Graphic design is the practice of using images, type, color, and layout to communicate a message clearly and persuasively -- it is a problem-solving discipline, not just 'making things pretty.' Common specializations include brand identity (logos, visual systems), UI/UX design (apps and websites), motion graphics (video and animation), and print design (packaging, posters, publications). Print design requires attention to resolution (300 DPI) and color mode (CMYK), while digital design uses lower resolution (72-150 PPI) and RGB color, which matters because a design built for one medium will look wrong in the other. Freelance and remote graphic design work is one of the most accessible creative careers for African designers, since clients on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr pay in dollars and need no physical presence.