A great graphic designer can create some of the most visually stunning and attention-grabbing art pieces you will ever see. And there is a lot of room for experimentation; however, all this room for impressive work can also allow mistakes. That is why we will be looking at some of the most common mistakes new designers make and ways to avoid them.

This list should be especially useful for beginners. Knowing what not to do can be as important as knowing what you should do. So, here are five common graphic design mistakes to avoid

Too many fonts

One of the most common mistakes that many designers will make early in their careers is using too many fonts in their designs. The problem this causes is that the message you are trying to communicate can get lost in the design, buried under the confusion that multiple fonts can create. Ideally, you should limit your font choices to one, but you can use up to two or, at most, three per design. Not only is it easier to read, but in a smaller-sized work, limiting fonts may be a necessity.

Using stock images            

Another common issue in the work of amateur or beginner designers is the use of stock images in their work. While these are more affordable and can be pretty helpful, they are likely to make your design look less appealing and cheapen the overall quality if used in more significant numbers. That is primarily because many stock photos are made similarly and have a particular stock image look, giving them away as stock photos. But if you use stock photos, be sure to have the correct license and purchase them to ensure that you can use them legally and in the suitable resolutions you need.

Lack of white space

Beginner designers often run into the trap of thinking that their design needs to take up an entire space or that they need to make use of as many visual elements as possible. That is an all too common mistake, like using too many fonts can detract from the design quality. Too many design elements can clutter the design and make it less appealing. You should take the time to learn how to make the best use of white space to improve your designs. The optimal use of white space is a great way to create a clean-looking design, and it can also help with comprehension, allowing the audience to understand the design’s message better.

Poor colour choices

You might start noticing a theme here, and you would be correct. Those new to graphic design tend to overload the designs with elements, including the overuse of colours. Poor colour choice can make an otherwise great design unappealing and distracting. That could be due to using too many bold colours that clash or not having any contrast between the colour choices. A good graphic designer must learn to utilise colours and create colour schemes that enhance the design. It is also crucial to test out the fonts you are using with the colour scheme to ensure that it is clear and legible when used together.

Poor visual hierarchy

Visual hierarchy is key to a good design; this is another area where mistakes are often made by those new to design. Visual hierarchy is important because that is how the order in which your audience will view the design. An excellent visual hierarchy organises the design in an easy-to-navigate manner for the audience, allowing them to find the most crucial information quickly. The visual hierarchy will dictate the importance of the information you are presenting; making mistakes here can confuse the audience and cause you to lose the purpose of your communication. Understanding the visual hierarchy and how to utilise it to create a more cohesive design will help improve the quality of graphic designs.

That should help give you some insight into some of the most common mistakes made by beginners and non-designers when creating graphic designs. To learn more information and tips about graphic design and for news on the various trends in the graphic design industry, check out our other articles and blog posts.

At Digital Bee Studio, we are a leading global digital agency with more than 13 years of experience, operating out of London, Dubai, Toronto and San Francisco. We offer digital media strategies, graphic design, app development, and more solutions.

We are a one-stop shop for fully customised fantastic designs, compelling content and impactful digital media strategy solutions. We offer a free consultation and quote, so give us a call, and our team will help you figure out how we can help you improve your digital communications.