People have always used graphics to communicate, beginning with writings on cave walls. The invention of the printing press increased the need for graphic designers who could manipulate text and graphics in an appealing way.
Typography describes the way the type appears on the page. This includes font selection, alignment and spacing.
Visual arts include any graphic used in a graphic design. These include photos, drawings or icons.
Page layout is the overall view of a page. This includes the interaction between typography and visual arts.
With the increasing use of the Internet, graphic design has become an important part of interfaces for websites. Graphic designers merge text and graphics seamlessly to help navigate users through a website.