How To Use Graphic Design Like a Pro
There are 3 type's of graphic design I do nearly everyday in my own business:
Branding
Marketing Materials (the kind you hold in your hand)
Web Design and Online Communication
After outlining those 3 types of graphic design, I define the 4 areas to focus on so you can design a flyer like a pro: layout, branding, simplicity and file type. By the end of this blog, you will have an action plan that will help you edit or develop new material for your company/organization.
Alright, let's get started with the 3 types of graphic design I do the most!
Branding
Creating brands is one of the main ways I personally use graphic design. By knowing how to design, I am able to bring my ideas to life! (If you want to know how to improve your own branding, you can read about that here!) Here are three images I designed for my own personal brand:
Marketing Materials
When it comes to graphic design and marketing materials, the list is endless. Later on in this post, I go into detail on how I design flyers for my clients. Until then, here is a list of the most popular marketing materials I design:
Brochures
PowerPoints
Flyers/Announcements
T-shirts
Signs/Posters
Web Design and online communication
When you are on the computer, you are surrounded by work that has been created by graphic designers. Whether it's a logo on a website you visited today or a graphic in the email you opened, all of them have been created by graphic designers. Here is a list of the most popular areas I design in for my clients:
Email Newsletters and Headers
Social Media Posts
E-books
Website graphics:
Headers
Line Dividers
Graphics
Branded Material
Thumbnail Image
How can I design a flyer like a pro?
Flyers are the most popular marketing materials I design. So, with that in mind, I will be giving you tips in the 4 main areas I focus on while designing:
Layout
Branding
Simplicity
File Type
Layout:
The layout refers to the balance of the design as a whole. When I begin, I start with the most important part or piece of information and make sure it is placed front and center. Everything else should be evenly distributed around the central point. While designing this, I keep an eye on color balance and image/font placement to ensure it all points back to the main idea.
Branding:
This has already been covered but this is something that is very important when designing anything for anyone. The flyer MUST match the rest of the company's branded material. Even if the design is amazing, if it is not "on brand", it will not be an effective way to advertise. You may find exceptions to this rule, but I personally never recommend breaking the rule until you have mastered them.
Simplicity:
As our world gets busier and louder, it has been harder to gain audience attention. So if your flyer has the chance to be in front of someone, please do not waste that opportunity by throwing too much at them at once! They will stop paying attention long before you are able to even reach them. Going back to the layout, there should be one main idea with everything else focused around that. The design should have plenty of breathing room with nothing too close to the edge. Keep your words concise and the amount of information to a bare minimum.
File Type:
Flyers can be all different shapes and sizes which change how they are designed. The file type will also differ based on how the flyer will be used. Will the flyer become a billboard? A poster you hand out in your neighborhood? Posted on social media? Each one of those examples will be designed differently and exported in different file formats. If you are interested in knowing more about the difference between each file type, I wrote a booklet called "Web Design Defined" that I send to all my clients and members of Design by Heather Rae. In the booklet, I include a file guide that explains what each and every file is used for.
If you are already a member and have a copy of "Web Design Defined", I challenge you to read through it! If you are not yet a member, I invite you to join and become one today. Not only does the booklet contain a "File Guide", it also contains a "Branding Style Board Guide" and a "Creative Brief" that will help you understand how each branding piece is implemented into your business or organization. (Not to mention, you will get exclusive discounts and be the first to know about client openings.) Click the link below to download "Web Design Defined"!
Yes, I Want the FREE Booklet!
ALRIGHT, NOW ITS GO TIME!
With a flyer you already have for your business or organization, what can you do to improve it TODAY? Remember the 4 areas we focused on:
Layout
Branding
Simplicity
File integrity
In the comment section, tell me 1 thing you're going to do to improve your flyer.
I can't wait to connect with you!
- Heather
Heather Brockell is a Web Designer and Copywriter based out of North Dakota, USA. When she isn’t designing websites or writing, she performs as a professional figure skater and singer in ice shows all around the country.
Want to hire Heather to create something magical for your online presence?