Top 10 Trendy And Handy Graphic Designing Tips For All-Time

Logo Tod reveals that the average pay scale of graphic designers is $44,150 per year and &21.22 per hour. But the site further reveals that there is a serious wage difference in the $36 billion graphic design industry. But why is that? Why do some designers get paid more than others, especially from those who are just starting out? This is because they possess a greater set of skills and vast experience as compared to the beginners.Are you too just starting out in the graphic design industry? Finding it really difficult to compete with the long-established designers in the field? Well, graphic design is really a great craft to assimilate, but it proves to be a little bit intimidating, especially if you’re starting out. Though the internet simply swarms with graphic design tutorials and lessons, there’s still a steep learning curve from “Let’s craft a unique and inspiring web or logo design!” to taking the finished product to the market. You may not need a helping hand at every step of the way, but there are tips that you’ll need to know to make a mark in the industry. Here, we present to you the top 10 trendy and handy graphic designing tips that will help you stay ahead of the curve.

1. White Space is the New Black

Via giphy.com

The term white space is the empty space around the subject of your graphic design piece. This space defines the subject. White space provides your visitors with breathing room to check out the information, be it text or graphic, without any distractions. Remember, a great graphic is the one that lets your visitors find what they’re looking for almost instantly. And white space does this brilliantly. It de-clutters a design by making breathing room around the subject. According to a study by Smashing Magazine, negative space increases comprehension by 20%. Pro designers know how to explore the advantage of negative space in their designs and it’s time you started practicing the art of white space to perfection.

2. Get to Know the Color Family

Via giphy.com

Every color from the color family exudes a particular set of emotions. Warm colors - red, orange, and yellow, evoke enthusiasm, vigor, and passion, whereas cool colors – blue, green, and purple often denote reliability, logic, and tranquility. On the other hand, neutral colors - black, white, grey, brown, and beige represent connotations of opulence, neatness, and conventionality. But remember, each color, whether warm, cool, or neutral, also has negative connotations. Therefore, different people will perceive different impressions of your design. So before sketching up a mock-up, think about the kind of impact your intended colors would create on the minds of your projected viewers. It really makes sense to learn about the color families and the types of feelings they create to be amongst the league of the Big Boys of the Graphic Design industry.

3. Mix Colors for Maximum Impact

Via designhill.com

If you always thought that mixing colors is no big deal, it’s probably time you thought again! Quick Sprout reveals in one of its articles that mixing colors to create desired impact from your projected viewers is easier said than done. Remember, a lame blend of colors can turn your otherwise good design into an insipid piece of work putting off your viewers. You can mix colors to create three color schemes – analogous, contrasting and monochromatic. Analogous color schemes is a blend of two or more colors from the same color family, i.e., neutral color with neutral colors, cool colors with cool colors, and warm colors with warm colors. Analogous color schemes ensure harmonious and eye-pleasing experience for viewers. Contrasting color schemes is combination of colors from different families, i.e., warm colors with cool colors, warm colors with neutrals or cool colors with neutrals. If done correctly, contrasting scheme can make your design stand out. Monochromatic color schemes blends in different shades of the same color. This color scheme is often easy on the eyes and doesn’t distract from the message that you’re trying to convey.

4. Think beyond Just Laptops/Desktops

Via giphy.com

Dazeinfo.com reveals that there are 7 billion mobile subscribers worldwide. Mobify reveals that no one screen size has more than 20% of the market share. Given these stats, it’s easy to understand why most pro designers swear by designs that have the ability to endure the shift from one device to another—and by endure; we mean the power to go through the entire shift non-deformed. So, if you’re still designing for Web 2.0, it’s time you conceptualize and created designs that are mobile-friendly.

5. Think Flat, Design Flat

Via giphy.com

Flat Design has been a major hit for a few years now. Its popularity has been spurred by the likes of Paypal, Airbnb, Foursquare and Netflix embracing it wholeheartedly. Remember, if you’re starting out in the industry, flat design could be your most dependable friend. Shunning the complicated, fussy design styles, flat design helps designers create creatively inspiring designs. Flat design seems to be more alive. Quite naturally, it resonates well with the onlookers. But be mindful of using flat design moderately. Though it’s simple and easy, it’s not fit for all projects. Always mull over if flat design will do justice to what you’re trying to achieve visually and what you want to communicate through your design work.

6. Go with The Follow of Trends

Via giphy.com

Every year brings to the fore something “new” in the world of graphic designs. There’s visual hierarchy that works, unique design trends that strong and plucky enough to make them memorable evolve, follow through and outlast the rest. Whereas, the ones that are common or complicated die out a fast death. Remember, designers who can’t or don’t stay abreast with latest industry trends are left in the dust. So, if you really wish to stay ahead in the game, practice the trends of tomorrow and let your designs do all the talking.

7. Get into Inspirational Rivalry

Via giphy.com

Inspiration is the fuel that runs the creativity machine. But inspiration doesn’t necessarily come from lessons, tutorials or class-room sessions. You can seek inspiration from your competitors too. For example, if you’re creating a sports logo, do well to check out some really inspiring designs designed by established and long-term designers. See what elements do they use, how they make their logos resonate with their target audience and how they make their logos stand out from the crowd. But don’t just lift their ideas. Remember, their word is seeking inspiration. Also, don’t forget to check out what’s design trends are making waves in the sports industry and how can you use embrace that in your designs? Do your bit of research before you pick up your stylus and start sketching mock-ups.

8. Organize Your Font Library

Via giphy.com

Ok, time for a reboot! How much time did you spend last time searching for that perfect font from your font library? Probably hours! Remember, time is money. Each second that you waste, you’re losing out on a potential client. So, go through your font library and uninstall the typefaces that you don’t really use. Better yet, save them in an external hard drive and give your system some space to breathe. Do it and you’ll realize how easy it is to find the fonts of your choice when socketing a mock-up or doing that final modification. Techno File Online suggests you to clean up your font’s library every 2-3 months.

9. Design for the Goldfish

Via giphy.com

The overload of content and design overload on the web has made visitors desensitized. Their attention has also decreased dramatically. In fact, Telegraph reveals in an article that humans have shorter attention span as compared to a goldfish. So, you need to have designs that are able to summon the attention and interest of audiences instantly. But the design shouldn’t just be eye-pleasing, it is important to ensure your message too is conveyed loud and clear. The mantra here is to ensure designs that pack in enough punch to capture the attention of even a gold fish.

10. Keep It Simple Silly

Via giphy.com

Simple is beautiful! Regardless of what you like, it makes sense to keep your designs simple. Most people look for simple designs. So, next time you’re all set to craft a design, be mindful of keeping your stuff simple. Push the envelope on “simplicity” and you’ll be pull in visitors to your design. Even big brands ensure simple designs. For example, the newest iteration of Starbucks’ famous logo design consists of around 30 separate vector elements. Remember, the faster you’ll learn to keep your craft simple and minimalistic, the faster you’ll be able to gain reputation in the industry.

Graphic designing is a lot more than just creating mock-ups. You must make the time to do a research and check out the latest trends. Furthermore, you also need to seek inspiration from your competitors. But most of all, never stop working with these 10 pointers in mind, and your skills will never stop improving.

Is there any other point that you believe can help out designers who are just starting out? Do leave us your comments and let us know. And don’t forget to sign up for ‘Just Creative Newsletters’ to get more such content delivered right into your inbox.