Looking for a Designer? Here's how to know which one you need
Looking for a Designer? Here's how to know which one you need
Looking for a Designer? Here's how to know which one you need
If you're a business owner, you probably don't wake up thinking, “I need a brand designer” or “I need a UI/UX designer.”
You think, “I need a new website.” Or “Our brand needs a refresh.” Or maybe, “We need better packaging.”
And that's completely normal.
You know your business and the problem you're trying to solve. Knowing which type of designer can help you solve it, however, isn't always obvious.
There are many different design disciplines, and while they can overlap, each one focuses on a different part of the creative process.
So, which designer does your business actually need?
If you're a business owner, you probably don't wake up thinking, “I need a brand designer” or “I need a UI/UX designer.”
You think, “I need a new website.” Or “Our brand needs a refresh.” Or maybe, “We need better packaging.”
And that's completely normal.
You know your business and the problem you're trying to solve. Knowing which type of designer can help you solve it, however, isn't always obvious.
There are many different design disciplines, and while they can overlap, each one focuses on a different part of the creative process.
So, which designer does your business actually need?
If you're a business owner, you probably don't wake up thinking, “I need a brand designer” or “I need a UI/UX designer.”
You think, “I need a new website.” Or “Our brand needs a refresh.” Or maybe, “We need better packaging.”
And that's completely normal.
You know your business and the problem you're trying to solve. Knowing which type of designer can help you solve it, however, isn't always obvious.
There are many different design disciplines, and while they can overlap, each one focuses on a different part of the creative process.
So, which designer does your business actually need?
In this article
In this article
What does a Graphic Designer do?
What does a Graphic Designer do?
What does a Graphic Designer do?
A graphic designer works across the everyday visual communication of a business.
A graphic designer works across the everyday visual communication of a business.
They can create social media graphics, advertisements, presentations, brochures, posters, marketing materials and other visual assets that help communicate your message clearly and effectively.
They can create social media graphics, advertisements, presentations, brochures, posters, marketing materials and other visual assets that help communicate your message clearly and effectively.
If you already have an established brand but need someone to turn your ideas, campaigns or content into effective visual communication, a graphic designer may be the right person for the job.
If you already have an established brand but need someone to turn your ideas, campaigns or content into effective visual communication, a graphic designer may be the right person for the job.
Graphic design is often about taking an existing message or brand and finding the most effective visual way to communicate it.
Graphic design is often about taking an existing message or brand and finding the most effective visual way to communicate it.
What does a Brand Designer do?
What does a Brand Designer do?
What does a Brand Designer do?
A brand designer focuses on how your business looks, feels and is recognized visually.
A brand designer focuses on how your business looks, feels and is recognized visually.
Their work can include your logo, colour palette, typography, graphic elements, imagery and broader visual identity. But the goal isn't simply to create a nice logo. It's to build a consistent and recognizable brand identity that can work across different touchpoints.
Their work can include your logo, colour palette, typography, graphic elements, imagery and broader visual identity. But the goal isn't simply to create a nice logo. It's to build a consistent and recognizable brand identity that can work across different touchpoints.
A brand designer may also consider how your identity is applied across your website, packaging, social media, marketing materials and other customer-facing experiences.
A brand designer may also consider how your identity is applied across your website, packaging, social media, marketing materials and other customer-facing experiences.
If you're launching a new business, repositioning an existing one, or your current visual identity no longer represents where your business is going, a brand designer can help you build an identity that supports that next stage.
If you're launching a new business, repositioning an existing one, or your current visual identity no longer represents where your business is going, a brand designer can help you build an identity that supports that next stage.
What does a UI/UX or Product Designer do?
What does a UI/UX or Product Designer do?
What does a UI/UX or Product Designer do?
A UI/UX designer, often referred to as a product designer in digital product teams, focuses on how people interact with digital products and interfaces.
A UI/UX designer, often referred to as a product designer in digital product teams, focuses on how people interact with digital products and interfaces.
Their work can involve websites, apps, software and other digital products. They consider things such as navigation, usability, information hierarchy, user flows and interface design.
Their work can involve websites, apps, software and other digital products. They consider things such as navigation, usability, information hierarchy, user flows and interface design.
While UX focuses heavily on the overall experience and how users move through a product, UI focuses on the visual interface people interact with.
While UX focuses heavily on the overall experience and how users move through a product, UI focuses on the visual interface people interact with.
If you're building a digital product or improving an existing one, a UI/UX or product designer can help make the experience more intuitive, useful and enjoyable.
If you're building a digital product or improving an existing one, a UI/UX or product designer can help make the experience more intuitive, useful and enjoyable.
What does a Web Designer do?
What does a Web Designer do?
What does a Web Designer do?
A web designer focuses specifically on the design and experience of a website.
A web designer focuses specifically on the design and experience of a website.
They consider how information is presented, how visitors move through the site, how the brand is represented online and how the different pages work together as an overall experience.
They consider how information is presented, how visitors move through the site, how the brand is represented online and how the different pages work together as an overall experience.
Web design can involve visual design, layout, responsive behaviour, content hierarchy and sometimes elements of UX and UI design.
Web design can involve visual design, layout, responsive behaviour, content hierarchy and sometimes elements of UX and UI design.
If your business needs a new website or your current website no longer communicates what you do effectively, a web designer can help turn your content, brand and business goals into a clear online presence.
If your business needs a new website or your current website no longer communicates what you do effectively, a web designer can help turn your content, brand and business goals into a clear online presence.
Depending on the project, web design can also overlap with branding, UI/UX and development. That's why it's useful to understand exactly what you need from your website before choosing who to work with.
Depending on the project, web design can also overlap with branding, UI/UX and development. That's why it's useful to understand exactly what you need from your website before choosing who to work with.
What does a Packaging Designer do?
What does a Packaging Designer do?
What does a Packaging Designer do?
A packaging designer focuses on how a product is presented physically.
A packaging designer focuses on how a product is presented physically.
Packaging needs to do more than look good. It needs to communicate what the product is, reflect the brand, stand out among competitors and work within practical production requirements.
Packaging needs to do more than look good. It needs to communicate what the product is, reflect the brand, stand out among competitors and work within practical production requirements.
This can include everything from the visual design of a box, bottle or label to the way different packaging elements work together as part of the overall brand experience.
This can include everything from the visual design of a box, bottle or label to the way different packaging elements work together as part of the overall brand experience.
If you're launching a physical product, redesigning an existing one or looking to improve its shelf presence, a packaging designer can help bring your brand into the physical world.
If you're launching a physical product, redesigning an existing one or looking to improve its shelf presence, a packaging designer can help bring your brand into the physical world.
Packaging design can also involve collaboration with brand designers, illustrators, photographers, copywriters and production specialists, depending on the project.
Packaging design can also involve collaboration with brand designers, illustrators, photographers, copywriters and production specialists, depending on the project.
What's the difference between these designers?
What's the difference between these designers?
What's the difference between these designers?
The boundaries between design disciplines aren't always clear-cut.
The boundaries between design disciplines aren't always clear-cut.
A brand designer might work on a website. A graphic designer might create packaging. A web designer might also handle UI/UX. A product designer might work closely with a brand team.
A brand designer might work on a website. A graphic designer might create packaging. A web designer might also handle UI/UX. A product designer might work closely with a brand team.
The difference is usually less about what they can technically create and more about what problem they're primarily focused on solving.
The difference is usually less about what they can technically create and more about what problem they're primarily focused on solving.
Of course, real projects aren't always this straightforward. You may need several areas of expertise working together.
Of course, real projects aren't always this straightforward. You may need several areas of expertise working together.
And that's where another kind of creative role can become valuable.
And that's where another kind of creative role can become valuable.
The Creative Partner
The Creative Partner
The Creative Partner
But what happens when you're not entirely sure what kind of designer you need?
But what happens when you're not entirely sure what kind of designer you need?
That's where a Creative Partner can make a difference.
That's where a Creative Partner can make a difference.
A Creative Partner doesn't simply take a brief and start designing. They first look at the bigger picture:
A Creative Partner doesn't simply take a brief and start designing. They first look at the bigger picture:
What are you trying to achieve? What problem are you solving? What does the business actually need?
What are you trying to achieve? What problem are you solving? What does the business actually need?
Sometimes the answer is a brand identity. Sometimes it's a website, packaging, a marketing campaign or a combination of several things.
Sometimes the answer is a brand identity. Sometimes it's a website, packaging, a marketing campaign or a combination of several things.
A Creative Partner helps you make sense of those needs, identify the right creative direction, connect the right specialists when necessary and guide the process from idea to execution.
A Creative Partner helps you make sense of those needs, identify the right creative direction, connect the right specialists when necessary and guide the process from idea to execution.
It's less about having one person do everything and more about having someone who understands what needs to happen and why.
It's less about having one person do everything and more about having someone who understands what needs to happen and why.
This can be particularly valuable when you're a small or growing business without an in-house creative team and don't necessarily know which specialist to approach first.
This can be particularly valuable when you're a small or growing business without an in-house creative team and don't necessarily know which specialist to approach first.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Finding the right designer doesn't have to start with knowing the right job title.
Finding the right designer doesn't have to start with knowing the right job title.
Start with the problem you're trying to solve, the goal you want to achieve and where your business needs creative support. From there, the right design expertise becomes much easier to identify.
Start with the problem you're trying to solve, the goal you want to achieve and where your business needs creative support. From there, the right design expertise becomes much easier to identify.
And sometimes, the best place to start isn't with a specific designer at all. It's with a conversation. You bring the business challenge. The creative partner helps you figure out what comes next.
And sometimes, the best place to start isn't with a specific designer at all. It's with a conversation. You bring the business challenge. The creative partner helps you figure out what comes next.
Need help figuring out what your brand needs?
Need help figuring out what your brand needs?
Need help figuring out what your brand needs?
© 2025 Michaela Krasteva. All right reserved.
© 2025 Michaela Krasteva. All right reserved.
© 2025 Michaela Krasteva. All right reserved.