Essential Dos and Don’ts for Adding Beauty to Your Page

Some rules are made to be broken.

But graphic design is an art that is anchored in the appropriate use of typography, composition, color, and images. Only after you have mastered some basics can you tease out variants or challenge the status quo.

Want some quick tips to add beauty to your page? Here are some design “dos” and “don’ts” from four world-renowned graphic artists.

DON’T limit yourself to just a handful of fonts

Many designers champion the theory that you need only 12 strong typefaces.

In the past, commercial options were limited, but now gorgeous alternatives hit the market daily! Build a catalog you favor, but keep adding to it, and never stop searching for perfection.

DO reward strong body typefaces with a long-term commitment

When you find a classy, confident body text, stick with it. These fonts create stability and design anchor points to build from. Commit to the best, and don’t waste time flirting with others.

DO choose colors for a reason

Everyone has favorite colors, but your design elements should reflect the brand and its personality – not your own. Pick colors with purpose, not just because you like them.

DON’T be afraid to be bold with your color choices

Bold color choices communicate power and confidence. Bold colors aren’t just neon but include anything unexpected (like combinations of avocado green with bright orange or deep brown with magenta).

DO check that all images have an effective 300ppi resolution

This creates sharp designs that won’t get distorted when resized. And never enlarge a 300ppi image beyond 100 percent within your layout.

DON’T import images with too high a resolution

If 300ppi is the industry standard, won’t 600ppi look twice as nice? Nope. A larger resolution will enlarge your file size and slow down prepress processing. Larger resolutions can also cause an uneven gradation of tone.

DO always apply some sharpening to digital images

Many photos shot with a digital camera will appear slightly blurred. Use Unsharp Mask or Smart Sharpen tools to bring a crisp finish to your image.

DON’T get sharp-happy

Oversharpened images look worse than “straight from the camera” shots, so take it easy. And remember to complete all other image adjustments before you apply sharpening. Sharpening should be your last imaging step before importing a photo into your layout.

These rules serve as a guide, but creative concepts are all yours. Keep things simple, clean, and uncluttered, and let the design speak for itself.

Graphic Design Rules: 365 Essential Dos and Don'ts

by Sean Adams, Peter Dawson, John Foster, and Tony Seddon

DON'T use comic sans (except ironically!) but DO worship the classic typefaces like Helvetica and Garamond. Graphic Design Rules is a handy guide for professional graphic designers, students, and laymen who incorporate graphic design into their job or small business. Packed with practical advice, this spirited collection of design dos and don'ts takes readers through 365 rules like knowing when to use a modular grid-and when to throw the grid out the window. All designers will appreciate tips and lessons from these highly accomplished authors, who draw on years of experience to help you create good design.