Design
Pro Tips
The Subtle Art of Designing
Dec 9, 2024
Ever scrolled past something and instantly felt curious, inspired, or even a little hungry? That’s no accident, that’s good design doing its job. The best designs don’t just turn heads; they solve problems and tell stories. Ready to stop making things that just look good and start making things that work? Let’s go.
1. The Why Before the Wow
Before you start picking colors or debating whether Helvetica is too basic, ask yourself: Why am I designing this?
What’s the goal? (Sell something? Inform? Make someone laugh?)
Who’s going to see this? (Gen Z, who live on vibes and memes, or corporate execs who use “circle back”?)
What do you want them to do next? (Click, buy, cry?)
If you don’t have answers to these, you’re basically just decorating. And while decorating is cute, it won’t get the job done.
2. White Space: Not Just a Fancy Way to Say “Empty”
White space is like gist at a Nigerian party — it gives people room to breathe. Without it, everything feels chaotic. Think of it as your design’s “calm down” moment. When in doubt, add space. Then add a little more.
Too much text crammed together? Visual overload. No contrast between elements? Goodbye, readability. Embrace the gaps — they’re doing the Lord’s work.
3. Fonts Have Attitude
Choosing a font is like picking an outfit for a wedding. You wouldn’t wear flip-flops to an owambe, right? (Well, hopefully not). Fonts set the tone.
Serif fonts are your classy uncles — elegant, timeless, and a little judgmental. Think Times New Roman.
Sans-serif fonts are like your trendy cousin who knows all the hot spots. Clean, modern, no frills. Hello, Poppins!
Script fonts? The Auntie who insists on adding “Just a Touch” of sparkle to everything. Use sparingly, unless you’re making a bridal shower invite.
And for the love of all things legible, don’t mix more than two or three fonts. Too many fonts scream “graphic design is my passion” — and not in a good way.
4. Color Theory, But Make It Fun
Colors aren’t just vibes; they’re emotional manipulators. You know how red makes you hungry (thanks, every fast-food brand ever)? That’s color psychology in action.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
Red: Energy, urgency, and possibly heartburn.
Blue: Calm, trustworthy, like your friend that sends you “Just Checking In” texts.
Yellow: Happiness, optimism, and a slight risk of looking like a school bus.
Green: Growth, freshness, and people who “totally thrive on green juice.”
Keep your palette simple with the 60-30-10 rule:
60%: Your main color (the rice).
30%: A secondary color (the stew).
10%: Your accent color (the small chops that steal the show).
5. Visual Storytelling: Because Pretty Isn’t Enough
A good design tells a story — like the aunty who won’t let you leave without “just one more plate.” Every element should add to that story.
Let’s say you’re designing a promo for a skincare brand. A clean, pastel palette says “gentle and luxurious.” Throw in a splash of water droplets, and you’re practically selling hydration. Now, imagine using dark, moody tones instead — suddenly, it’s giving vampire chic. Context matters.
6. When in Doubt, Test It Out
Think your design is flawless? Fantastic. Now, hand it over to someone else. If they squint and ask, “So, what exactly is this for?” you’ve got some tweaking to do.
A/B testing is your bestie. Create two versions of your design, throw them into the wild (aka social media or an email campaign), and see which one gets people talking. And if neither works? Well, that’s what revision rounds are for.
Final Thoughts: Just Design It, Jare
At the end of the day, design isn’t that deep — until it is. Some days, you’ll craft something that makes people gasp in admiration. Other days, your client will hit you with the classic, “Can you make it pop?” and you’ll resist the urge to scream.
But that’s the beauty of design. It’s problem-solving with a side of aesthetics. So, embrace the chaos, learn the rules (then break them when necessary), and most importantly — have fun with it.
Now, go forth and design like you mean it. And if anyone ever asks you to “add more pizzazz,” just smile, nod, and charge them extra.
Ever scrolled past something and instantly felt curious, inspired, or even a little hungry? That’s no accident, that’s good design doing its job. The best designs don’t just turn heads; they solve problems and tell stories. Ready to stop making things that just look good and start making things that work? Let’s go.
1. The Why Before the Wow
Before you start picking colors or debating whether Helvetica is too basic, ask yourself: Why am I designing this?
What’s the goal? (Sell something? Inform? Make someone laugh?)
Who’s going to see this? (Gen Z, who live on vibes and memes, or corporate execs who use “circle back”?)
What do you want them to do next? (Click, buy, cry?)
If you don’t have answers to these, you’re basically just decorating. And while decorating is cute, it won’t get the job done.
2. White Space: Not Just a Fancy Way to Say “Empty”
White space is like gist at a Nigerian party — it gives people room to breathe. Without it, everything feels chaotic. Think of it as your design’s “calm down” moment. When in doubt, add space. Then add a little more.
Too much text crammed together? Visual overload. No contrast between elements? Goodbye, readability. Embrace the gaps — they’re doing the Lord’s work.
3. Fonts Have Attitude
Choosing a font is like picking an outfit for a wedding. You wouldn’t wear flip-flops to an owambe, right? (Well, hopefully not). Fonts set the tone.
Serif fonts are your classy uncles — elegant, timeless, and a little judgmental. Think Times New Roman.
Sans-serif fonts are like your trendy cousin who knows all the hot spots. Clean, modern, no frills. Hello, Poppins!
Script fonts? The Auntie who insists on adding “Just a Touch” of sparkle to everything. Use sparingly, unless you’re making a bridal shower invite.
And for the love of all things legible, don’t mix more than two or three fonts. Too many fonts scream “graphic design is my passion” — and not in a good way.
4. Color Theory, But Make It Fun
Colors aren’t just vibes; they’re emotional manipulators. You know how red makes you hungry (thanks, every fast-food brand ever)? That’s color psychology in action.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
Red: Energy, urgency, and possibly heartburn.
Blue: Calm, trustworthy, like your friend that sends you “Just Checking In” texts.
Yellow: Happiness, optimism, and a slight risk of looking like a school bus.
Green: Growth, freshness, and people who “totally thrive on green juice.”
Keep your palette simple with the 60-30-10 rule:
60%: Your main color (the rice).
30%: A secondary color (the stew).
10%: Your accent color (the small chops that steal the show).
5. Visual Storytelling: Because Pretty Isn’t Enough
A good design tells a story — like the aunty who won’t let you leave without “just one more plate.” Every element should add to that story.
Let’s say you’re designing a promo for a skincare brand. A clean, pastel palette says “gentle and luxurious.” Throw in a splash of water droplets, and you’re practically selling hydration. Now, imagine using dark, moody tones instead — suddenly, it’s giving vampire chic. Context matters.
6. When in Doubt, Test It Out
Think your design is flawless? Fantastic. Now, hand it over to someone else. If they squint and ask, “So, what exactly is this for?” you’ve got some tweaking to do.
A/B testing is your bestie. Create two versions of your design, throw them into the wild (aka social media or an email campaign), and see which one gets people talking. And if neither works? Well, that’s what revision rounds are for.
Final Thoughts: Just Design It, Jare
At the end of the day, design isn’t that deep — until it is. Some days, you’ll craft something that makes people gasp in admiration. Other days, your client will hit you with the classic, “Can you make it pop?” and you’ll resist the urge to scream.
But that’s the beauty of design. It’s problem-solving with a side of aesthetics. So, embrace the chaos, learn the rules (then break them when necessary), and most importantly — have fun with it.
Now, go forth and design like you mean it. And if anyone ever asks you to “add more pizzazz,” just smile, nod, and charge them extra.