Graphic design is a means of visual communication using photography, typography and illustration. It is used from a business marketing perspective to communicate a business’ messages and values and establish clear, consistent branding.
There’s no denying the importance of good graphic design for a business. A good logo, brochure, business card or website design are basic necessities for brand identity and will help you to communicate directly to an audience as successfully as with spoken word. Our brains process images 60,000 times faster than we process words, so if you’re looking to make a fast impact, a graphic design element will get you there first.
How can Graphic Design be Used?
You might think graphic design doesn’t apply to you, but you’d be surprised at just how many elements of business marketing it relates to. You want to be recognised by new and returning clients, which you will struggle to do with words alone.
You simply cannot achieve success without basic branding: a logo and a running theme across your leaflets, websites and business cards. All of these are examples of graphic design, and, when produced effectively, can help to get you noticed on and offline.
How much does Graphic Design Cost?
Graphic design refers to a number of photographic and illustrative components that your business may require, and the costs involved generally depend on what it is you’re after. If you’re starting out as a business, for example, you may want to establish consistent branding across your website, logos, social platforms, leaflets and business cards, in which case, you can expect the cost to be significantly higher than if you’re just after a logo touch-up.
You will find your graphic design expert charges either per project or per hour of work. If they are charging per hour, $20-$350 is the cost range you can expect, depending on your designer’s level of expertise and notability in the field. If you need a job carried out, you’re best finding someone who offers a project flat fee, so you know exactly how much you’re paying beforehand.
Examples of Companies using Graphic Design Right
There are a number of different ways that graphic design can be effective, but they all bode down to brand memorability and dependability. Look at Starbucks, for example – the coffeehouse chain uses the same green colour consistently on its logo across all its stores and on all its coffee cups. Fast food chain McDonald’s is another company with fantastic brand identity, with its golden arches and red background recognised all over the world today.
Best Graphic Design Tools to Use
You might prefer to get creative with your business’ graphic design yourself rather than source out an expert to do it for you, and if so, you’re going to need to know which are the best tools to make the process as easy and effective as possible. There are hundreds to choose from on the internet, but you can’t go wrong with any of the following:
· A good quality laptop or computer
Owning a decent laptop or computer with a high screen resolution and good memory is essential for doing a good graphic design job. Look for monitors that have a resolution of at least 1280 x 800 for the sharpest on-screen image.
· Adobe Creative Cloud
In terms of computer software, you’re going to get the most out of Adobe Creative Cloud. Subscribing to the applications will give you a range of useful features for graphic design, video editing, web development and photography.
· Adobe Photoshop
There’s a reason why Photoshop is the most popular editing software – it’s a graphic designer’s best friend. You can use the tool to edit and retouch photos and images, including designs and digital art.
· Canva
If you’re after a more basic editing platform, you can’t go wrong with Canva. The simplified graphic design tool website is suitable for both non-designers and professionals, and provides access to photographs, vector images, graphics, and fonts.
· Logaster
For logo editing in particular, Logaster is a fantastic resource for design experts and non-experts alike. The tool allows users to get full branding designs with business logos, including business cards, letterheads, envelopes, social media, and more.
My Top Tips for Killing It with Graphic Design
You don’t necessarily have to be a design expert to successfully market your business with graphics. Here are my top tips for killing it with graphic design today:
1. Don’t overcomplicate. Often, when it comes to logos, the simpler, the better.
2. Maintain consistency. Use the same colour palette across your platforms and designs.
3. Keep your fonts basic. Fancy fonts are harder to read and generally make life more difficult for you.
4. Don’t be afraid of blank space. Your customers don’t want to be overwhelmed with detail.
5. Go in with a plan. You’re much more likely to achieve your desired outcome more quickly if you have an idea of where you’re going.
The Top Graphic Design Blogs to Follow
1. Wix
There’s plenty to keep you reading and learning about graphic design on Wix, even a handy Small Business Tips section if you’re just starting out and looking to successfully expand in these next few years.
2. Inkbot Design
Inkbot specialises in branding strategy and visual identity, and its blog covers everything you need to do to stand out with graphic design, focusing on logos, branding, marketing, freelancer tips, print and web design inspiration.
3. Creative Live
As one of the biggest designer communities online, Creative Live’s blog offers resources for all levels of learning, interviews with inspirational design professionals, and live on-air classes on all number of subjects.
There are too many useful graphic design blogs to mention here, but you can read a full list here if you’re interested to really make the most out of what’s available for you online.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, a business would not be a business without graphic design. A good logo and visual theming can massively help you to stand out from your competitors, helping you to build identity and brand recognition, and exude a professionalism that will ultimately help you to gain customer trust and loyalty.
