20+ graphic design tips for mastering your visuals

Graphic design is a powerful medium that combines aesthetics, communication, and problem-solving skills to create visually compelling and impactful designs. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or a beginner, mastering the fundamentals and exploring innovative techniques can take your work to new heights. Furthermore, graphic design also plays a crucial role in the realm of data visualization. By effectively conveying complex information through visual means, data visualization allows you to make sense of datasets and discover meaningful patterns and insights. 

If you want to enhance the visual appeal of your designs or simply discover new ways of communicating information effectively, make sure to follow the graphic design tips we’re going to uncover in this article. These graphic design techniques will serve as a compass, guiding you towards refining your skills, igniting your creativity, and ultimately enabling you to produce stunning designs that leave a lasting impression. Whether you seek to enhance your typography, explore color theory, or harness the potential of digital tools, we have you covered. So without further ado, let’s dive right into the 20 tips on graphic design. 

Graphic design tips

Graphic design techniques involve the skillful combination of typography, imagery, and layout to effectively communicate a message and evoke specific emotions or responses. From creating visually engaging compositions through the use of color theory and visual hierarchy to employing techniques like symmetry, contrast, and balance, you can employ a range of tools and principles to craft visually compelling designs. Follow the graphic design tips listed below to enhance your design skills and make your projects stand out from the crowd! 

Understand the brief

Before diving into any design project, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand the brief. Clarify the objectives, target audience, and key messages to ensure your design aligns with the client’s vision and goals. This understanding will guide your creative decisions, tailoring the design to effectively communicate with the target audience and achieve the desired impact.

Research and gather inspiration

Another great graphic design tip is researching and gathering inspiration from various sources. You can compile information and ideas from sources like design books, websites, social media platforms, and other designers’ portfolios. This will help you stay updated with the latest trends and stimulate your creative thinking.

Additionally, exploring different sources of inspiration allows you to broaden your design perspective and discover unique approaches that can set your work apart. It also enables you to learn from the successes and techniques of other designers.

Embrace white space

Mastering the use of white space in your designs can significantly improve readability and overall visual aesthetics. It helps reduce clutter, allowing the viewer’s focus to be directed toward the most important elements, resulting in a more balanced and harmonious composition. Don’t be afraid of empty spaces; they can have a powerful impact.

Consider color psychology

Colors can evoke emotions and influence perceptions. Take advantage of color psychology to enhance the message and impact of your design. Research the meanings and associations of different colors and select a color palette that aligns with the intended mood or message of your design. For example, warm colors like red and orange can convey energy and excitement, while cool colors like blue and green evoke a sense of calmness and tranquility.

Additionally, consider the cultural and contextual associations of colors. Colors may carry different meanings and connotations in various cultures, so it’s essential to be mindful of your target audience. Experiment with color combinations to create harmonious and visually striking designs. Remember to maintain sufficient contrast between background and foreground colors to ensure readability and accessibility. By harnessing the power of color psychology, you can effectively communicate and evoke specific emotions or reactions through your designs.

Typography matters

Typography is not only about legibility but also about expressing personality and establishing a cohesive visual identity. Carefully selecting and pairing fonts can create a sense of visual interest, hierarchy, and harmony within your design, elevating the overall aesthetic appeal and enhancing the message you want to convey.

Use subtle animations for enhanced user experience

When incorporating animations into your graphic design, consider using subtle and purposeful movements to enhance the user experience. Avoid overwhelming the viewer with excessive or distracting animations. Instead, focus on small, meaningful animations that provide visual cues, guide attention, and create a sense of interactivity. Subtle animations can be used to highlight important elements, indicate button functionality, or provide feedback on user actions. 

By using animations sparingly and thoughtfully, you can elevate the overall user experience and add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your designs. Remember to optimize file sizes and loading times to ensure smooth and seamless animations across different devices and platforms.

Plus, you can easily incorporate animations into your designs on Infogram. From page transitions and moving effects to GIFs and stickers, you can add a layer of dynamism to your designs in a few simple clicks. 

Maintain consistency

Consistency is a key principle in design that plays a significant role in establishing a cohesive visual identity. By creating design guidelines for elements such as colors, fonts, and layouts, you ensure a unified and recognizable look and feel across all your design materials. Consistently applying these guidelines throughout your project not only reinforces brand recognition but also enhances the overall professionalism and impact of your work.

Balance and alignment

Maintaining a sense of balance and alignment is essential in creating visually pleasing designs. One effective way to achieve this is by utilizing grids, rulers, and guides. These tools help ensure that elements are properly placed and aligned, resulting in a harmonious composition.

Grids act as a framework that organizes your design elements. By dividing your canvas into a series of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines, grids provide a structure that guides the placement of elements. Aligning objects to the grid lines helps establish a sense of order and consistency throughout your design.

Rulers, both horizontal and vertical, serve as precise measuring tools. They enable you to accurately position and align elements based on specific measurements. Rulers assist in maintaining uniform spacing between objects, ensuring a visually balanced composition.

Guides are lines or markers that you can place on your canvas to align elements according to specific guidelines. They can be adjusted and customized to match your design requirements. Guides provide a visual reference that aids in aligning elements horizontally, vertically, or at specific angles. They are particularly useful when creating symmetrical or aligned designs.

Choose a strong color palette

Colors play a crucial role in design as they can elicit specific emotions and influence how people perceive and engage with your work. By strategically choosing a harmonious color palette that aligns with your message, you can effectively convey the desired mood and create a visually appealing design that resonates with the audience. Understanding color psychology empowers you to leverage the psychological impact of colors, enhancing the overall effectiveness and impact of your design.

Use high-quality images

Visual content is essential in graphic design. Integrating high-quality images and illustrations into your designs can greatly improve their overall impact and appeal.

When selecting images for your designs, make sure to prioritize quality. Choose images that are clear and visually engaging. High-resolution photographs and well-crafted illustrations can elevate the appearance of your design and make it more captivating. To make things more convenient for you, Infogram offers a comprehensive content library that includes a wide range of visuals to enhance your designs. The library features an extensive selection of stock images, videos, GIFs, stickers, and icons. All you have to do is pick and choose the best visuals for your project!

Create visual hierarchy

In design, you want to guide the viewer’s attention through a visual hierarchy. Establishing a clear visual hierarchy helps direct the viewer’s gaze and ensures that important elements are noticed first.

One way to establish a visual hierarchy is by creating a focal point. This can be achieved by using a larger or more prominent element as the main focal point of your design. The focal point should be strategically placed to draw attention and create a visual anchor for the viewer.

Another way of guiding attention is organizing elements based on their importance. Consider the significance of each element within your design and arrange them accordingly: More important elements should be given more visual prominence.

Contrast, both in color and in visual elements, can be used to create emphasis and hierarchy. By contrasting colors, tones, or textures, you can draw attention to specific areas or elements within your design. Similarly, using contrasting sizes, shapes, or typography styles can help establish a clear visual hierarchy and guide the viewer’s eye.

Scale is another powerful tool to create emphasis and hierarchy. By scaling certain elements larger than others, you can make them stand out and communicate their importance. Additionally, placing important elements strategically in the composition, such as at the top or center, can draw immediate attention and guide the viewer’s gaze.

Keep it simple

When it comes to great design, simplicity is key. By avoiding clutter and unnecessary elements, you can prevent distractions from diluting your message. Learn to embrace simplicity as a guiding principle, while also ensuring that your design retains a strong visual impact.

Remember, simplicity can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal and make your design more memorable and impactful to your audience. By striking a balance between simplicity and visual impact, you can create designs that are both stunning and effectively communicate your message.

Embrace asymmetry

While symmetry is often sought after for its balance and harmony, embracing asymmetry in your designs can add a sense of dynamism and visual interest. Break away from the conventional grid and experiment with intentionally unbalanced compositions. Use varying sizes, positions, and weights of elements to create an intriguing and unconventional layout. Asymmetry can create a focal point, guide the viewer’s eye, and make your design stand out.

Experiment with layouts

In the world of graphic design, breaking free from traditional layouts can lead to exciting and visually engaging compositions. Embrace experimentation by exploring unconventional grids that challenge the norms. Play with overlapping elements to add depth and create dynamic visual relationships within your design. 

Furthermore, embrace asymmetry to introduce a sense of tension and intrigue that captures the viewer’s attention. By pushing the boundaries of traditional design, you can unlock new creative possibilities and create designs that are truly unique and captivating. Remember, innovation often comes from stepping outside of the comfort zone and embracing the unexpected. 

If you want to experiment but don’t know where to start, explore examples of other people’s work and get inspired by fresh ideas. Go to Infogram’s Example page and discover a wide range of stunning infographics, reports, social media posts, and more!

Understand composition principles

To enhance your design skills, it’s useful to study composition principles that have stood the test of time. Explore concepts like the rule of thirds, which involves dividing your canvas into a grid and placing key elements along the intersecting lines or points. The golden ratio is another powerful tool that offers a sense of harmony and balance by utilizing a specific ratio derived from nature’s patterns. Leading lines, on the other hand, guide the viewer’s eye through the composition by using lines that direct attention toward important elements.

By understanding and applying these composition principles, you can create designs that are visually appealing and well-balanced. They serve as valuable guidelines to help you strategically place and arrange elements within your designs. However, it’s important to remember that these principles are not strict rules but rather tools that can be adapted and interpreted creatively to suit your specific design goals.

Use contrast effectively

Contrast can be a powerful tool to create visual interest and highlight important elements. By intentionally using contrasting colors, fonts, and sizes, you can create a striking visual impact. Play with the juxtaposition of light and dark, bold and subtle, or smooth and textured to create dynamic compositions that captivate viewers. Experimentation with contrast allows you to explore different moods, convey hierarchy, and evoke specific emotions within your designs. By harnessing the power of contrast, you can create visually compelling designs that leave a lasting impression.

Incorporate visual metaphors

Visual metaphors are powerful tools in graphic design, as they go beyond literal representation and add layers of meaning to your designs. By incorporating symbols and icons that are relevant to your message, you can create a visual language that resonates with your audience on a deeper level. 

By using icons, you can evoke emotional responses and establish connections between concepts and ideas. However, it’s important to use them appropriately and consider their cultural context to ensure they are universally understood. 

On Infogram, you can easily incorporate icons into your projects and create impactful visual narratives that engage and inspire your audience!

Pay attention to the details

In graphic design, the devil truly lies in the details. Every aspect, from spacing to alignment, contributes to the overall quality of your work. Paying meticulous attention to these finer elements ensures that your design appears polished and visually cohesive. Proper spacing and alignment create a harmonious composition, while pixel-perfect precision guarantees that your design translates seamlessly across different devices and mediums. By honing in on these small yet significant details, you can elevate your design to a level of excellence that captivates and impresses your audience.

Prioritize readability

Another key graphic design tip is optimizing readability, which it’s crucial for effective messaging.  Readability ensures designs are accessible to all, including those with visual impairments or reading difficulties. Considering factors like font size, contrast, and spacing makes content comprehensible for everyone. Additionally,  Designs prioritizing readability are more memorable and impactful. When information is effortlessly absorbed, viewers are more likely to retain the message and take action, achieving the desired outcome.

Stay updated with design trends

In the ever-evolving design industry, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the latest trends. However, it’s equally important to approach trends with discernment and use them purposefully. Instead of blindly following every trend, consider how they align with your specific design objectives and brand identity. 

Make sure to select trends that enhance your design and support the overall message you aim to communicate. Remember, the goal is not to conform to trends for the sake of it, but to leverage them as tools to create impactful and relevant designs. By finding the right balance between staying current and maintaining a unique design approach, you can create timeless and compelling work that stands out.

Seek feedback and learn from criticism

Feedback plays a crucial role in professional growth. Actively seek out constructive criticism from trusted sources, such as peers, mentors, or online graphic design communities. Embracing feedback with an open mind allows you to gain valuable insights and alternative perspectives. 

It also presents an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and refine your skills. Remember, feedback is not a reflection of your worth as a graphic designer, but rather a stepping stone towards growth and mastery. By incorporating feedback into your design process, you can continuously evolve, develop your expertise, and create designs that truly resonate with your audience.

Maintain an organized workflow

Organizing your projects enables a more efficient workflow. When everything is neatly categorized and easily accessible, you can locate and use the required elements quickly, saving time and effort.

To effectively manage your projects, consider the following guidelines:

1. Use clear file names to facilitate easy recognition
   
2. Set up a primary folder dedicated to your project
   
3. Create subfolders to categorize different types of assets

Improve your designs with key graphic design tips 

In conclusion, graphic design is a dynamic and powerful medium that combines aesthetics, communication, and problem-solving skills. By mastering graphic design tips, exploring innovative techniques, and using Infogram, you can create highly visually compelling and impactful designs. 

The 20 graphic design tips presented in this article serve as a valuable compass for anyone looking to refine their skills and ignite their creativity. From understanding the brief and gathering inspiration to embracing white space, choosing a strong color palette, and mastering typography, each tip contributes to creating graphic designs that resonate with the audience.

Consistency, balance, and alignment are essential principles that establish a cohesive visual identity, while experimentation with layouts and the use of visual metaphors add depth and uniqueness to designs. Attention to detail, staying updated with design trends, and seeking feedback are key elements in continuous growth and improvement as a graphic designer.

By following these graphic design tips and incorporating them into your design process, you can produce stunning visuals that leave a lasting impression. Graphic design is a constantly evolving field, and by staying curious, open-minded, and receptive to feedback, you can push the boundaries of your creativity and create designs that make a significant impact.  If you’re ready to take your graphic designs to the next level, join Infogram and create your first project today! 

Interested in discovering how Infogram can enhance your team’s work? Join a brief Zoom session with our Infogram representative to explore key features, get answers to your questions, and understand how we can assist. It’s quick, informative, and just like a coffee break chat. Schedule your call now!