traditionally text-focused people entering the world of visuals, it’s time for a brief refresher on the essential principles of design. It’s time for a reminder that the strategic use of typography, color, and white space can drastically improve the efficacy and aesthetics of visual content.

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3 Graphic Design Tips for
Non-Designers Est Read Time: 6 min
Given the power of visual content (it’s more memorable
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022537167800677?
via%3Dihub) and more engaging (http://buzzsumo.com/blog/how-
to-massively-boost-your-blog-traffic-with-these-5-awesome-image-
stats/) than text-based content), many marketers have turned to DIY
graphic design so ware or contracted with graphic artists.
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By MIDORI NEDIGER
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published JUNE 29, 2018 EST READ TIME: 6 MIN
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2. With
more
traditionally text-focused people entering the world of visuals, it’s
time for a brief refresher on the essential principles of design. It’s
time for a reminder that the strategic use of typography, color, and
white space can drastically improve the efficacy and aesthetics of
visual content.
These three design tips will keep your blog, social media, and other
visuals on the right track.
HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: 27+ Handy Tools for Better
Visual Content Marketing
(https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2015/10/tools-visual-
content-marketing/)
White space 101: Remove to improve
A telltale sign of an amateur designer is a shortage (or misuse) of
white space. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, white or negative
space refers to the unmarked spaces around or between visual
elements in a design.
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3. Apple’s use of white space for its HomePod page is extreme, but
effective. The stark emptiness of the designs force viewers to focus
on the product, which is o en a work of art.
In contrast, non-designers o en itch to fill every inch of space with
text, images, or other design elements, leaving no place for the eye
to rest.
Non-designers mistakenly want to fill every
inch of space with text, images, etc., says
@MNediger
(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?
url=https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2
018/06/design-tips-
nondesigners/&text=Non-
designers%20mistakenly%20want%20to%
20fill%20every%20inch%20of%20space%2
0with%20text%2C%20images%2C%20etc.
%2C%20says%20%40MNediger&related)
OM/2018/06/DESIGN-TIPS-NONDESIGNERS/&TEXT=NON-
TEXT%2C%20IMAGES%2C%20ETC.%2C%20SAYS%20%40MNEDIGER&RELATED)
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4. To improve your designs, take a less-is-more approach. Remove
elements that don’t clarify to give breathing room to the core
elements. Use wider margins around the edges of the design and
expand the space between unrelated elements to clarify page
structure.
Leaving unmarked space in a design can immediately improve its
visual appeal and ability to communicate. Always ask before you
finish a design: Is there anything I can remove to improve this
design?
HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: Movie Poster Creates JAWS-
Dropping Visual Storytelling Lessons
(https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2015/08/jaws-visual-
storytelling-lessons/)
Typography 101: Balance readability with
style
Typography simply refers to the technique of positioning and styling
type, but true typography aficionados say designing with type is
both a science and an art. A lot of technical knowledge is required to
master type design: the anatomy of letterforms; rules for kerning,
tracking, and leading; type style classifications; etc.
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