Are you an aspiring graphic designer just getting started? Are you looking for some designer tips to help you stand out from the crowd?
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
I put together a list of our 10 top tips for beginners just like you.
Trust me, follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful graphic designer.
Get Fancy with your Fonts
Don’t be shy when choosing a font and use more than one typeface for headings and subheadings, just be sure they complement each other.
The important thing to remember when picking a font is to ensure it is readable, some handwritten styles might look interesting but they are not always legible…and whatever you do, stay away from Comic Sans.
It was great when you were a kid but now it’s outdated and overused.
Keep it Cool with Color
The human mind processes color before words. Using a color pop technique can really help to make your designs stand out.
Placing primary colors like red or yellow against a black and white background is a good example of this.
You should think carefully about your color scheme, as too much color can be distracting from the key message.
Adobe color CC is a great online tool that can help you pick out cool color palettes for your graphic designs.
Stay Simple and Sharp with White Space
Don’t take white space for granted, a common mistake made by many beginners in graphic design is overcrowding.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of filling every empty space but it’s not necessary.
Sometimes keeping the design minimal and embracing white space results in a design that is edgy and sharp, as the old saying goes, sometimes less is more.
Invest in Imagery
If you’re going to use photos or images as part of your design ensure the quality is consistent throughout.
Think about how you frame and position them within the rest of the design and what they say in correlation with your message. The images should add to your design not confuse it.
Websites like Shutterstock and Unsplash can provide you with a lot of great high-quality images to get you started, when it comes to imagery don’t cut corners.
From Sketch Pad to PC
Sometimes the old techniques are the best.If you’re someone who likes to do a lot of original sketches, use your smartphone to scan your illustrations and transfer them from paper to PC.
This way you can use editing tools like Photoshop to build on them and develop your design as you normally would.
Flat, Classy and Clean
Not everything you create has to look like it’s about to jump off the page.
An approach called flat design has received growing popularity especially with companies like Microsoft and Google adopting it.
Flat design is a minimalist style which will give your work clean lines and a sense of classiness.
This idea encompasses some of the tips we have already spoken about. Don’t get tied down in the idea that everything you create has to look super realistic.
Space is Stylish
When positioning text, think about the space around it.
Not just how it is placed in relation to the images, but also the space between each letter, word, line and paragraph.
Play around with the line height and the size of the fonts.
However remember, every time you are using text in a design, you need to make sure that it’s readable.
It’s a case of balancing style and substance, it’s no good having a super fancy design with words that no one can read.
There is Beauty in Balance
A skill that is really important to learn as a beginner in the graphic design world is the power of balance in your designs.
Balance is one of the key principles of graphic design.
It means that each part of your document, left and right, top and bottom should be evenly loaded.
The components that make up your final design should work to come together as a whole piece, instead of competing against each other for attention.
Introduce some Italics
I don’t know about you but using Italics always takes me back to school and learning how to use Microsoft Word for the very first time.
Making text italic may be a very simple adjustment to make but sometimes it can be the final touch that helps balance the text.
But don’t get too carried away, they should be used sparingly.
Own your Originality
Finally, the last tip for any beginner is to keep it original.
Graphic design is about being creative and exploring new ideas.
Don’t be afraid to find your own style and express yourself through your work.
These are just some simple design tips to get you started. Hopefully, you can see that with a few simple adjustments you can really make a difference to your work and move one step closer to becoming the successful graphic designer you’ve always dreamed of.