Whether you are a secretary or a CEO, in the business world today, you need to know your way around certain technical aspects of the job.
One such digital skill that everyone should have a measure of ability in is graphic design.
Even if you aren’t trying to be a designer, creating a small digital piece of artwork can help you be successful in any profession.
Learn these five graphic design tips that you can use even if you aren’t a designer yourself:
1. Include White Space
One of the biggest mistakes that beginners make in any form of art is to overdo it.
In digital design, you need to leave enough white space in your “canvas.” White space doesn’t necessarily mean that the area needs to be white, but it should be free of design elements like text or images.
This allows the audience to scan through your design with visual ease. In other words, it will enable the information to “breathe.”
A winning digital creation is neither too stuffy nor overwhelming. The final result simply lets the main elements shine.
A good rule of thumb is that when in doubt, less is more.
2. Keep Things Simple
Like the first tip, keeping things simple makes your design much more pleasing to the eye.
While you may like several fonts, using too many different fonts is hard on the eyes. Stick to one or two fonts and make sure they are easy to read.
Forget pretty and complicated fonts that are hard to read. There’s no point in creating a message that people can’t read.
Simplicity applies to your color palette as well. Stick to a few colors, preferably your brand colors, and make sure they are easy on the eyes.
When you’ve finished, step back and look at your design.
Is the message clear and precise?
If not, you haven’t made your design simple enough. Rearrange it, take some elements out, swap some fonts, and maybe get another pair of eyes to look over it!
3. Adopt Visual Hierarchy
A good design has a visual hierarchy. This applies to how you arrange your design elements. You want your design to be both logical and easy on the eyes.
An example of visual hierarchy in a document would be the H1, H2, H3, and footer.
The same principle applies to design. You want to have the biggest fonts at the top and smaller as they go down.
This rule also applies to images and even colors. To learn more about visual hierarchy, read Visme’s article.
4. Balance Your Composition
In any good visual composition, there needs to be balance. To do this successfully, make wise use of spacing.
Evenly distributed elements create a balance in the design. This can be done through the use of grids. Most design software has this tool built into their programming.
Some people prefer symmetry, which is a perfect balance from one half of the design to the other half, but this is unnecessary for a balanced design.
5. Use An App
Since you aren’t a designer and haven’t really trained in this field, there’s no shame in getting a little help to streamline your design projects.
Because digital design has become so in-demand, there are many apps to help everyday professionals in their design needs.
Here are a few of the most popular apps used in design today:
Canva
This neat app is so easy to use, a grade-schooler could do it. They offer ready-made templates that make completing a design a piece of cake.
You can design something as small as a brochure to something as big as an entire presentation from one of their templates.
They have free images, lots of fonts to choose from, and easily post any of your completed designs to your social media accounts.
You can also share and collaborate with other team members to ensure your design meets all departments’ expectations.
Piktochart
The original purpose of this app was to allow its users to create their own infographics, but it has expanded.
You can now use this app to create presentations, reports, posters, and much more.
It’s fast and easy to use and offers three different payment plans depending on your type of business.
Desygner
The slogan for this very app is “A Graphic Design Tool for non-designers. Content creation for everyone.”
Sounds like the perfect app for this subject, right?
You can use this app to make social media posts, business card designs, and flyers.
Its drag and drop format makes this process super easy. You can even add effects and backdrops to the designs.
One of the coolest features of this app is the resize ability. You can create a design and change the dimensions of the perimeter however you like.
All the above apps are easier to use than complicated design software. The capabilities are a little limited, but they’re enough for those who want to create a simple yet effective design easily.
Conclusion
We cannot stress the need for design skills in this digital age enough. These five tips can help you pull off any small design task. Get ready to impress your boss and colleagues with your professional-looking design(s).
But, wait, there’s more!
You can even use these tips for personal design such as wedding invitations, baby announcements, and even home decor. Once you get rolling, it will amaze you how much you can do on your own!
[Author Bio]
Kelsey is from Greenville, NC, and is an East Carolina University Alum. She’s a dedicated cat mom of two and has been with Grove at Auburn since July 2019. Since moving to Alabama, Kelsey has fallen in love with Auburn and the SEC life!
