Six Tips for New Graphic Designers
Why they matter and why you should use them
Graphic design can often feel overwhelming when you're just starting out, but a few timeless principles can make all the difference in your work. These six tips, rooted in basic design fundamentals, will help you elevate your skills, create stunning visuals, and avoid common mistakes. It will no longer be a daunting task, but a streamlined, thorough process. In no time, you will become the ultimate graphic designer!
Relevancy and History
Graphic Design isn't just about making things look good, it's also about effectively communicating your message or cause. In the broader field of visual arts, there are multiple mediums, and whichever one is used is up to the artist or designer. Since the earliest days of design, principles like the golden ratio and the rule of thirds have guided artists and designers, creating balanced, yet visually pleasing work.
Understanding these historical concepts doesn't just help you create better designs, it also connects you to centuries of creative thought. The golden ratio, for instance, comes from the Fibonacci sequence, a pattern found throughout nature, architecture, and art. The rule of thirds helps structure your work, guiding viewers' eyes to the right square and creating harmonious compositions. If you use it to the best of your ability, you can create really eye-catching, satisfying designs.
Practical Tips for New Designers
Follow the Golden Ratio: Balance is key to creating visually appealing designs. The golden ratio gives you a mathematical edge in arranging elements like text and images.
Practice the Rule of Thirds: Divide your canvas into thirds and place key elements at the intersections for a natural flow. It’s a simple rule that is easy to follow and can instantly improve your layout.
Avoid Thick Borders and Text Cutoffs: Clean lines and careful text placement ensure your designs feel polished and professional. Avoid anything that disrupts readability or visual flow.
Be Thoughtful About Placement: Keep your layouts uncluttered. Thoughtfully arrange text and logos for maximum impact, while ensuring they don’t overwhelm your design.
Know Your Tools: Memorize the technical basics. Whether it’s the difference between vector and raster graphics or knowing when to use RGB vs CMYK, these details are essential for high-quality work.
White Space Is Not Your Enemy: In my first semester of college, the required textbook for my Intro to Graphic Design class was titled “White Space is Not Your Enemy: A Beginner's Guide to Communicating Visually through Graphic, Web & Multimedia Design.” Appropriately abbreviated as White Space is Not Your Enemy, the central theme throughout this textbook was, well, exactly that—white space is not your enemy. Negative space makes your designs breathe. It creates focus, clarity, and sophistication, so don’t overcrowd your canvas!
Why These Tips Matter
As a new graphic designer, mastering these essentials will help you build confidence, save time, and make quality designs. Over time, you’ll develop your own style, but these principles will remain a solid foundation and come in handy for future pursuits, or perhaps on your portfolio. So, whether you're designing a logo, a website, or a social media graphic, remember this: balance, clarity, and thoughtfulness are your best buddies. If you practice these six tips and heed this advice, you will be on track to be an even better graphic designer. Keep experimenting with your designs, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We all do! It's a natural part of the design process.
References
Golombisky, Kim, and Rebecca Hagen. White Space is Not Your Enemy: A Beginner's Guide to Communicating Visually through Graphic, Web & Multimedia Design. 3rd ed., CRC Press, 2017.
About Me and Disclaimer
Zach Scott is a 19-year-old American freelance writer, graphic designer, amateur theology nerd, and follower of Christ. He spends his free time exercising with his family, diving into theology topics, reading new books, and mastering all things design. Zach enjoys exploring the intersection of faith, science, philosophy, and creativity to better understand the world around him.
Thank you for reading this article. I encourage you to subscribe to my Substack for more articles intersecting faith and religion, science, theology, philosophy, and design. While I strive for accuracy and depth, please do not take what I’ve written here as dogma. I am still learning and remain open to correction if anything is presented inaccurately. My goal is to share what I’ve discovered so far while continuing to seek truth and grow in understanding. Thank you for engaging thoughtfully.
Consider subscribing! It's 100% free, but if you'd like to support my work, you can join as a paid subscriber for just $5 a month. Paid subscribers receive early access to new posts, exclusive content tailored to their interests, and access to my personal Substack community. It's a great deal—and you'll also have the opportunity to discuss theology, philosophy, and other vast topics with like-minded individuals.
Great tips!