10 Helpful Design Tips
At Mabble Media, we create art with purpose. And there’s a science to our art. Whether you’re an experienced graphic designer or just starting your journey, creating designs with originality and intentionality is a challenge. Here are 10 practical and valuable graphic design tips we’ve learned over the years that will help you create designs that pop.
1. Embrace Negative Space
Crowded designs are exhausting. Sometimes, nothing means everything. Negative space, sometimes called white space, is the empty area around and between design elements. Utilize it to give your designs room to breathe and to guide the viewer’s attention to what matters.
2. Care About Color
Colors have emotional and psychological impacts. Warm colors can evoke energy and passion, while cool colors create a calming effect. Select them carefully to match the message you want to convey.
3. Typography Matters
Font selection can significantly influence the overall look and feel of your design. This is pretty annoying to read, isn’t it? You really wish we were sticking with a sans-serif font, don’t you? The lesson is to carefully choose fonts that align with your design’s purpose and message, and aim for consistency in your font choices.
4. Prioritize Simplicity
There was a time when intricately complex designs were all the rage. There might be a time and a place for them, but our modern tastes favor simple designs. Simplicity often equates to elegance in design. A clean, uncluttered layout can make your message more accessible and impactful.
05. Use the Rule of Thirds
Sometimes an off-centered design can hit the spot, but, generally, balance is the best. Imagine your canvas divided into a 3×3 grid. Place key elements along the grid lines or at their intersections to create balance and harmony in your design.
06. Tell a Visual Story
Ensure that your design serves a purpose and communicates a clear message. Every element should contribute to the narrative, whether it’s a marketing campaign or a personal project. The goal is to inspire people to think, but not think too hard.
07. Experiment with Contrast
Night and day. Black and white. Contrast helps important elements stand out. Use contrasting colors, fonts, sizes, and styles to draw attention to essential parts of your design.
08. Welcome Constructive Feedback
Don’t shy away from sharing your work for critique. Constructive criticism can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your designs. We all have blind spots, and others can help us see them. At Mabble, our team provides feedback on any design before our clients even get their first look, and then they get to provide feedback. It can be hard to hear something isn’t working, but embracing constructive criticism leads to a much better final product.
09. Be Consistent
Don’t be haphazard. Consistency in design elements, such as color schemes, fonts, and alignment, is key for brand recognition and maintaining a cohesive look and feel throughout your project.
10. Keep Learning
Graphic design is an ever-evolving field. Our team is continuously staying up-to-date with current design trends and drawing inspiration from various sources. Ideas can come from anywhere, whether it’s nature, art, music, or even everyday objects.
Tips are one thing. Practice is another. With these nuggets of design wisdom at your disposal, it’s time to implement them. Open your favorite design software, start a new project, and begin experimenting. Remember that practice is the path to perfection, and learning from your mistakes is part of the journey. Embrace the creative process, and don’t be discouraged if your design doesn’t meet your expectations immediately. With dedication, you’ll steadily improve your graphic design skills and create more impactful and intentional designs.
If you’re looking for professional branding and graphic design help, we’d love to be your creative agency. Reach out to start the conversation.