Beginners in any field need guides to help them get started, and new graphic designers are no different. One of the best ways to tell a story is through pictures, and designers are some of the best people to do that. People don’t often realise the impact of design on their life, and the way good design positively influences their experience of the world.

Though graphic designers have different styles and methods, certain things about the industry are universal. Here are some guidelines for all types of graphic designers and why they should matter to you, whether you’re a newbie or a veteran.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY

Consistent designs contribute to audience recognition. They allow you to catch people’s attention and develop a distinct brand. You can create consistency by coming up with styling sets, go-to colour palettes, and headings, subtitles, and body copy templates. Using Adobe’s Creative Cloud Suite enables you to apply these elements to all the materials you develop—no need to keep recreating sets of colours and elements.

You also need to be consistent in your overall style as a designer. Although each of your clients will have specific branding needs, they sought your services for a reason—they liked how you presented yourself online. So it’s good to maintain a balance between keeping your identity and serving your clients in the materials you create.

If you are a business owner, you can get digital assets with consistent branding and design when you subscribe to a company offering unlimited graphic design. Since these firms hire designers in-house, you’re sure that the people working on your brand will be the same from one month to the other.

STRIVE FOR NEAT, COHESIVE OUTPUTS

A great concept is only one part of a good project—you also need good execution. The images, illustrations, text, and other elements on your products need to come together and create a cohesive whole. You cannot achieve that if you do your work freehand, especially with digital design.

For example, if your business graphic design project has a well-designed alignment system, you know that the elements will snap together and look like they “belong.” However, if you do not use your design platform’s alignment tools, your design could look lacklustre and amateurish. Even artists with an “organic” style use margins and guide lines for their work.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO MIX THINGS UP

On the one hand, design is about order. On the other hand, it is also about creativity. Don’t be afraid of taking risks in your output. Create interesting visual effects by putting together colours, textures, and other elements you won’t usually combine. Utilise all properties—the size of your typeface, the transparency, even how much it skews can create interesting variations.

CONCLUSION

Graphic designers need to have curious minds. If you’re new to this field, one of the quickest ways to learn is to innovate and experiment with your designs. There are so many ways you can add effects to your projects and create a strong impact, but you need to put in the hours and keep practising. All established graphic designers in the field had to start somewhere. Besides hard work and dedication, you also need a good grasp of your unique style and the discipline to execute neat, cohesive projects.

Consult 55 KNOTS for your business graphic design needs today. We offer a design subscription service in Sydney with everything you need, from design and illustration to art direction, account management, and revisions. Get started with our 7-day free trial today, or contact us for other enquiries!