There is one thing we have to be clear about when starting to design: it is not just about getting into Photoshop (or Canva) and adding elements everywhere. Designing is communicating an idea, a product, or an event in the most visual way possible.
If you want to dedicate yourself to the creative world of Graphic Design and turn your ideas into designs, in this post we are going to give you rules that any designer should know.
1. Change font weight and size to create impact
This rule is basic to follow when creating content. It varies between font formats such as bold, italic, etc. to give different intonation to the content you are trying to convey.
2. Limit the use of fonts
Using too many fonts can make the user dizzy when viewing your content, and distract them from what is really important about your designs. We recommend a maximum of 2 font families in your designs. Above all, remember that they must be legible, and have a certain relationship.
3. It’s not just about designing: It’s also about Communicating.
Graphic design intends to communicate an idea, a concept or a product in a creative way. As we have mentioned before, it is not just about starting to use Photoshop and adding elements just because. Think about how you can transmit information clearly, effectively and visually.
4. Choose the colors depending on what you want to convey
Colors are a tool with great communication power. Depending on which ones predominate in your creatives, your content will convey certain feelings. Additionally, it is very important that when blending multiple tones, they harmonize seamlessly with one another. I leave you the sensory relationship that exists in some colors:
Blue: Purity, freedom, harmony, fidelity
Green: Nature, balance, security
Red: Passion, heat, war, love, strength
Yellow: Wealth, radiance, energy, happiness
5. Less is more
This is one of the rules that is most unconsciously broken in graphic design. We want to cram so much onto a canvas, it’s confusing what we want to communicate. Sometimes it is good to put 3-4 elements, but let them convey exactly what we want to get across. If the content does not lose power when an element is removed, it means that it was left over. Remember: less is more.
6. Use a unique and consistent visual language.
If you are going to design for social networks, try to make all your creatives (posts, covers, logos, etc.) have a visual meaning. It is no use having Instagram, Facebook or Linkedin with beautiful publications if we are not able to visually link these 3 social networks.
Another piece of advice we can give you is to use the brand’s color range. Try to make your designs continually use these colors To serve as an example, we show you some creatives that we use to share our blog posts on social networks
7. Use quality resources in your designs
If you are going to put a photo in the background or include it in your creatives, make sure it has the highest quality possible, since when uploading this content to networks, the Web, etc. you will lose quality.
Some free domains where you can search for elements for your designs are:
- Freepik: Free stock photography portal, pre-designed templates, PNG elements
- Flaticon: The website par excellence in the search for icons
- Pexels: Free Stock Photos
- Canva: Graphic design tool
8. Get inspired and look for references
NOTE: We are not saying that you copy ideas from other designers, but that you do look for what line you would like to use in your designs. And for this, you have portals like Pinterest where designers share their projects.
9. Align and structure your content on the canvas
It is very important that what you are going to capture in your designs you know what position it should occupy on your canvas. Structure your content in a hierarchical, orderly way and with a sense, whether from the largest size to the smallest size, by color, distribute it by sectors, or whatever criteria you think are correct.
10. Use the programs you use professionally
You don’t know the number of functions that exist in programs like Photoshop, Illustrator or the Canva tool itself that can optimize our work as designers. You must look into the options that the tools you are going to use give you and look for shortcuts that can be useful in your daily life.
You also have the option of training with design experts to know how to use these programs like a true professional.
I hope these tips are useful to you and you know. Let’s get to work!