Graphic design has been around for quit some time and throughout the years, technology has impacted the way people can design. In the panel How Technology Has Impacted Graphic Design, Sara Shields, an instructor and graduate student from Texas State University, and Paul Trani, a Senior Worldwide Evangelist from Adobe, talked about the history of graphic design and how designers can use new technology to create better and more innovative designs.

The panel started off talking about the history of graphic design and then moved into the topics of technology and how designers can make creative design using different technology programs, devices and techniques. Some of the key points was how to put film within graphics, 3D printing, emoji in Photoshop, context aware types, and virtual reality. Shields and Trani also discussed the future of design for jobs and gave advice for those who have and are seeking a career in design.

Trani said that designers must have a convergence of skills that consist of classic design, design thinking, and computational design and when in the field of graphic designing, it’s important to design with a purpose, keep reinventing yourself, and never stop learning.

I had the opportunity to speak with Shields and Trani more about their interests in graphic design and what they would like to learn more to enhance their skills.