The key to becoming a better visual designer is rigor. You will only improve as a visual designer if you make a conscious effort. Here are some fundamentals you should master so you can take your visual design to the next level.1. Learn the fundamentals of visual design.
Fundamental #1: Go back to the basics with type
Type is the fundamental basis for design
- In order to improve the typography in your designs, first start by learning the basics
- Develop a vocabulary
- Learn about what terms like tracking, kerning, and leading mean
- Pair fonts together
Here’s an exercise to help develop your eye for sizing:
Sketch or wireframe a landing page and ask for feedback
- Have a friend look at the design and rank the elements based on visual weight
- What is the conversion goal of the landing page?
- How can you optimize to meet this goal
- The relationship between different elements of the design
Use color to convey meaning
Colors have different effects on people based on their personal preference, cultural upbringing, and experiences
- When choosing a color palette, simplicity is key
- Choose a neutral background color, then choose a primary and secondary accent color
- Finally, choose an error and success color for your different UI states
Use space to create balance
Spacing helps establish vertical and horizontal motion in your designs.
- Develop an intuitive intuition for how to space elements
- KernType is a game where you compare your kerning solution to a typographer’s solution
- Take an existing design, draw an x and y axis, simplify the design into basic shapes, analyze how the design is balanced, and then rearrange the elements
Here’s an exercise to help develop your eye for color
Compile color palettes for things around you like photographs, magazines, and favorite shows
- Take an existing design and apply these palettes to it, and take note of how it changes the mood and tone of the design
Use size to establish visual hierarchy
Sizing is second to none
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