusion of the paper.

Impact of Technology upon Graphic Designing as a Career

Technology has had an impact on all fields of business. Graphic designing is also an
industry under the impact of emerging and changing technology. The impacts mostly
pertain to advancements in each field, including that of graphic designing. More is being
able to be presented now, with better visuals. Graphic designing has always been depending
upon print since it came into existence (Mahmoud, 2016, p. 270). Being a print media,
technology made huge impact on the way graphics were presented (Zee, 2019, p. 1). This
can be mostly seen through the roles graphic designers used to play previously versus the
role they play in 2020 (Mahmoud, 2016, p. 270). The potential of each individual in this
field has been completely enhanced with the enhancement of technology (Nathalie &
Zenasni, 2010, p. 180). Advancements within the technology have caused the issued
regarding digital representation to mostly end. These issues include a lack of space and
time. This is mainly through internet-based resources. The way data is presented and saved
is the main change that technology has caused (Fahriye, et al., 2017, p. 694). These
changes have further changed the duties of people who choose graphic designing as a
career. For new comers in the field, it is a positive aspect (Daniel, 2017, p. 8). As many new
areas of the field have been created. With the different type of advanced technologies, now
more areas of specialization have emerged, making this field of a broader scope. Even
though many more career paths have emerged, the old ways to do things have been now
rejected in this modern world. Especially the print media (Francis, 2017). People in the field
of graphic designing since a longer period of time, are now expected to adapt newer
techniques. Animation one of the top advancements in this field, that has created career
paths for many individuals, but completely ended for people previously in the field, working
in print media (Zee, 2019, p. 18). Traditional methods of graphics have completely been
eliminated. Newer methods are now expected to be performed by both newer generation, as
well as traditionally specialized people.
With the Print media coming to an end, the career path for traditional drawing have also
narrowed down, with modern graphic drawing coming into existence (Banu, 2019, p. 2023).
The new technology, making individuals being capable to draw on computerized software,
has a new section emerged in the field of designing (Nathalie & Zenasni, 2010, p. 180). This
skill of drawing being associated with graphic designing has opened the fields of animation
and illustration. These are skills for which drawing is taught as a part of the process, but
has made traditional drawing to be of lower significance (Banu, 2019, p. 2023). With new
and advanced software created, links between the field of graphic designing and other fields
have also emerged. These links have caused graphic designers to be required in multiple
other fields as well. A commonly seen linking of graphic designing and another field is seen
with the engineering field (Asrul, Nelda, & Anshari, 2020, p. 194). So much so, that the
engineering education sector has considered graphic designing being a part of the necessary
course for electronic engineering department (Asrul, Nelda, & Anshari, 2020, p. 193).
Moreover, the newer portable technologies have also caused there to be a link within the
architecture department and graphic designing as well, where graphic designers are
presented as team members of architects teams (Mahmoud, 2016, p. 270). Another career

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29 Raqee Sabah NAJMULDEEN

path given more significance in today’s world is the advertising and marketing industry
(Anna, 2018, p. 208). With newer and better methods of representing graphics, along with
the rise of social media, the career expansion within the marketing sector can be seen to
highly attain growth. The emergence of newer technologies and people being able to present
graphics more precisely have expanded the career of graphic designing drastically.

Modern Technology Influencing Creativity within the Field of Graphic Designing –

2020
The characteristic of the field of graphic designing being mostly impacted with the
emergence of newer and better technologies is creativity (Walter & Chimanga, 2018, p. 29).
This is because now individuals of the field can express more precisely (Fahriye, et al.,
2017, p. 694). Better software have been created, for instance CAD. This is also known as
“Computer-Aided Design”. It is a tool used to design products before their actual making.
Based on studies, when individuals are presented with generating ideas with constraints
provided, creatively expressing is difficult (Nathalie & Zenasni, 2010, p. 180). This software
has been a turning point for many industries. CAD has provided the ability for designers to
produce designs without having to deal with constraints that were usually present
(Mahmoud, 2016, p. 269). After these constraints have been removed, the ability of
designers to express themselves freely has drastically increased (Nathalie & Zenasni, 2010,
p. 189). Hence, technology playing a huge role in increasing the creativity of the field of
graphic designing (Fahriye, et al., 2017, p. 694).
Moreover, creativity has also increased in the fields of illustration and animation. This is
because both these fields of graphic designing are based upon drawing and drawing is
based upon creativity (Banu, 2019, p. 2021). With the constraints regarding space and time
being reduced, the opportunity to express freely becomes available to the individuals within
the field. With the inherent pressures to increase creativity, within the field of animation
and illustration, along with constraints reduced due to better technologies, creativity faces
massive increase.
Graphic designing is inherently a field that is based upon creativity (Asrul, Nelda, &
Anshari, 2020, p. 195). The designing, in order to be noticeable and attractive, creativity
should be an element of the process (Archana, 2018, p. 61). The development of media is
the technological advancement is what has mainly boosted the levels of creativity in this
field. (Asrul, Nelda, & Anshari, 2020, p. 194). The field that has emerged with the
advancement of technology is of digital arts (Archana, 2018, p. 63). Arts itself is based upon
creativity, and associating such with graphic designing creates a stronger link of creativity
and graphic designing (Fahriye, et al., 2017, p. 692). Students are now said to express
themselves more freely as compared to the traditional form of art (Banu, 2019, p. 2023).
With the digital art coming into existence, it has gained huge amounts of respect due to it
continuing to provide high amounts of creativity with the association of the latest
technologies in the world (Fahriye, et al., 2017, p. 687).

Challenges Faced Due to Emerging Technology

Even though the technological aspects have created many benefits in the field of graphic
designing, there are multiple challenges that were faced by individuals’ part of this field.
The major challenges were faced by the traditional workers of this field (Sheila & Waarde,
2020, p. 230). More particularly the ones working in print media. Technology took over the
world quite rapidly. This created lesser opportunities and time for people working with
traditional methods to adapt to the rapid changes (Walter & Chimanga, 2018, p. 29). As a
result, opportunities for people with traditional methods were reduced. This was one of the
greatest challenge faced in the world of graphic designing. This issue is still seen to be faced
by the industry. No proper methods of converting from a traditional graphic designer to a
modern graphic designer have been yet established (Nathalie & Zenasni, 2010, p. 182).
Rapid changes in technologies have left many senior people of the field jobless. The print
industry rapidly collapsed as soon as digital media came into existence. The amount of new
technologies has also increased to expenses of being sustained in this field. This caused

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many people to stick to their prior accessories and not being able to adapt to the changes.
The same technological advancements that have seen to cause benefits for the field are the
ones that have also caused the field members to face multiple challenges. Even do
technological advancements have caused many new fields to emerge under the head of
graphic designing the traditional views and methodologies a graphic designing has been
completely eliminated (Sheila & Waarde, 2020, p. 229).
People not being able to afford the newer and advanced technologies available in the market
have caused major issues. Adaptation, because of this has become very hard (Anna, 2018,
p. 208). Areas of graphic designing that are facing challenges are where graphic designing
begins at its core. The education system is one of the departments that is still focused on
old methods of learning (Sheila & Waarde, 2020, p. 234). Newer and advanced technologies
have been introduced where new skills are being learnt by individuals coming in the field.
However, the traditional methods of teaching the skills required have yet not changed
(Anna, 2018, p. 210). This is again because of the rapid changes and expensive technologies
(Zee, 2019, p. 8). The fields requiring graphic designers are not able to add the course of
graphic designing in their specified field course due to the expensive technologies (Banu,
2019, p. 2021). Graphic designing, hence has faced challenges in merging with other fields
and also attaining acknowledgement in the educational department as its own field as well
(Asrul, Nelda, & Anshari, 2020, p. 194). Fields that require the services of graphic designing
as a part of their own field do not have graphic designing as a course in their educational
departments (Francis, 2017). This is because graphic designing was not privately a part of
their course work but the technological changes have made a graphic designing to be able
to help in those fields and merge with them however the lack of ability to adapt to the
changes as well as the expensive technologies, fields requiring such skills are not able to
adapt them (Daniel, 2017, p. 8).

Graphic Designers Using Technology to Create New Designs

Creativity being boosted in the department of graphic designing has caused many new
designs to be emerged in all fields of business. Creativity has been a key factor that has
caused new designs to be introduced (Walter & Chimanga, 2018, p. 31). Different software
had made it easier for people to drop new designs without having any constraints that will
available in the traditional methods of graphic designing (Walter & Chimanga, 2018, p. 32).
This creativity has caused the most advantage for the fields of engineering in architecture.
Newer technologies have cause people to imagine new designs that were not possible
without the new software. With the help of the software is the imagine design can be put
into rational structures. The most common technological advancement in graphic designing
that has help in creating new designs is CAD2. With the help of software like CAD, the
imagined designs can be put into visuals (Nathalie & Zenasni, 2010, p. 187). The traditional
method to create this designs is by establishing models.
These models not only to time but space which are the constraints that graphic designing
has ended. Other than CAD many other software has been created that help in creating new
designs without practically creating the models required. Graphic designers are using
different types of software in every field of business (Walter & Chimanga, 2018, p. 29). Each
type of field requires a different type of software. And each type of software results in
different types of designs. For instance, where models of products of machines are to be
created CAD is the software that is the most appropriate to be used (Nathalie & Zenasni,
2010, p. 180). On the other hand in the marketing department the most appropriate
software and the most commonly used to software is the Adobe Photoshop (Zee, 2019, p. 9).
Both of these software are very different but fall under the field of graphic designing and
result in various designs that can be created based upon the creativity of the graphic
designer.
Another field where new designs have highly emerged as the marketing and advertising
industry. With the emergence of social media, it is necessary for new methods of visuals to

2
CAD: Computer-Aided Design

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31 Raqee Sabah NAJMULDEEN

be presented in new designs to attain attention of the customers (Nathalie & Zenasni, 2010,
p. 180). Creativity again here has a leading role to play in the new designs being emerged in
the marketing industry. Marketing and advertising methodologies have drastically changed
with the emergence of graphic designing within the field. With creativity being at its peak
and all physical constraints been eliminated new designs are easily and excessively being
made by graphic designers. Graphic designing has highly impacted the field of Arts
(Archana, 2018, p. 61). Where traditional art is completely focused on drawing on a canvas,
digital art has changed it to be presented into graphics (Banu, 2019, p. 2022). Graphic
designing in digital arts aims to enhance the quality of aesthetics and communication,
which leads to an increase in the capability of the artist to express himself (Banu, 2019, p.
2020). Under such enhancements, new and better designs are expected. These designs are
intended to make the standards of living better.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this study is to identify the impact technological advancements have made to the
graphic designing industry. The objective is to identify the learning gap between traditional
graphic designers and modern graphic designers. Moreover, the importance of graphic
design to be associated with other fields has also been observed. There is a strong gap
between the traditional methodologies and the modern version of graphic designing. This
study acknowledges the existence of that gap. After assessing the impact of technology on
graphic designing a massive difference is seen between the traditional methods and modern
methodologies. This paper is intended to put together the very obvious benefits of emerging
technology and the lesser obvious challenges faced due to it. Putting the benefits and
drawbacks under the same study would shed light on the usually ignored challenges.
Resulting in pointing out the facts that challenges do exist at a great extent.

Significance of the Study

The rapid change in technology is have caused there to be a huge gap in the educational
sector of graphic designing and the practical implementation of the needs. This gap yet
tense to continue because of the educational system Not being able to cope with the
expensive advancements made in the field (Francis, 2017). These rapid and expensive
advancements have also been the reason many traditional graphic designers have lost their
employment. the field it is necessary to address these issues and for a solution to be made
for future potential issues (Daniel, 2017, p. 2). Based upon an assessment of the current
circumstances it is expected that future graphic designers will also face a gap regarding the
design education and practical sector of the graphic designing, addressing such issues is
significant (Daniel, 2017, p. 2). The challenges faced are usually ignored by the
advancements and benefits cause under the impact of technology. These facts signify the
importance of the current study, so such challenges and the gap identified are not ignored
and taken into consideration.

Research Design
In the paper, research has been made based upon the review of past literature. Past
literature regarding the current issue has been made but a review Made upon both the
impacts of technological advancements as well as a challenges faced has been made in the
current paper. The conclusions made upon the assessment of the past literature can also
be verified by a practical research of the graphic designing industry. In order to do so a
questionnaire may be made which is to be circulated among the educational departments of
the graphic designing field. The same question may be regulated in the practical part of the
field. An assessment of both results may be made to identify the gap between the
educational sector and the practical sector or graphic designing due to technological
advancements. After such assessment is made a model is recommended in order to
eliminate the cap in current situations. For example, Zimbabwe, a country in South Africa,
is country struggling with updating towards the latest technological advancements made
within the field of graphic designing (Walter & Chimanga, 2018, p. 30). Rapid changes have

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left the educational sector regarding graphics, in the country, unable to cope with the
advancements made. This has led the country to still implement traditional techniques
pertaining to graphic designing. The two main issues causing the gap between practical and
educational sector of graphic designing are the expensive amounts of technologies required,
as well as the excessive amount of accessories and skills required. Leading to the traditional
sector seeming as being unskilled as compared to the modern world (Walter & Chimanga,
2018, p. 33). This has altered the way graphic designers perform their jobs. The graphic
designers working with traditional techniques are left with no worth for their skills.
Especially since print media is highly diminished (Mahmoud, 2016, p. 271). Their required
roles have been changed based on the new technology, in the graphic designing industry. In
order to adapt to those skills, drastic changes are needed to be made, which require
excelled accessories. For instance, in Zimbabwe, upon a market analysis, through
questionnaire, it has been seen that young graphic designers are enrolling in available
courses in the country and that existing graphic designers are unable to adapt to new
technologies (Walter & Chimanga, 2018, p. 32).

Results
1. Emerging technology in the field of graphic designing has created many subfields.
With the emergence of these modern fields the past additional fields have seen to be
eliminated causing the traditional graphic designers to face huge loss.
2. No system has been created for converting from traditional to modern technologies
within the graphic designing field. Instant technological changes even though create
benefits but also have drawbacks regarding adapting to changes.
3. The impact of technological advancements has created a gap in design education
and the practical implementation of graphic designing.
4. The gap between the educational and practical sector of graphic designing is often
ignored by the high amounts of benefits technological advancements have provided.
5. With the technological advancements still continue to exist and increase throughout
the modern day it is expected that a gap will increase. A model is recommended to
be prepared for the new graphic designers in order to deal with any future shifts in
the technology.
6. This model would cover all aspects of the field including the Educational department
of the field as well as the practical implementations. The aim of this model would be
of provide a framework of updating from traditional to modern methodologies in a
sustainable manner.

Conclusion
1. Even though newer generation has received multiple amounts of career options and
diversity in the field, but traditional graphic designers were unable to adapt to the
drastic change.
2. This leads to a prediction, that with the still changing technology, young generation
may face similar consequences in future.

Bibliography
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Archana, R. (2018). Digital Technology : It's Role in Art Creativity. Journal of Commerce
and Trade, 61-65.
Asrul, H., N. A., & Anshari, K. (2020). Practicality and Effectiveness Test of Graphic Design
Learning Media Based on Android. International Journal of Interactive Mobile
Technologies (iJIM), 192-203.
Banu, B. (2019). The relationship of the traditional drawing education with technology and
graphic design . Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 , 2019-2023.

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