30 Graphic Design Tips Every Beginner Should Know

Getting started with graphic design

1. Start with a clear concept

Graphic designers are a creative bunch. They are skilled at visualizing great ideas in their minds first before turning them into stunning designs. A concept is like a young seedling before it grows into a magnificent tree (design). 

Begin with a clear idea or concept and sketch it onto sheets of paper. Record all the details of what you saw in your mind’s eyes and don’t leave anything out. Use it as a map to guide your design.

2. Keep it simple

Simplicity is the soul of a good design and simple designs are often the most effective and memorable way to present photography images. Deleting extra elements in the image background will guide viewers to the style you want them to see.

Try asking “what do I need to delete?” instead of “ what else does this need?” when getting to a stage in a project where you sense that the design isn’t working.  

3.  Use typography effectively

Typography is the style or appearance of a text. It can also refer to the art of working with text – something you probably do all the time. Kearning, leading, tracking, and hierarchy are common typography terms in graphic design.

Well-crafted texts can mean the difference between an ordinary project and an extraordinary undertaking. Choose appropriate fonts and use typography effectively to convey your message

4. Make it visually appealing

One of the tip for visually appealing graphic designs is to combine it with high-quality photography. The right image can set the tone for a design piece and can be used to give the viewers an emotional response.

Photos and typography in headlines work well for advertising and designs. Use color, texture, and imagery to make your design aesthetically pleasing.

5. Use contrast

Good designs use contrast to increase visibility and improve legibility. Contrast is a fact of life and a matter of simple physics. If something is too low in contrast, it just can’t be easily seen, and the target audience will soon lose interest.

For example, yellow works well on dark backgrounds but not on white or light ones. Use contrast effectively to create visual interest and guide the viewer’s eyes.

6. Consider the grid

Grids provide an invisible structure to your composition, and they are used to guide the placements of all visual elements in your design. Grids help bring balance and unity to a graphic design when every element in a complex composition floats around and looks unprofessionally chaotic.

Common grids in graphic design are column grids, modular grids, baseline grids, pixel grids, hierarchical grids, and manuscript grids. Use a grid to organize your design and maintain consistency.

7. Keep it balanced

Balance is the visual weight of elements in a composition and one of the key principles in graphic design. Balance adds structure and creates emphasis and dynamics. 

To achieve balance, you should place visual elements in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement to fulfill the purpose of a particular look and feel. Common balances to try are symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, and radial balance.

8. Use white space effectively

White space is the ‘empty space’ of a page. It gives order and breathes the elements of a layout. White space is not  an area to be filled, but rather, it is to be ‘understood’ as an element in the composition.

White spaces create a focal point in graphic design, so you should use them effectively to add visual interest and prevent clutter.

9. Be consistent

Visual consistency in graphic design means sticking to one or two styles of fonts, and colors and using them consistently. For example: pick one font and adjust size and color to develop a visual hierarchy in your graphic designs. 

Consistency improves user experience and encourages familiarity. Familiarity communicates trust to the target audience so they can expect the same experience when they see your designs. Ensure your design elements are consistent, including typography, color, and imagery.

10. Choose appropriate colors 

Color creates focal points, and each color has an emotional value of a certain feeling. Beginning photographers need to know that color changes the mood of prospective viewers and how they’d perceive the graphic designs.

In practice, designers need to consider the inherent value of each color when selecting colors for type. Choose colors that are appropriate for your message and target audience.