Copywriters vs Graphic Designers

Dogs vs cats. Republicans vs Democrats. Vegans vs cattle ranchers. Copywriters vs graphic designers. These groups’ very nature sometimes puts them at odds. What I love about the advertising industry is how it brings together different types of creatives to accomplish a goal.

There are differences in what copywriters and graphic designers do, but I believe there are also many similarities. While working as a Copywriter/Production intern at VI Marketing and Branding, I got to understand this better.

One day, Blake Behrens—Creative Artist at VI—mentioned wanting to see the difference between a copywriter’s vs graphic designer’s brains while working. I don’t have access to an MRI, but I am a copywriter—and wanna-be graphic designer—so this question really interested me. It got me thinking that, though it seems like they have different focuses, they may use a similar creative process.

I knew the creative process that seemed to work best for me as a new copywriter, but I didn’t know the process a graphic designer would use. So I asked Blake about his design creation process as well as Clay Miller—VI’s Senior Creative Writer/Producer—about his copywriting creation process to see where they may meet.

Choosing and Arranging Elements

Copywriters and graphic designers both deal with choosing and arranging elements to convey a message. Random words on a page would have no context or meaning. Just like random shapes wouldn’t. So both choose the right elements and arrange them in a context that best gives meaning to their part of the message.

Working Within Limitations

Both have to find creativity within limitations. Ad size can limit copy length as well as the number of design elements. Client requirements are also limiting. The amount of information many clients want included makes it harder for copywriters to write a concise, persuasive message. For a graphic designer, limits may be logo size, client’s chosen images, and the length of a copywriter’s brilliant body copy.

Understanding Thought Process

To be effective, both also need an understanding of how people process information. An attention-grabbing headline or a stunning illustration is just the start. A copywriter needs to know how the mind flows through ideas to elicit a response. While a graphic designer needs to know how the eyes flow across the page to reach the message.

Attention-Getting Principles

They both use some similar attention getting principles. A copywriter may use repetition to tie ideas together or use contrasting ideas—like a statement that resolves two opposites—to make an idea stand out. A graphic designer may use repetition to unify visual elements or use contrast to emphasize elements.

Every graphic designer knows that when you give a copywriter an inch, he’ll write for a mile, so I’ll stop here. If I’ve kept your attention this far, maybe you’ll get something out of my other posts.