In graphic design, there is realism and then there is abstract. Realism is detail. It is anatomy and wrinkles. Realism carries with it every piece of information that an object contains. Abstract, in contrast, is as little information as possible. It is a representation of the object.
Most design exists somewhere in the middle. How much information is necessary? How much is too much? Take these three images for example.
Because of the amount of detail this photo uses, it’s not very useful as design.
This strips away too much information. It retains the shape and colors associated with a stoplight but many viewers would misinterpret the image.
This is somewhere in the middle. It communicates enough that everyone would understand the image yet removes details that add simplicity and allow for different perspectives on the same object.
When designing any object, it’s important to think of the necessary information and strip everything else away.