Learn graphic design

Top Tips on design and content creation

These multi-page carousels are here to inform or inspire your own creations.
Find tips on graphic design rules, content creation, logo design, copywriting, typesetting, advertising, rapid idea generation etc and feel free to suggest something. More on my Instagram @WindowGazingDesigns or click the links below to find what you want.

Top tips - Having fun with typography slide. Image of the word Fun with the F replaced by a laughing person that resembles an F.

Top tips - Having fun with typography slide 2

The word Go with the O speeding off screen. The word swipe with the I replaced by a swipe icon.

Top tips - Having fun with typography slide 4

The word pop with the O replaced by a pop icon. The word inflate with the a placed by a balloon being inflated.

The word steps with the E replaced by 3 steps. The word ladder with the E placed by 3 rungs of a ladder.

The O in Metronom shaped like a Metronom and the circular parts of the p and a shaped like speakers

The word mug with the U and G together to look like a mug. The word cocktail with the letters T, A, I and L together to look like a cocktail glass and straw.

Word desk shaped like a desk, letters of a keyboard spell out the word keyboard, the words MTB and BMX with little riders on them.

Top tips - Having fun with typography slide 10 (end).

Readable?
Can you see what it is or reads?
Show it to 3+ people who have never seen it and ask them to tell you what they see.

Memorable?
Can you remember roughly what it looks like?
Look at it for 5 seconds, look away and draw it or try describe it to someone.

Scalable?
Can you see it look good small as a letterhead and large on a sign?
Look at it zoomed in and out on your computer and near and far when printed.

Where does it live?
Where will it most often be seen e.g. shop sign, app icon, on clothing or a small device, food label etc?
Is it square, circular, rectangular? Put it in context as a mockup. Does it fit/feel right?

What files do you have?
Do you have a selection of files that allow you to use the right colours and resolution?

SVG files are scalable to any size
PNG files can have good resolution and transparent background
JPEG files are smaller
and easy to share

For more Top Tips try these links to jump straight over to my Instagram, and be sure to leave a comment if it was of any use or not:

Which type of logo is best? (best use of wordmarks, monograms, abstract marks etc)
DIY design or go pro? (free design tools, pitfalls and suggestions about in-house design)
Top 5 online design tools (for designing, planning, file sharing etc)
Illustrate using text (using text as images for part of a word, whole words and whole sentences)
Design in 1s, 2s and 3s (how many fonts, styles, sizings, calls to action you should use in your designs)
An identity designs (importance of using a brand's identity to inform design decisions)
Keyboard shortcuts (for designing and editing on most software tools including selecting, moving and duplicating objects)
Print ready checklist (a useful checklist before printing any design work and guide to printing jargon)
My process (the process I follow with all clients to reduce risk to both parties)