Without graphic designers, everything we see would lack the visual aspects of communication: colors, shapes, and logos that make name brands popular and memorable on a global scale. Being a graphic designer and a person of color, you can use graphic design as a tool, a skill set to tell a story, to share your experiences, and to send a message to the viewer in your own technique and style. Charles Lyles III, a graphic design student in his senior year, explains his unique experience:

How did you get involved with graphic design?

“Since I was a kid, I’ve always enjoyed flipping through coffee table books, graphic novels, and photography collections, as well as admiring objects with beautiful color combinations. When I was 14, my mom volunteered me to work at a print shop that specializes in servicing small businesses. There, I learned how to use Photoshop to create business cards, flyers, and CD covers. I also met many people who lived and worked in downtown Stockton, and they shared their goals and visions with me, explaining how the shop helped bring them to life.

It took me a long time to realize that everything I loved—along with my experience at the print shop—fell under one title: Graphic Design.

A decade later, while working a photography gig, I met someone who invited me to visit his advertising company. I went and was thoroughly impressed by the environment, the culture, and the impact the company had on the community. As I left to go to my job—which I hated—I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had seen. By the end of that shift, I made a resolution: I was going to enroll in college and become a graphic designer.”

What could you tell other Black artists that would get them involved in this business?

“It is a powerful tool for creative expression, communication, craftsmanship, cultural influence, and entrepreneurship—all areas in which the Black community can, and should thrive.”

What do you find the most important about your profession?

“What I find most important about my profession is its ability to bridge the gap between discovery and communication. Graphic design is a powerful tool for sharing information, sparking meaningful dialogue, and providing a platform for creative expression. I love seeing people engage with my work, knowing that it helps them or enhances their well-being.”

Black creatives have extensive powers of visual communication. Graphic design can do more than business cards and billboards, but also posters, social media posts, to advocate, challenge, and furthermore change the world.