I Have Some Stuff to Say About Design

By @design101

We could start talking about design by looking it up in a dictionary, but we all know what design is, right? The whole point is to make pretty, attractive things. You may think, ‘well, I like to draw and I’m good at it, I might as well study graphic design’ Wrong! Art and graphic design are not the same (but we will cover that in another post. Something to look forward to!)

I, like many others, started my career with that same line of thinking and in just a few weeks, I realized the truth: design is, above all, about functionality. Design should be pretty, yes, but most of all, it has a purpose, and that purpose is what makes it beautiful.

We are problem solvers. We are given the task to interpret client´s -often crazy- requests and transmute them into efficient, creative, effective designs that they can use to successfully improve their businesses. We produce ingenious visual solutions. Design is a beautiful craft that requires study and expertise.

The most essential aspect is the message

Our job is to communicate a message through images, shapes, colors, letters, and videos. The message should be solid, effective and eye-catching. In fact, designers are visual communicators, and it requires skill and cleverness to do it suitably. It doesn’t matter how pretty it looks if it’s conveying the incorrect message or if it’s not custom-made to appeal to the right audience.

The most essential aspect is the message. We just have to deliver it in a good-looking way.

Let me give you an example:

You have been given the task to design a flyer for a musical event, you must include the names of the performing actors, time, place and day, the cover price and the event name. All in a 1080x1080 px post to be promoted in social media.

Say you come up with a flyer design that looks very beautiful and it’s attractive to the eye, colorful and striking. And when people see it they think ‘oh I want to come’ and start looking for the details mentioned above but they can’t find them. They don’t see the time and place because the information is lost in a sea of colors and musical instruments. They are not able to read the name of the performers (which happen to be one of their favorites) because the names are too small and badly placed.

And they keep scrolling down. You have lost them.

You have succeeded in designing a beautiful artwork, but you have failed in making a good design.

Design is intention

Nothing is random.

When we make something orange, it’s not because we considered it to be a pretty color, it has a reason, a motive. You should not pick the color red if you don’t know why you are choosing it or what do you expect to accomplish with it. Everything has an objective and an intention, if you put a line, that line must serve a purpose.

What you must remember at all times is: form follows function. If it’s pretty but doesn’t work, it ain't design.

But how do I learn the why?

Have you ever looked at a #design so visually pleasing that you wonder how?!

The answer is simple: back to the basics. Balance, hierarchy, contrast, repetition, alignment, typography, color theory, gestalt principles, and a big fat etcetera.

After surfing the waves of #Steemit for a bit, I realized there are almost no entries referring to these topics, which I find tragic. Instead of complaining, I decided to offer a solution: #IHaveSomeStuffToSayAboutDesign.

Who am I? I’m a professional graphic designer talking from my own experience working in digital marketing agencies and as a freelancer. My word is no law in any way, I’m just offering advice and tips I wish I had when I took my first steps into this world six years ago.

This is for graphic design students, people with basic knowledge, people that know nothing about design, people that want to study graphic design and graphic designers that feel they lack theory. This is also for other professionals and experts that want to share their knowledge with the community and impart their wisdom. Help me contribute!

What do I plan to write?

Everything. Everything I know and can convey trough writing and everything you wish to know too. Just ask and you shall receive!

Art vs. Design | Composition | The Big Bad Client | Basic design principles | Color theory | Clients | Typography | Adobe Suite | Build your portfolio | Branding | Logo | Inspiration | Pretty vs. Functional | Minimalism | RGB & CMYK | Editorial design | Grids | Balance | Personal branding | Corporate identity | What are vectors? | Software | Photo edition | Illustration | Study or not? | Social media | The Rule of Thirds

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So, what do you think? Is there something specific you want me to write? Do you think this would be useful for anybody? Do you have any suggestions? Just let me know and be sure to follow me for more content soon!

Credits: all the pictures used here were taken from free stock websites.