More Design Tips

• • How “Category Creators” Inspire and Empower Customers
• • Draw People into Your Story with the Rule of Three
• • Three Steps to Great Design
• • Overcoming Obstacles in Design
• • Try Word Lists for Advertising “Gold”
• • Building the Perfect Letterhead
• • Attract Magazine Readers with Short-Form Columns
• • Essential Dos and Don’ts for Adding Beauty to Your Page
• • Grab Them Right Out of the Gate

Three Steps to Great Design

When you spend your hard-earned money on a piece of print marketing, you want it to look its best.

These timely tips will help you can make a fantastic-looking piece of marketing material that will capture your audience’s attention and ensure your printed pieces are not only seen but heard.

Use Spot Color: King of the Dramatic

Spot color in print marketing materials is a powerful technique that can make your designs stand out.

Instead of relying solely on standard CMYK colors, spot color allows you to specify a unique hue for a more vibrant result. When used cleverly, spot color can create a dramatic impact or a subtle yet attention-grabbing effect. For example, imagine a black-and-white photo with a single spot of red color strategically placed. The viewer’s eye is naturally drawn to the red spot, conveying a clear message.

To achieve a significant impact, it’s essential to choose the right color and place it strategically, ensuring it catches the reader’s attention in the intended way.

Think Simple

Simplicity is crucial in effective print marketing design.

By carefully editing your design elements, you can create a more impactful message. Instead of overwhelming your readers with an excessive amount of content, it’s important to choose your words, pictures, and design elements thoughtfully. Removing unnecessary clutter allows the viewer to focus on the essential message you’re trying to convey.

Rather than cramming every possible image and graphic onto a page, consider what will make the greatest impact. It’s about prioritizing quality over quantity and selecting elements that will truly resonate with your audience.

Persuade Readers to Action

Persuasion also plays a vital role in effective print marketing design

To achieve success, it’s crucial to clearly understand what you are selling or offering through your marketing materials. Trying to convey too much information in a single effort can be overwhelming and dilute the message. Instead, it’s advisable to plan and strategize the use of multiple pieces to reach your customers effectively.

When creating a sign, for instance, it’s important to focus on delivering one key piece of information rather than multiple ideas. A prime example is the universally recognized stop sign. Its simple and direct design serves as a persuasive tool by instantly capturing people’s attention and signaling them to refrain from proceeding further. By employing a straightforward graphic in a persuasive manner, the stop sign illustrates how the process of informing can effectively lead to action.

No matter what you are creating, these simple steps should help guide you on your path to design. And when it comes to printing, you know the next step, contact us today!

The Graphic Design Idea Book: Inspiration from 50 Masters

by Steven Heller

This book serves as an introduction to the key elements of good design.

Broken into sections covering the fundamental elements of design, key works by acclaimed designers serve to illustrate technical points and encourage readers to try out new ideas. Themes covered include form, narrative, color, type and image, ornament, simplicity, and wit and humour.

The result is an instantly accessible and easy to understand guide to graphic design using professional techniques.