The Seven Deadly Sins of Bad Graphic Design
Sin #1: Graphic design doesn’t matter.
I beg to disagree. The goal of every marketing initiative is to clearly convey your message. Great design is at the root of communication. A good layout visually implements your advertising strategy; a poor layout doesn’t. The fantastic design establishes your brand’s legitimacy; bad layout undermines it.
Even the most creative and innovative advertising and marketing idea will fall fast if you fail to correctly execute the design motion designer freelance. Whether it’s driving sales, promoting a product, or defining a new, graphic layout has a clear business purpose and a particular goal to accomplish.
Basically, good graphic design needs to: (1) enhance your image and also strengthen your brand, (2) make your business stick out from your opponents’, and (3) proactively sell your messages to customers having a strong emotional appeal. The best designs spark an emotional, subconscious reaction in the viewer.
Sin #2: Cheap designers are equally as good as expensive designers.
You get what you pay for. This adage is particularly true in graphic design. Consider graphic design not as an expense, but as an investment in your company’s future. Would you employ your next-door neighbor to perform your business taxation? Unless he’s a certified accountant, then the answer is most likely no. The same goes for graphic design.
If you aren’t a graphic designer, then don’t try to create your own logo – and don’t hire a friend without design expertise to do it either. Leave the logo and marketing materials to a professional design team. When you decide to promote your small business, whether it’s with vehicle wraps or window perforations, your intention is to cut prices, not quality. From color disasters to font fiascos, do not gamble your company’s brand away on sub-par layout. Whatever your graphic needs, prevent a branding disaster, and go together with the professionals.
Sin #3: Learning the lingo is a waste of time.
In fact, learning some simple layout lingo can go a long way to helping you understand the procedure and getting one of the biggest bangs for your buck. From vector graphics to pre-flight approval, graphic design terminology is exceptional, and I know it can be somewhat confusing to someone not familiar with it. When we first started in the design business, we did not know all the ideal conditions either! Here I’ve listed some common terms which will help you better understand the design process – and make certain you get the very best end product.
Vector images – A vector image is one made from basic geometric shapes, like rectangles, lines, circles, ellipses, and polygons. Since a vector picture is made from contours, it doesn’t use pixels, so whenever the picture is enlarged, the exact same high-quality resolution is maintained. Vector images are important because they allow for simple manipulation throughout the design procedure. In case you have a logo or an image, be sure to provide us the document in vector format. We can even convert some graphic files to vector format, but this can be a chargeable service.
Color fitting – If you’ve already printed a logo or other advertising collateral, you will likely wish to match the color of your existing material for your vehicle window or wrap decoration. In order to ensure an accurate color match, bring us a sample in person. Because color can vary from computer to computer based on a screen, the only method to ensure a precise color match is to see a sample in person. Know how important color matching is for your own brand, and be sure to get it right the first time.
Pre-flight – If a design is in its last stages before printing, it is in’pre-flight.’ That means a production team does a final check to confirm colors and dimensions are correct before printing. Once an image goes to pre-flight check, no significant layout edits can be made (otherwise, you’ll need to start over from the drafting process).
Sin #4: I never plan ahead.
The key to a successful design job is planning. In case you have a excellent notion, tell it! A good design company can allow you to take your idea from concept to end. The very best way to do so is to go to the store, view samples, and talk to them in person. If you’d like a custom made vehicle wrap job, be sure to bring in your car. This way they can get precise measurements and get a sense of what you want. We use computer templates as a beginning point for every vehicle wrap, but specific measurements enable us to customize the templates and make certain the layout will fit just perfectly.
Sin #5:What You Do Not Know Can Hurt Your Business!
Custom made work takes some time. Every style group will do their very best to accommodate your schedule, particularly in case of a last-minute rush job. Deadlines alter and I need it ‘ abruptly becomes’I had it yesterday.’ Remember that a design store can (unfortunately) only do so much. Your rush job still has to be squeezed into the regular production schedule. Quality work requires time, and rushed jobs tend to look like they were dashed.
Sin #6: I proof my work when I feel like it – if that’s now or next week.
Prompt proofing accelerates the design process. A good design company will work with you on edits and revisions as many times as you need, but keep in mind that proofing and adjustments take time. I always tell customers to allow 2-5 days for proofing and review. This might look like a long time, but I’ve learned from experience the change process is able to move slowly.
So what could be done to speed this up? The plan proofing process will go much faster if the client gets back in a timely fashion. I understand you’re busy, but if you receive a proof, just take a few minutes to review it right away. Do your best not to wait a day or 2 – from the time you send adjustments along with the design shop gets back to you, a few days will have already passed.
Sin #7: There’s no need to cover quality materials.
Cut costs, not quality. Vehicle advertisements and window images are two cost-effective marketing methods that create thousands of impressions and therefore are a fantastic return on your investment. However, poorly designed, published and applied graphics appear cheap – and reflect poorly on your own brand. This will keep your colors clean and preserve the ink, ensuring your images remain lively.
Conclusion
Last, make sure the lamination is carried out by means of a machine which ignites a clear layer of vinyl in addition to the picture. The alternate process, utilizing liquid lamination that is painted on by hand, may cost less, however it’s a poor procedure which looks cheap and easily fades as well as additives. A respectable shop will have a lamination press. Ask to be shown the machine so you know you’re dealing with a reputable store!
