5 Applicable Design Tips to Improve your DIY graphics
How many images do you create for your own business? I mean: social media, Pinterest pins, blog post, sales page, website, lead magnets, the list goes on and on.
If you struggle with feeling confident about what you design, if it takes you WAY too long, I’m here to help fast-track you to being able to create with confidence and SPEED!
Let me tell you something VERY important. Even if you have no design skills and have no clue what looks good, you CAN get better at designing!
I’ve broken down the process of designing beautiful graphics for your business, into 5 super simple and applicable tips.
- START WITH A PLAN
- HIERARCHY OF THE INFORMATION
- CHECK CONTRAST
- USE THE PROPER SPACING
- CHOOSING THE CORRECT IMAGERY
Follow these 5 steps to improve you DIY graphic design.
1. Start with a PLAN
Think about the purpose of the graphic you will create. What is the message you want to communicate? What vibe do you want to convey? What about the mood?
Map out really quick, the elements your graphic will contain. For example: a image of a dish, the title of the recipe, a subtitle with more information, a call to action, your logo/url.
2. HIERARCHY of the Information
It is very important to guide the reader when looking at the graphic. Your audience needs to understand it quickly. Make it super easy for the reader to know where to look first, where to look second and where to look third. The key to effective design is to use visual hierarchy, to arrange elements showing their order of importance.
3. Check the CONTRAST
If an image has a message that is not readable, it doesn’t work. Good design is based on the principle of good contrast. Contrast is an important design principle that should be a part of every project.
There are lots of ways in which contrast can be used in design. The basic and easier tips to apply are:
- Use dark fonts on lighter backgrounds
- Use light fonts on darker backgrounds
- Don’t use thin fonts on dark backgrounds
4. Use proper SPACING
Space allows for visual “breathing room” and gives a sense of focus, so the eye is driven to the important parts of the graphic. Don’t place elements too close to the margins.
Remember Less is More. Removing unnecessary elements in your design, helps other elements “breathe” and stand out. This simple tip, instantly improves DIY graphic design.
5. Choose the right IMAGERY
Choosing the correct type of photo is key to achieving a great design. Images convey a mood, a vibe. They can reinforce a concept and communicate a message in the right way.
Follow these tips when picking images for your graphics:
- Choose high-quality images.
- Be mindful of the size, shape and orientation: horizontal, vertical, square
- If you plan on adding text on top, identify the best spaces to make it readable
- Consider the colors and mood of the image
- Find an image that supports your message
Quick recap
No matter what industry you’re in, you can learn how to create beautiful designs that are aesthetically pleasing, meet their purpose, and make you proud.
Use these 5 tips to improve your design skills and start creating visually consistent content to elevate your marketing.
- START WITH A PLAN
- HIERARCHY OF THE INFORMATION
- CHECK CONTRAST
- USE WHITE SPACE
- CHOOSING THE CORRECT IMAGERY
I hope you find this post useful!
If you want to more simple graphic design tricks, check out my post on Simplified Graphic Design for Bloggers.
Want to design better graphics to grow your blog? Take a look at this blogpost: Polish Your Visuals with Handy Tips for Non-Designers and make sure to download the FREE Checklist.
