10 Common Graphic Design Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Graphic design is everywhere, splashed across the web, plastered on social media, embossed into branding, and even in the apps we use every day.

The small graphic design errors are the ones that pop up when you're in a hurry or not really thinking about it.

Such mistakes may be minor at first glance; yet they can obliterate your message, bewilder your audience, and add an amateurish look to your work.

In no time at all, a font that people cannot read, colours you would not dream of using, careless designs, and naughty pictures soon sap your confidence.

These issues will eventually have a negative impact on the way your design looks and the way it is perceived as the work of a real professional.

The good thing is that the majority of the mistakes in graphic design can be easily prevented after you are aware of what is out there to find.

It is all just a question of recognition of these pitfalls, and simple adjustments, and you can turn mundane images into passive, understandable, and definite designs.

Common Graphic Design Mistakes and Fixes

Good design is, first of all, clear communication.

In fact, even a small design error can make a big impact on the attitude of people toward your work.

The weaker the central message is, the more confusing, cluttered, and obscure the design may appear.

Nevertheless, with such generic issues in mind and the knowledge about how to avoid them, it is possible to design readable, understandable, and uncluttered designs.

However, when you are aware of such generic issues and how to eliminate them, you can come up with designs that are readable, understandable, and uncluttered.

One of the examples of that is when you are going to study graphic design online and find it even easier since you can access both simple lessons and thousands of examples of what has gone wrong.

Mistake #1: Using Too Many Fonts

In cases where a design consists of a large number of different fonts, the viewer will not concentrate easily.

Every font is unique with its style and feel; hence, when many fonts are combined simultaneously in a design, the entire design appears to be disordered and unplanned.

Consequently, the audience can spend even more time reading the text as compared to what they are communicating.

How to Fix it: Use one or two fonts as lead fonts, and use them throughout the design. In case you want a variation, then apply the font weights of 'light,' â'bold, ' or 'semi-bold' of the same family.

This will retain your design in a tidy-looking manner, and joined-up - and yet leave you room to manoeuvre.

Mistake #2: Poor Color Choices

Colors make a significant contribution to the feelings of people who view a design. When the colors are conflicting, too bright, or lack adequate contrast, the design becomes distressing to the eye, as far as reading is concerned.

In other instances, bad color selection may go to the extent of concealing a significant text or rendering pictures boring.

How to fix it: Use colors that match each other. Color wheels or web tools can be used to locate matching palettes.

Moreover, verify the text and background to ensure that all is clear. Light colors tend to be balanced and soft compared to hard ones.

Mistake #3: Ignoring White Space

The area of nothingness between and surrounding elements is what is called white space. When there is no appropriate white space in a design, it seems tight and crowded.

The eyes of the viewer have difficulty as they strive to locate the most significant one. It is not empty but allows directing the eye and makes the design look clean and contemporary.

How to fix it: Separate your text, images, and parts with a space. There is no need to occupy every space. The spacing simplifies the layout of the design, as well as makes significant details noticeable.

Mistake #4: Low-Quality Images or Graphics

Picture images are blurred, pixelated, or stretched, which makes a design appear amateurish.

The bad quality of images may leave the entire project as being rushed or insensitive, however strong the rest of the design. They also have the ability to divert the viewers.

How to fix it: The images should be of high resolution, clear, and sharp. Ensure that you do not distort pictures. In addition, use royalty-free or licensed photos to prevent penalties related to copyright.

Good pictures immediately enhance the general appearance of your design.

Mistake #5: Overuse of Effects

Picture images are blurred, pixelated, or stretched, which makes a design appear amateurish. The bad quality of images may leave the entire project as being rushed or insensitive, however strong the rest of the design is. They also have the ability to divert the viewers.

How to fix it: The images should be of high resolution, clear, and sharp. Ensure that you do not distort pictures. In addition, use royalty-free or licensed photos to prevent penalties related to copyright. Good pictures immediately enhance the general appearance of your design.

Mistake #6: Bad Alignment and Spacing

The design appears uneven and disoriented when the elements are not arranged properly. It is easy to see that even minor misalignment can give one the feeling that something is wrong, even when they do not know why.

The spacing between elements is also not good, resulting in the design being difficult to read.

How to fix it: Grid systems, alignment tools, and rulers in your design program. These tools assist you in maintaining all in order and spaced out.

When it is properly aligned, it puts the design structure into shape and allows the viewer to move easily through the information.

Mistake #7: Inconsistent Branding

Unless you employ varying colors, types, or styles of design on every project, people will not know your brand. Poor branding would make a company appear less professional and less reputable. A powerful brand appears similar in all the designs.

How to fix it: Prepare a simple branding guide, and add your primary colors, rules of your logo, fonts, and tone. Give it a follow in all designs. This creates a memorable brand image.

Mistake #8: Too Much Text or Poor Typography

Unless you employ varying colors, types, or styles of design on every project, people will not know your brand. Poor branding would make a company appear less professional and less reputable. A powerful brand appears similar in all the designs.

How to fix it: Prepare a simple branding guide, and add your primary colors, rules of your logo, fonts, and tone. Give it a follow in all designs. This creates a memorable brand image.

Mistake #9: Ignoring the Target Audience

Designing something to suit your personal tastes can very easily result in a non-empathetic design.

Without its style or colors being similar to what your viewers are habituated to, and thus being unable to understand and appreciate the thing, then of course it does not entail satisfaction.

How to fix it: Consider who it is you are designing things for. What are they interested in? What is its purpose? Select the one that will fit the taste and needs of your target audience.

Design that is focused on the audience is always better. That is why the role of audience-oriented design is always greater.

Mistake #10: Forgetting Mobile-Friendly Design

For a large number of people, the designs they see are located on their telephone handsets.

If you design your site for only the largest screens, this is likely to be too small or cramped when viewed on mobile devices. Text can get unreadable, and pictures go out of formation.

How to fix it: Try always to check your designs on different screen sizes. Provide flexible layouts, bigger letters, and clear structures that cater easily to mobile. With mobile, you ensure that all people can receive your message.

How to Continuously Improve Your Design Skills

Your design skills are something that can never cease to improve. Good design is achieved through practice, learning, and observing what works.

You can learn independently or using such a platform as Pixel Craft Training, but it is best to remain active and inquisitive so you can develop more quickly.

These are some of the easy ways to enhance:

• Practice frequently as a confidence-building exercise.
• Follow tutorials to acquire new knowledge.
• Test colors, fonts, and layouts using online tools.
• Stick to design trends to make your work modern.
• Enhance innovation by experimenting.
• Good designs help to learn what works.
• Request feedback to enhance your work.

To Wrap Up

Graphic design is an influential manner of communicating ideas, but even trivial errors distract the audience. Avoiding familiar pitfalls, such as using too many typefaces, inappropriate color selection, or neglecting whitespace, will make your design not only more readable but also more professional. Good alignment, clear branding, and legible text are more things that set your work apart.

Advertisements indicate that design is a skill that increases with experience. In time, your designs will improve, become more effective, and stronger for all of that perseverance.