Do you want to do graphic design? There is no need to chase diplomas and academic knowledge. All you need is good will and an understanding of the basics. Get ready to make good graphics now!
These are the fundamental things to start with:
1. Understanding color theory
There are two important things to emphasize when we talk about colors. It means specifically – contrast and meaning.
Colors contrast
Color is the first factor that attracts attention. It wants to emphasize the meaning and aesthetic moment. Colors are very important for experiencing professionalism and gaining trust.
The first and most important thing when it comes to colors is contrast. The term contrast refers to how different one color is from another. A concrete example would be when you use the letters inside the image that you want to highlight in relation to the background.
Look for complimentary colors. For example, yellow and purple, or blue and orange on the other. These colors represent the maximum contrast with each other when they are combined.
Visual meaning of colors
You may have noticed that when you need to confirm something, the “yes” button is usually green. You may have noticed that when you need to confirm something, the “yes” button is usually green. However, if you made such a button only red, you would confuse the user.
Each color has its own meaning and unique call to action. Some we have adopted unconsciously throughout our lives, and some have been deliberately there. Graphic designers often use colors with the intention of creating a personal identity.
2. Pictures
The audience accepts images very well as a medium of communication. So if you are communicating with your audience through pictures, pay attention to a few facts.
People respond well to images with people.
Philology explains this as a good way to gain trust and two-way communication with emotions. Who evokes emotion in us better than other people?
In this way, your campaign makes it known that it is aimed at real people. That’s exactly what your pictures have to show. Your goal is to reach people, their emotions and communicate non-verbally.
The quality of the images is invaluable
If you want to gain trust and guarantee quality, you have to show it to your audience. The audience believes in what they see. So everything you do should be of the highest possible quality.
For example, if you sell a physical product online, you should pay special attention to the quality of the image on which it is located. Customers want to overcome physical distance and want to experience the product even though they are buying online. So they zoom the picture and stare in details.
If the picture is of poor quality, it will only turn the customers away from you. They won’t trust you to buy from you.
Adjust image dimensions
Keep in mind that most traffic is via mobile devices. For this reason, you try to adapt the images to your audience so that they reach you as easily as possible. Try to see how your images look on mobile devices and adjust the sizes if necessary.
3. Typography
The font you use in the pictures is very important. There are different font styles. The most common typography used is Times New Roman.
It falls under “Serif” fonts. What it means? It is a small decorative line that is added to the character of the letter. This font family is used to improve the readability of text. We meet it in blogs, articles or newspapers.
An example of a font without a sheriff or “sans serif” is Helvetica. Try not to use more than 10 words in a row. Larger sans-serif fonts are recommended for titles. Try to use the font size and weight in the text according to the priorities.
4. Composition
In the end – everything we have talked about so far should be merged into one! You know what colors you use, the image and the fonts, you need to put it all together nicely.
The goal should be to make a design that is simple and elegant. Remove all unnecessary details so that your audience can focus on the most important things.
The next thing you need to pay attention to is the sequence of tasks. All images, buttons, colors, shapes and text should be arranged and connected logically and clearly.
Every part of your design must have a purpose.
If you’re doing something and you don’t know why, don’t even do it! Ask the first question, “What is this for?” and then “what is my goal with that?” Should I get the user to do something? Or to think about something? Shall I give him some information?
Two ways to keep your design simple.
The first is to use a space, and the second is to remove everything that is not necessary. The space will focus on what you want the user to see and what matters to you. Also, this will ensure that the user is not overloaded. Unnecessary and concise information will make your design look intricate.
Simple design is by no means equality for boring design.
On the contrary. The point of minimalism is that few things achieve a good effect. A good example of how this is achieved is Instagram. The main role of Instagram is to display images and let the user see it. Everything else was put in the background.
To sum up….
Focus on the key things when designing. Consider – color, pictures, typography and composition and send all the details we talked about a while ago. This way, your design will get where you want it to – to your audience!