7 Graphic Design Tips For Non Designers

by charlisaysin Social Mediaon Posted on

As a social media manager I know that there may be times when you need to do a little designing of your own. Perhaps you need to create memes for your social media channels or a quick poster for your door. So how can you design when you’re not a designer? With sites like Canva to help you design your graphics it’s never been easier. Here are 7 graphic design tips to help you create something that looks professional for your business.

  1. AVOID TOO MANY FONTS

Using too many fonts either online or offline is a fail because it makes it difficult for the eye to read. Stick to several fonts, ideally from the same font family using one as a headline and a second for the text below. Switching from one font to another and back again is generally not a good idea and can appear amateur to the viewer.

  1. LOVE WHITE SPACE

It can be tempting to fill every space available with graphics and text, especially if you are paying for an advert but you need to learn to love white space. Too much text and overly busy graphics will actually distract from your message and lessen the impact of your design. Learn to love the space around your text or design and appreciate that it is working in your favour.

  1. MATCH THE FONT TO THE CONTENT

Your choice of font should represent your message and image if you are using one. If your message is soft and meaningful then avoid choosing fonts that SCREAM at viewers. Similarly if you are presenting a hard hitting advertising campaign then your font should be equally hard hitting.

  1. BE CAREFUL OF COPYRIGHT

Taking an image from Google to use in your digital or offline marketing campaign could land you in a whole heap of copyright trouble so make sure that you are using your own photography or licensed images. Read my article 7 awesome sites with free stock photos to see where you can get great images!

  1. CHOOSE YOUR IMAGES WISELY

Speaking of images, make sure you choose the right one for your design. Avoid stereotypical and overused stock images and try to choose an unusual image to represent your brand and campaign. If you are able to take your own photographs then even better!

  1. WATCH YOUR COLOUR PALETTE

Understanding the psychology of colours in design is something that most non designers won’t need to grasp. However you do need to watch the colours you are using from a practical angle too. Certain colours can be difficult to read, for example, a pale yellow font on white text. Be mindful also of your brand, your message and the demographic of your audience.

  1. CHECK YOUR SPELLING

We all make spelling mistakes but when it comes to professional design, a spelling mistake is a big FAIL. Check your spelling, get another person to check your spelling and then maybe one more before you go ahead and publish/print your work.

I hope you enjoyed reading 7 graphic design tips for non designers. Tweet me @Charli_Says if loved it!

Loved it? Share it!