Graphic Designer vs UI/UX Designer: What's the Difference?
A detailed comparison of graphic designer and ui/ux designer freelancers — key differences, rates, and when to hire each for your project in Canada.
Graphic designers and UI/UX designers both create visual work, but their goals, processes, and deliverables are fundamentally different. A graphic designer creates visual content for branding, marketing, and communication — logos, brochures, social media graphics, and print materials. A UI/UX designer focuses on designing digital product interfaces that are intuitive, functional, and user-centered. Confusing these roles is one of the most common hiring mistakes Canadian businesses make, leading to mismatched expectations and subpar results. This guide explains exactly what each designer does, how their skills differ, and which one your project needs.
Role Overview
Graphic Designer
A graphic designer is a visual communication specialist who creates designs for both digital and print media. They work with typography, color theory, layout principles, and brand guidelines to produce logos, marketing materials, social media graphics, packaging, brochures, and advertisements. Canadian freelance graphic designers are essential for brand identity projects, marketing campaigns, and any work that requires polished visual assets. Their strength lies in creating visually striking designs that communicate a message effectively and maintain brand consistency across all touchpoints.
UI/UX Designer
A UI/UX designer designs digital product interfaces with a focus on user experience. UI (User Interface) design covers the visual layout, styling, and interactive elements of apps and websites. UX (User Experience) design involves research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing to ensure products are intuitive and meet user needs. In the Canadian tech market, UI/UX designers are critical for building SaaS products, mobile apps, and complex web applications. They combine visual design skills with user research, information architecture, and interaction design.
Key Differences
Rate Comparison
In the Canadian freelance market, UI/UX designers typically command higher rates than graphic designers due to the specialized nature of product design. Mid-level graphic designers charge $50–$85/hr, with senior creatives earning up to $140/hr. UI/UX designers at the mid level charge $65–$110/hr, with senior product designers reaching $175/hr. UI/UX designers with strong user research skills or experience in complex B2B SaaS products tend to command the highest rates.
Graphic Designer Rates (CAD/hr)
UI/UX Designer Rates (CAD/hr)
When to Hire Each
Hire a graphic designer when you need visual assets for branding or marketing: a new logo, marketing collateral, social media graphics, packaging, or print materials. If your project is about visual communication and doesn't involve designing functional interfaces, a graphic designer is the right choice.
Hire a UI/UX designer when you're building or improving a digital product — a web app, mobile app, or SaaS platform. If users need to navigate, interact, and complete tasks within your product, you need someone who understands user experience principles. For projects that involve both (e.g., a new website with a strong brand identity and interactive features), consider hiring both or finding a designer who genuinely excels at both disciplines.
Sample Freelancers
Graphic Designer freelancers on Freel
Madame Lefebvre I Réviseure
🎓 ✨ Madame Lefebvre — Réviseure | Correction et Optimisation de Textes Étudiants
Raghuram Dharanipathy
Data transformational Specialist
vincent opara
Business operations expert
UI/UX Designer freelancers on Freel
Kyrylo Yermakov
Multidisciplinary Empathic Product Designer, UX/UI designer, Web designer
Dominique MASSOKA ETEME
Développeur Wordpress / Spécialiste automation AI
Alexandre Guyochet
Designer UI/UX
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between a graphic designer and a UI/UX designer?
A graphic designer creates visual content for communication and branding (logos, marketing materials). A UI/UX designer designs digital product interfaces focused on user experience (apps, websites, SaaS products). Graphic designers focus on how things look; UI/UX designers focus on how things work and look.
Can a graphic designer do UI/UX design?
A graphic designer can create visually appealing interface mockups, but UI/UX design requires additional skills in user research, information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing. Without these skills, the interface may look good but be difficult to use.
Should I hire a graphic designer or UI/UX designer for my website?
For a marketing website or portfolio site, a graphic designer with web experience may suffice. For a complex web application, SaaS product, or e-commerce platform with user accounts and interactive features, hire a UI/UX designer. The more complex the user interactions, the more you need UX expertise.
Who earns more: graphic designers or UI/UX designers in Canada?
UI/UX designers generally earn higher rates due to the specialized, technical nature of product design and strong demand from the tech industry. However, senior graphic designers with strong brand strategy skills also command premium rates.
Do I need both a graphic designer and a UI/UX designer?
If you're building a digital product that also needs brand identity and marketing materials, yes. The UI/UX designer handles the product experience while the graphic designer creates brand assets, marketing collateral, and visual content. Some designers bridge both worlds, but specialists typically deliver better results.
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