Pixelvetica

I’ve noticed a lot of bad graphic design circulating lately. And thus, I present to you my favourite theorem:

Graphic design is a creative process with a few tools, a few rules, and lots of freedom.

In essence, graphic design is a visual representation of organized thoughts and a form of communication through layout, colour and organized elements such as images and words.

Basic graphic design consists simply of layout – putting existing text and images into an attractive setup within the page. Truthfully, that accounts for 90% of what most of the graphic designer do! More advanced work involves image editing – manipulating and blending pictures and type so that the images themselves communicate part of the design. Another major factor in good design is fonts. You’ll need a variety of font choices, and very few of the ones pre-installed on your computer will give your documents a professional touch. 

Here are a few basic principals that will help you become a better graphic designer:

1. Comprehend Typography – We’ve all seen designers do amazing things with type. Pulling words apart and manipulating individual letters to reflect the context and meaning is one of fun things about designing. Before you get that far, however, one simple prerequisite: read the copy and understand it! For people whose job it is to work with type, many designers have an aversion to reading. Before you can go and play with the text, you must understand exactly what you’re being asked to present.
2. Rules of Grouping – Organize perceptual objects to be as good as the conditions allow. Learn about closure – consider forming gaps between elements to form a closed figure. Be simple; objects should be group in the simplest form.
3. Limit Your fonts – A big part of putting together a good design, as you’ll see, is making sure the over-all look is consistent. The best way to accomplish a consistent look to your design is limiting the number of artistic motifs. I typically like to pick just 2 fonts per design.
4. Colour combination - You’ll either have a feel for colour or you won’t. Mostly true, however, a beginner can’t be expected to have the same balanced sense of colour as an industry veteran. So where to begin? Obviously, you’ll need to consider what kind of design you’re doing, and who it’s aimed at. But whether you’re working with vibrant primaries or a stylish earthy palette, there are ways to ensure you’re combining colours that don’t jar or vibrate against each other. There are numbers of online tools and lots of books to help with this. And don’t forget to make sure your monitor and printer are calibrated to display accurately.

Graphic design is of course subjective, and there are a hundred different roads leading to the solution. You need to find the best. Once you’ve finished your work, ask yourself this: is this the best possible outcome?

Don’t settle on something if you’re not 100% convinced it’s the best-possible design outcome. If there’s even a sliver of a doubt in your mind, change it or try something new. Your client wants to see the best you can do. That’s exactly what you and I should be delivering every time. Awesome. 