Knowing about graphic design basics is a must for anyone aiming to grow their business. If you think it’s as simple as using the latest app effects and filters on your materials, think again. Applying design fundamentals is essential. Otherwise, even the best technology won’t be of benefit to you.

Whether you’re brainstorming for a logo, a banner design or a school branding concept, be sure to read about design elements first. Doing so will allow you to create a more visually-pleasing material. It will also help you make informed decisions about how to best present your brand through images.

 

What is a Good Graphic Design?

Before we go into graphic design basics, it’s crucial to ask ourselves an important question. How can you say that a certain visual material is well-designed?

Though visual preference can be subjective, graphic designers follow some general guidelines. First of all, excellent graphic design sparks interest without being too noisy. For example, using one or two bold colors is often enough to catch attention. Going beyond that could make the image too tedious to look at. You wouldn’t want to tire the viewer even before they can make sense of your message. In this aspect, learning about color theory can be a big advantage. Aside from knowing what hues look best together, you should also consider what each color signifies or invokes.

The layout is another important factor. Are the elements presented in a way that makes them easy to understand? Remember, viewers might only give a material a second’s glance. People should be able to initially grasp what it’s about. If the layout is all over the place or is too confusing to process, then you’ve lost the viewer on the get-go.

Finally, you’ll know that you’re looking at a well-crafted material if it makes you want to learn more. A good copy is wasted if it’s not presented in the best way possible. Expertly-created visuals tease viewers and make them want to be a part of whatever the material is promoting.

 

Tips to Know if a Design is Good

Here are graphic design basics and elements you should keep in mind as you brainstorm for your brand. 

 

Hierarchy

Did you know that there is an order that allows viewers to process data efficiently? It’s called visual hierarchy. This element is merely giving more visual weight to the most critical parts of the material. There are various ways to achieve this. One of the ways is to make the word or phrase larger than the other texts. Using a bold typeface can also do the trick in emphasizing text.

A color is also a tool that can be used to draw focus. Brighter hues tend to attract more attention compared to muted tones. In the same light, contrasting colors are more likely to create a vibrant look.

 

Balance

An image that lacks balance usually looks awkward or a bit off. This element is an essential part of creating a well-designed material. In general, balance is all about spreading visual weight within a design so that no side is heavier than the other.

Symmetrical designs typically use the same elements on both sides of a vertical, horizontal or radial axis. This element makes a page easy to digest. In the same way, it also allows a designer to strengthen the hierarchy. Asymmetrical designs, on the other hand, achieve a balanced visual weight despite not having the same elements on either part of the page. In graphic design, symmetry is more often used than asymmetry.

 

Color

Aside from being used to establish hierarchy, color in itself can be a very strong factor in graphic design. According to color psychology, certain hues impact behaviors, moods, and feelings. 

Red, for example, evokes excitement, passion, and urgency. Thus, Yahoo! Business says it’s one of the best colors to use for call-to-action buttons. The hue urges website visitors and gives them that final push to opt-in. Green, on the other hand, projects peace, calm, and love for nature. If your branding falls under those categories, use this refreshing hue on your website to attract more prospects.

 

Typography

An effective copy isn’t all about what is written, but how it’s written. Typography gives words another layer of story-telling. Using the right typeface is necessary to create a pleasant-looking page.

One tricky aspect of typography is choosing which ones go well together. Many design teachers, for example, advise starting students to use one serif and one sans serif font in one design. It’s also essential not to use too many styles on a single page. Using various fonts in one design can make it look messy and tough to read.

 

Visual Flow 

Good visual flow guides the eyes to look at each part of the page with ease. This makes the visuals painless to navigate, allowing the viewer to fully absorb what it says. One way to improve visual flow is to use negative space wisely. Negative space or white is the part of the page without any design element. By using enough white space on the page, you’re allowing the eyes to focus without distress.

Another way to achieve visual flow is to divide the page into portions. This allows you to organize your data and present it without confusing the viewers. You can establish sections by using headings, boxes, or accent colors to guide the eyes.

 

How to Ease the Process of Getting Good Designs

Let’s face it – knowing the graphic design basics doesn’t guarantee that you can whip up the best material by yourself. After all, entrepreneurs can’t afford to spend too much time on the nitty-gritty. There are far more important things that might need attention, such as crucial decisions that no one else can make.

Delegating tasks such as graphic design is a smart decision. Design Doctor lets you leave the designing to the experts. Offering unlimited graphic design without costing an arm and a leg, it’s a worthy investment. With Design Doctor, you can have expertly-designed graphics while being able to focus on business growth.