Marketing Trends: Hot Colors for 2023 

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A new year is almost upon us and for professional marketers, that means it’s time to develop editorial calendars for next year’s marketing projects as well as finalize the overall aesthetic of a brand’s messaging for the new year. Color, like anything else, follows trends based upon world events, popular culture, and a host of other social factors. When the calendar rolls to a new year, people tend to focus on the future so tapping into marketing trends is a great way to help ensure that next year’s content will resonate with consumers.

How Color Marketing Trends are Determined

A few well-known organizations like Pantone and the Color Marketing Group (CMG) contribute to analyzing upcoming trends with color. The Color Marketing Group, a non-profit organization, takes a deep dive in color trends and produces a color forecast on a regular basis. Analyzing world events, social changes, and high volumes of data is involved in their color recommendations for brands and marketers. You can view a more detailed analysis of this year’s upcoming color marketing trends by clicking here.

Color Marketing Trends for the New Year

For 2023, CMG determined that space, emerging technology, the rise of digital commerce, and environmental issues are the driving forces behind determining the upcoming year’s color trends. CMG also evaluates the psychological impact color has considering world events and social changes to develop their marketing recommendations.

Following are some key takeaways from the CMG color forecast that you should know.

Warmth 

After years of contending with a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, consumers are gravitating towards comfort. This fact has demonstrated that warm colors, particularly warm reds, yellows, and oranges pique consumer interest. Warm colors have a comforting effect on the psyche and can be implemented beautifully in marketing materials for several industries. Focusing on a warm aesthetic doesn’t mean that blues and greens are out the window. Warm earthy tones can be balanced in marketing materials with cool-toned blues and sage greens.

Neutrals 

Neutrals have a big place in 2023—especially in packaging. As consumers desire more environmentally conscious goods, brands are responding by reducing their reliance on dyes for packaging and mailing boxes. The general public’s acceptance of neutrals is certainly beneficial to companies utilizing raw and recycled materials for their packaging and products.

Invigorating & Bold Black 

One surprising addition to the CMG color forecast is a specific black called “Bohld”. This hue isn’t just any black either. It’s a rich, inviting black that evokes feelings of creativity and contemplation rather than darkness or sadness. Bohld is a great choice for direct mail materials, logos, and digital graphics.

While awareness of color marketing trends is helpful, it’s important to work with design professionals. A graphic designer can help you implement trending colors while maintaining your existing brand’s aesthetic so that new marketing materials won’t confuse your clientele.

Pel Hughes is a full-service printing company that provides cross media marketing, campaign automation, database services, and graphic design. Call our marketing experts at (504) 486-8646 to learn more.

2023 Design Trends You Should Know About 

The New Year is just around the corner. In 2023, design trends will likely have a unique aesthetic that reflect the norms and tastes of the time. Brands, businesses, and organizations should look to 2023 design trends and give their media a facelift to ensure that they can appeal to as many consumers as possible. Following are some of the hot trends you can expect to see in the next year.

Interesting 2023 Design Trends

Y2k is Making a Comeback

If you were old enough to remember Y2k, you likely grappled with a perplexing blend of feeling hopeful about the future and trepidation about technology dominating our lives. For many of us, Y2K was an interesting albeit confusing time. Now that over two decades have passed since this era, younger folks are revisiting the music, fashion, and pop culture trends of the time. In 2023, expect to see design trends reflecting futuristic scapes with tropical colors, grid-like backgrounds, three-dimensional objects, and lots of icy blue hues. Retail enterprises serving consumers with fashion, beauty, and everyday consumer goods may want to take notice of this emerging trend.

Bold Colors and Backgrounds 

In 2020 and 2021, we saw a huge uptick in muted hues and minimalism. Simple and clean fonts paired with muted earth tones and white backgrounds were an especially huge hit with millennials and Generation Z. While this style is certainly beautiful, consumers seem to be more attracted to bolder design now. In 2023, you will likely see vibrant hues like maroon, emerald, and navy in logos, infographics, photos, and video.

Serif Fonts 

Serif fonts fell out of popularity for a while but now they’re making a big comeback in 2023. This is likely because this font family evokes a nostalgic response, which is something that continues to resonate across many demographics. As with the emergence of Y2K-themed design, serif fonts definitely play on people’s yearning for a simpler time.

Inclusiveness  

While showcasing the diversity of human beings is not a super new trend when it comes to real-life photos and videos, it’s not as common in graphics. In the next year, brands will be using graphics, icons, illustrations, and animations that are far more inclusive than years past. This trend is especially helpful for brands and businesses who serve broad demographics or for those who want to maintain an ethical and socially-conscious image.

Memes with Branding 

Memes have been a mainstay of social media communication for quite a few years now. Most of us belong to a group chat or two where our friends and acquaintances participate in “meme dumps” that bring levity to current issues. In the last few years, we’ve seen major brands take part in the world’s meme culture. For 2023, meme culture will persist but it will have a twist. Brands and companies will likely be designing branded memes so that when they are shared, social media users can see their original source with carefully placed logos and other iconic imagery related to well-known companies. If you intend to add branding to your memes, we recommend treading carefully. Lean into very lighthearted and non-divisive memes because controversy is no one’s friend.

While this blog isn’t an exhaustive list of 2023 design trends, it does provide a helpful introduction into where consumer tastes are headed for the next year. Our printing and design pros at Pel Hughes encourage our clients to take a deeper dive into upcoming trends to help shape your future campaigns. We offer direct mail, graphic design, full-service printing, and helpful client portals to make your 2023 advertising goals become a reality. Give us a call at (504) 486-8646 to request a quote.

When should a company logo be updated? 

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A company logo can be an iconic, recognizable image. Some logos have such a powerful effect on us that we can instantly recognize their elements, color, and font from afar.

Your company’s logo is important. It will be seen on your business cards, website, social media accounts, and even your packaging. It might seem like changing your logo is sacrosanct but that notion couldn’t be further from the truth. If you look at the history of some of the most popular logos of all time, you can see their evolution. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Ford, Disney, Google and Chevrolet have had numerous incarnations of logos to stay on target with the aesthetics and trends of their time. Updating your logo is a fine balance of paying homage to your past while maintaining a pleasing aesthetic for the consumers of today. 

If you’re wondering if it’s time to give your company logo a facelift, consider the following tips from the experts at Pel Hughes.

You’ve Had Your Current Company Logo for Years

Like fashion and home décor, logos will eventually look dated. For instance, your logo may have been developed ten or twenty years ago. If it contains italicized fonts, gradients, or once-popular fonts that have fallen out of favor, your logo could look antiquated to the general public. More than likely, your logo was inspired by the trends of the time and if it’s been quite a few years, your enterprise’s logo could benefit from a makeover. 

Your Logo Has Too Much Detail

If your logo has many elements, including graphics, gradients, shading, and busy fonts, there’s a good chance that your logo may not look the best in digital formats. Some complex and detailed logos can look appealing on paper but when they’re transferred to social media pages and websites, they are nearly indecipherable. Fortunately, adopting a more minimalist aesthetic can ensure that your company logo translates beautifully across all mediums. The fact that minimalism is very appealing to modern consumers makes stripping away complexity and intricate detail even more beneficial. 

Your Company Has Grown

When your company expands its markets or its offerings, it’s a good time to evaluate your brand’s image. Sometimes, a logo can limit the perception of your brand when a company scales up—especially if that brand is selling consumer goods or services. 

Let’s say you run a boutique. When your business first opened, you primarily sold shoes so your logo incorporated a silhouette of a high heel. As your customer base grew, you expanded your offerings to include coats, pants, shirts, and dresses. Your existing logo depicting a specific product will limit how customers perceive your brand. This example illustrates the need to reevaluate the usefulness of your logo and other brand imaging as your business evolves. 

If the aforementioned scenarios apply to your business, now is a great time to meet with a graphic designer and other marketing creatives. Enlisting the help of professionals can ensure a more productive transition in revitalizing your brand’s image. If you’ve never worked with a graphic designer, check out our blog post “How to Communicate with a Graphic Designer” to help get you started. 

Pel Hughes is a woman-owned enterprise that offers graphic design services, in-house printing and fulfillment, and impeccable client service. We help businesses throughout the United States take their cross-media marketing to the next level. Call our office at (504) 486-8646 to speak with one of our experts. 

5 Benefits of Professional Graphic Design

Professional graphic design can take your brand to the next level. Investing in quality design helps your enterprise develop a recognizable brand. Improperly-executed or poorly-done design, however, can have the opposite effect. Bad graphic design could cost you growth and sales by affecting how your brand is perceived.

Pel Hughes is proud to offer in-house graphic design. Our dedicated team can help you breathe new life into your brand, tap into new consumer markets, and give your overall aesthetic a polished facelift. Following are five ways you could benefit from professional graphic design. 

#1 Build a Cohesive Brand Image Across All Channels

When you look at all your brand’s messaging on your social channels, website, business cards, and signage, is the imagery cohesive? If not, you will want to invest in quality graphic design. Your brand should be cohesive and easily recognizable across all mediums. Ensuring that all your graphics, logos, and other materials look similar is an important component of building a positive brand image. Graphic designers can help ensure that your brand’s messaging is uniform and on point across all your marketing materials. 

#2 Refresh Outdated Brand Messages

Sometimes, fonts, color selections, and graphics go out of style. Modernizing your brand can be as simple as collaborating with an experienced graphic designer. Swapping out dated fonts for modernized ones or refreshing the images in your logos could reinvigorate your brand—especially among younger demographics. 

#3 Beautify Your Brand’s Image

Graphic designers have a keen eye for beautifying everything from signage and logos to banner images on social media and websites. Their sharp skillset can take a “blah” image to one that resonates with consumers and evokes emotion. Stellar graphic design helps more than consumers, too. It helps your employees represent your enterprise in style. This can translate into boosting the morale of your staff and developing great relationships with other businesses and your community. 

#4 Attract New Customers

Dated or poorly-executed brand messages could make it easy for potential customers to overlook your business. Great design makes your brand harder to ignore. Updating your existing design will also help you broaden your consumer base by appealing to the aesthetic tastes of younger consumers. 

#5 Save Money in the Long Run 

When it comes to specialized tasks, it can be tempting to try to do-it-yourself or hire a creative with the lowest quote. Although it is important to save money, investing in good graphic design is one area where it pays to get it done right the first time. Doing the work yourself or hiring the cheapest designer may leave you (and your customers) unsatisfied with the results. Paying a little more for quality the first time around can translate to savings in the long run because your designs could be used and repurposed for years to come. 

If you’re new to working with a graphic designer, check out this blog post. Here, we offer helpful insight on how to streamline communication with a designer and what to expect from the design process. 

From state-of-the-art printing campaigns to database management and graphic design, Pel Hughes offers a number of services that can help your business thrive. Give our friendly team a call today at (504) 486-8646 to request a quote. 

Printing tips: 5 Rules for Readability with Type

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Word processing and desktop publishing packages allow our team at Pel Hughes to create eye catching content. While we have the software to produce professional and attention-grabbing print materials, it’s our fine-tuned experience that really impresses our clients. 

Aside from producing quality copy and the great design on your print materials, the next biggest hurdle is ensuring that the copy is readable. Many DIY marketers make common readability faux paus on printed materials that can look unprofessional, busy, and amateurish.  

Great flyers, direct mail, and brochures need an organized structure and layout with a clear typeface for optimal readability. Below we will provide some of our tried-and-true tips for developing great print materials for optimal readability.  

Keep typography simple 

Selecting one font family for your entire printed piece makes it easier for the eye to decipher when glancing across the page. Choose a font that has many different weights, sizes, and styles to use for headings, quotations, or to emphasize a particular section. Build variety playing with these variables instead of switching between multiple font families. Popular font families are Serif (which includes Times Roman) and Sans-Serif (which includes Helvetica) for producing crisp, clean, readable copy.  

Stay consistent 

Consistency will lend authority to the look of your piece and will become part of your branding for that particular item. Therefore, be sure that all of the headers look the same, including size and font type. The same goes for sub-headers and pull-quotes. This helps readers digest your materials because the content is clearly organized for their comprehension. 

Use upper and lower case 

Using standard upper and lower case letters make the wording easier for people to read. This format is also what readers are familiar with and expect to see. While you can use all capital letters for emphasis in rare cases, it is not a good idea for regular print. All capital letters for a block of text is cumbersome on the eyes. Moreover, there is a negative connotation with copy that is all capital letters as people find it aggressive and unprofessional.  

Keep lines short and add white space 

People tend to read three to four words per eye movement. It’s a good rule of thumb not to have your reader make more than two eye movements per line, so limit your lines to six to eight words. Space is always a concern with printed materials so it’s important to develop concise copy to make reading as easy as possible for your potential customers. Flyers, billboards, and posters will work best with short, bulleted points and plenty of white space. Using adequate white space increases readability by helping your eyes focus on the content.  

Use serifs 

Serifs are the little, extra strokes or flourishes at the end of the main strokes of a letter. They flow well from one letter to the next, reducing eye fatigue. Like the rest of our bodies, our eyes get tired when they have to do a lot of heavy lifting. Long printed documents such as books or sizable reports are easier to read when serif type fonts are used. 

If you’re concerned with readability, contact Pel Hughes. Our team has vast experience working with businesses of all sizes in a wide range of industries. We can help you develop compelling print pieces to win over customers and build your brand. Fill out a contact form or give us a call at (504) 486-8646. 

5 Design Ideas for Distinctive Business Cards

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A business card is important in virtually any industry. A simple business card is your brand. It shows potential clients not only what you do, but also gives them a glimpse into the type of person you are, and what they can expect from your work. 

The importance of a distinctive and creative business card is even more vital for graphic designers, however. Indeed, the very card that you are showing is in essence a small sample of your actual work product. As opposed to, say, a lawyer or businessperson, whose cards are essentially all the same, a graphic designer’s card must stand out from a crowd. 

Now that we’ve established the importance of a unique card for graphic designers, let’s take a look at some of the most effective design ideas to ensure your card stands out from the pack. 

 

  • Images 

 

When people think of a business card they think of text. Typically, a card states your name, title, address, the company you work for, and some contact information (email, cell phone, etc.). If you want your card to be distinctive among a dozen others, give your audience exactly what they don’t expect. 

Especially in the graphic design world, which is mostly digital, all you really need is a website for your clients to check out your work. Spice up your card by incorporating an awesome image or collage of images that showcase your talent. Move away from text-heavy cards and make your card more of a work of art rather than a technical piece. 

 

  • Textures 

 

Have you ever gone to a networking event or reunion and walked away with a stack of business cards? Usually there are two problems: 1. they’re all the same size and generally use the same material, or 2. someone tried to get too fancy and made their card into a Swiss army knife or unicorn that jabs you in the chest after you slip it into your sports coat. 

Solution? Textures. By using different textures, such as foil stamping or a 3D texture, people can immediately spot your card from others and grab yours first. Even textured letterpresses can be quite effective.

 

  • White Space 

 

Another mistake designers make with their cards is trying too hard to be too creative. They’ll lambast their card with intricate fonts or stuff it with graphics so that any information is virtually impossible to read or understand.

Go with a different approach and use simplicity to your advantage. Cards that use white space (and no, it doesn’t literally have to be white) are eloquent and give a sense of simplicity that viewers will appreciate. 

 

  • Transparency 

 

In an industry that tries so hard to be prominent, transparent business cards allow you to be simple yet keep that modern touch. In addition to just being cool to look at (or look through), the transparent look deviates from the traditional paper card that everyone is all too accustomed to. 

To take this idea one step further, you make use plastics to make your card waterproof. While your competitors cards are ruined once a client accidentally spills water or their card, or drops it in the rain, yours will still be looking shiny and new. Moreover, plastic provides a nice medium weight in between flimsy paper and heavy metal. 

 

  • Smart Card

 

Our last recommendation for a distinctive business card is one that gained traction in 2019, and is sure to flourish in 2020: make it smart. Including your name, address, phone number, etc. is so 2000. It forces people to either keep your card forever, or go through the painstaking effort of writing your contact information down and praying they never lose it. Don’t make your client work! 

By putting a QR code on your card your client can easily scan the card, and all of your information will automatically populate in their phone. Today, most business card makers allow for this option. Take advantage and make it easier for people that want your information, but don’t want to have to carry around a business card for the next few years. 

Step into the next decade with a modern card that not only shows your technologically-savvy, but also willing to take the leg work out of tasks for your client. Get smart. 

Trends That Changed the Design Industry

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The practice of graphic design is one that is in constant flux. Although there are major elements that drive change every few years or so, industry trends often fluctuate year-to-year, or even month-to-month. 

However, there are a few trends that have transformed the practice altogether, and it’s minor alterations of these trends that designers focus throughout their career. From the introduction of color schemes, to the introduction of sound, to the influence of technology, graphic design has been influenced by a handful of significant changes. In this article, we discuss the four major changes that have shaped the industry. 

 

  • Color 

 

Although it can be argued that graphic design has been around for centuries or even millennia (think the Rosetta stone of 136 B.C. or newspaper design in the 1700’s), it wasn’t until the late 19th century that graphic design began to separate itself as a stand-alone practice. In the 1960’s, it really began to take off when then-Yale professor Josef Albers formed the basis of modern art educations of the twentieth century. 

Albers book, Interaction of Colour, posed a theory that color in design changes in direct relation to its surroundings. Color produces deceptive and unpredictable effects, which allow viewers to engage in a dynamic relationship with two-dimensional space. The way graphic designers use color today is largely based on the ideas and theories put forth by Alder nearly half a century ago. Although it may seem obvious, the impact color has had on graphic design is one of the most significant and substantial trends of the industry. 

 

  • Motion 

 

In taking some of the theories put forth on the use of color, graphic designers over the past few decades began to expand on the notion that audiences can engage with pieces on a deeper level. While color produces subjective effects based on objective surroundings, motion takes this a step further. 

Any believe that motion graphics are as important as typography, and the trend shaped modern graphic design. Pieces of animation or digital footage can create the illusion of motion and provide another way for viewers to engage with the piece. Motion has taken on a more significant role as it’s combined with many technological features that are available today, including audio. 

 

  • Audio

 

When most people think of graphic design, they think of an image on a canvas or a well done website. Sound is usually not one of the main factors. However, when you consider graphic design as a whole, many of the best websites, for example, include some sort of audio dimension. Similar to color and motion, audio provides yet another way for the viewer to connect with the final product. 

What’s more, viewers may not even realized the impact that audio has on their viewing experience. Take a few brand logos for example. If you were to look Intel’s logo, it’s fairly bland. However, the audio that’s associated with it launches viewers into a completely different dimension. Or the iconic “BWWAAHHHH” sound of THX. It may be subtle, but the introduction of audio into graphic design should not be understated. 

 

  • Technology 

 

Of course, what would this article be if we didn’t mention technology? Yes, technology itself is a broad category that can include everything from color, to motion, to audio, to 3D and virtual reality. But it’s technology that is the basis of practically every significant achievement in the field of graphic design, and as we get into a new decade, there’s no telling where technology will take designers in the future. 

While technology gave designers the ability to incorporate motion or audio into their pieces, computers today allow them to create three dimensional portals for the audience to step into, or use sensory design to mimic the phenomenon synesthesia (tasting sounds or hearing colors). 

Color, motion and audio were undoubtable three of the most impactful trends on graphic design today. And while technology helped establish these trends, the technology we have at our disposal today will produce some of the most amazing developments in graphic design we have ever witnessed. Buckle up!

Top 5 Design Principles for Creating a Great Business Logo

A logo can be one of the most important features of any business. A logo is what your business stands for, it’s how you show yourself to the world, and perhaps most importantly, how consumers will recognize and remember your brand. 

In fact, a recent study by branding firm Siegel+Gale shows that logos are 13% more likely to get consumer attention and 7% more likely to make them want to learn more about the business.

However, creating such a logo is not an easy task. This article provides the top five design principles for an effective and unforgettable logo. 

 

  • Appropriateness 

 

As is the case with most rhetoric (especially visual rhetoric), considering and adapting your message to your intended audience is key. Fonts, color schemes, images, shapes, these should all be chosen with your audience in mind. 

A great logo doesn’t need to say what your company does–Mercedes’ logo isn’t a car and Apple’s logo isn’t a computer–however, it should stand out and allow your customers to connect with the logo.  

 

 

  • Simplicity

 

Simplicity is also one of the biggest characteristics when it comes to producing a first-rate logo. Examples of simple logos can be found is a majority of the most successful companies in the world. 

Look at Nike, McDonalds, Target, FedEx, IMB, The North Face, etc. These are some of the most recognizable and memorable logos ever created. And the one thing they have in common besides being the face of a successful business: simplicity. 

When creating your logo, just remember the K.I.S.S. Principle of Design: Keep It Simple Stupid. 

 

 

  • Versatility 

 

In addition to creating a simple logo that is designed for your intended audience, a great logo is also a versatile logo. This means that it can work across a wide variety of media formats and applications, and can be scaled to any size. 

Nike is another good example of a versatile logo, and reinforces the importance of simplicity. The Nike “Swoosh” can be formatted large and small, printed in black or color, turned in every which way, and you’ll still recognize it as the popular shoe brand. 

Although this can be subjective, consider colors that may clash or images that people may have to strain their eyes to see if it’s scaled down.

 

  • Timelessness 

 

The best of the best in the logo design world are those that can stand the test of time. Try to avoid a logo that uses current trends or popular images. Ask yourself, will this logo be as popular in 50 years? If the answer is no, you may want to go back to the drawing board. 

This doesn’t mean that it should be the same exact logo for the next few decades, however. Even large corporations such as Apple and Pepsi have tweaked their logo every decade or so. Just make sure yours can keep the same essential elements as it morphs. 

 

  • Originality 

 

Developing a logo from a blank canvas is difficult. Creating one that is simple and connects with your audience, while also withstanding trend changes and being versatile significantly compounds the task. And while it may be easier to cut corners and use elements from other successful logos, the lack of originality eventually comes out, and your customers will take notice. 

A logo that is creative and original shows that much like your business or product, it stands out from the crowd. An original logo will also show something to your customers that they have never encountered before. And this new design is what both current and future consumers will associate with your brand. 

If designing amazing and effective logos were easy, every business would have one. We wouldn’t be able to point to the Nike’s, the Apple’s or the Gucci’s of the world. But as we all know, this isn’t the case. By following these five design principles in your logo, you can expect a design that will be striking yet simple; trendy yet timeless. And most importantly, it’ll be something you can be proud to showcase as your businesses brand. 

The Top 5 Graphic Design Trends of 2019

Activism, chaotic typography, negative space designs and metallic elements dominated graphic design in 2018. However, that was so…well, 2018. 

Not to say that these trends have completely faded into obscurity–trends such as activism and metallic colors are still popular–but this is a new year and with it comes new graphic trends. Below are the top 5 graphic design trends this year that will show you have that trend-setting aptitude in your brand.     

 

  • Three Dimensions 

 

3D is at the top of the list for a reason. With the ever-evolving and rapidly-expanding advances in technology, 3D is allowing graphic designers to create 3D masterpieces that immerse the user in their designs.

In addition to recreating the flat world seen in most illustrations, we can expect designers to also use 3D to enhance webpages and create new VR and AR experiences. This stable trend is expected to expand immensely in 2019.

 

 

  • BOLD Light and Dark Color Schemes 

 

We all know contrast is nothing new and has indeed been a staple of successful design campaigns for decades, however this is 2019. Light and dark color schemes that really make that logo or font POP is the rage this year. 

Uncluttered and clean visuals are becoming necessary for viewing content on smaller screens, and contrasting colors such as black/hot pink is a big trend that spreading to designers generally. Many designers are now creating multiple versions of their light and dark palettes and it’s taking off with users. 

 

 

  • Gatsby-style (or Art Deco)

 

Back in the 1920’s, Gatsby-style art with elegant and geometric shapes were all the craze. In fact, the “modern” design era gets its name from this artistic movement that began after World War I. And this trend from the roaring twenties is roaring back in 2019.

Designers are embracing art-deco-inspired designs, especially in logo work. Logos or typography featuring art-deco feel luxurious yet comfortable and are set to blow up this year. 

 

 

  • Simplicity 

 

We semi-mentioned it in #3, but clean and simple graphics really are a staple of any successful design in today’s techno-world. The idea of minimalism is one of the most classic and timeless design trends, and continues to be the go-to, especially for web design. The fewer the elements of content, the less your audience will have to work. When surfing the web, that’s a good thing. 

 

 

  • Open Compositions

 

Its 2019 – leave it open to the imagination. After years of using boxes and frames to encase design elements in a strict order, this year the trend is to embrace a more open concept. Designers are creating pieces where viewers feel like they’re only seeing part of the whole thing and there’s an entire world off the page. 

In 2019, let your audience’s mind wonder and think, “what else is out there?”

Common yet Easily Avoidable Graphic Design Mistakes

Most graphic designers fall into the same traps at the outset of their career.  There is no shame in making these common mistakes. However, it is best to learn from the errs of others and sidestep setbacks when possible.  Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common graphic design mistakes to heighten awareness and help others avoid these pitfalls.

Mistake #1: Forgetting to Leave Enough White Space

White space is essential to every design yet it is often overlooked in favor of excess design and color.  There is visual importance in an area that does not have a design element. Leave ample white space to balance out the overarching design and the viewer’s eye will move through the piece with ease.

Mistake #2:  Using an Excess of Fonts

Using more than a couple fonts in any one presentation is a mistake.  Fonts are certainly visually pleasing yet they have the potential to distract the viewer.  Keep your fonts limited to a maximum of one or two so they do not overpower the rest of the design.


Mistake #3: Failing to Align the Elements

Each of your graphic elements should have a similar alignment.  Make use of the ruler/grid lines to ensure each element lines up exactly as it should.  This way, it won’t look like text is scattered every which way. Furthermore, elements aside from type should also be aligned with one another.  The piece is not ready until all shapes, lines and other visual elements are fully aligned.

Mistake #4: Too Much Design

There is such a thing as over-designing.  The polar opposite of leaving an excess of white space is overfilling the space available with font, color, images, etc.  If you think your piece might have a little too much visual flair, spend a few hours away from it, return and you will be able to perform more of an objective assessment.  When in doubt, err on the side of less as opposed to more so the design does not flood the viewer with an abundance of shapes, colors, etc.

Mistake #5: Skewed Type

Using excessive fonts and design elements will negatively impact the presentation yet skewed type can prove even more disastrous.  Do not drastically alter fonts. Do some resizing, tinker with kerning (the amount of space between letters), alter sizing as necessary, keep things within reason and your end result will prove engaging as opposed to distracting.