Did you know that the visuals of your website can create such a huge impact? While it can make your website the best, it can also break your goals if you don’t design it correctly. That’s where designers come from, offering free illustrations, paid templates, and so much more!
If you’re a designer, you probably already know the importance of your job, and the fact that you need to stay aware of trends and graphic design tips to keep your clients satisfied. So if you want to learn about how to do better and excel in your career, read on!
Nine Graphic Design Tips to Follow
Technology has made it easier for us to become better In graphic design. But if you want to become a professional, there’s more to it than depending on software like Canva! After doing much research and asking professional graphic designers, here are some tips to live by:
1. Stay on Brand with a Style Guide
Style guides are your own brand or one made by your client or employer. This is your designer bible and if you feel doubt, just go to the guide!
This guide contains what the client or company wants, from fonts, colors, as well as different elements that ensure the visuals stay consistent with their identity. Your designs shouldn’t stay away from the style guide, making it quicker and easier to create a successful output.
2. Consider a Good Color Palette
The style guide will usually have advice on what color palettes to use in specific areas. But in general, you’ll have more artistic freedom with the graphic’s color choices. Remember, colors convey certain messages and moods, and you’ll want to create a positive response according to what your clients need.
- Yellow has a warmer and clearer feel
- Orange shows more friendliness and cheer
- Red is more youthful and bold
- Blue shows strength and dependability
- Purple is more imaginative and wise
- Green shows health and growth
- Silver, gray, white and black colors show balance and calmness
3. Limit the Usage of Many Fonts
There are a lot of opinions on the typography you use for your graphic design. After all, this is an important element that can send out a significant message, just like colors! If your fonts’ look and feel don’t match with the graphic’s purpose and content, then it throws a reader off.
As much as possible, limit the typefaces you use, which can have the graphic appear messy and confusing to read. I recommend that you use serif fonts, which improve readability for web content and print. But make sure it still follows the style guide!
4. Build Blank Space
When creating graphic designs, it’s recommended to leave some negative or white space around it. This is like a breathing room for the design since if you smoosh everything in, readers get confused with where they should look at.
Consider white and negative spaces as a design element, which has readers direct to where they should be looking at. Furthermore, this can keep the graphics simple and easier to look at, which readers also appreciate.
5. Your Scale Is a Friend
Besides thinking about the fonts, white space and colors, think about the scale of your elements. This is crucial especially when you begin to include icons, illustrations, shapes, and other different designs.
Give more scale to specific visual elements, which can improve the composition and emphasize areas as needed. Furthermore, using a scale strategically can lead the readers’ eyes from one feature to another one.
6. Rest Your Eyes and Recheck Everything
As a professional designer, you’re most likely staring at a screen or canvas all day long. This really puts a strain on both the eyes and the mind, which is why taking a step back best.
If you keep your eyes glued to the screen all the time, you can easily get lost in the visual elements. Get out of your seat and into your surroundings, which can freshen your eyes and inspire you!
7. Look Into Your Icons
When using icons, you’re able to lead the attention of viewers wherever and whenever you want to. An icon doesn’t have to be limited to popular logos such as Facebook or Instagram. You have the ability to use any icon for more visuals.
Designers create brightly-colored or simple black-and-white icons, ones with a flat or 3D design, the opportunities are endless! Integrate these icons to the overall design to improve its aesthetic value for better viewer experience.
8. Think About Your Audience
You aren’t designing something just for you and/or the client. You’re creating a design for the target audience. Think about who you’ll be creating the design for and what your client wants.
By knowing the audience and focusing on what’s wanted and needed, you have a more successful design that satisfies everyone involved.
9. Stay Simple but Add some Pop 6
Some designers are hesitant to do minimalist designs for its plainness. But you can make it look fun by adding just a bit of color or funky fonts, which will still keep the readers enticed AND attracted to your work. Less is more, and this is a trend that will definitely come around this 2020.
Wrapping It Up
Graphic designing isn’t easy, it takes mad skill and a lot of patience to create something that satisfies people. Each design you create is an art, and you need to be unique to stand out from competition! With the right tips and perspective, you can do just that and work your way up to earn more, both financially and in reputation.
I hope my graphic design tips will help you become a more successful designer in the long run. So start implementing any of these to your work ethics now.
Do you have any questions or want to share your own experiences as a graphic designer? Share your thoughts down below, I’d love to hear what you have to say!