Delve into Design

This is a really long article including lots of useful tips on graphic design, which can also be applied to web design.

Many people might think that it’s easy to convert a print brochure to a website and vica versa, but it’s not that easy at all. Things to take into consideration would be the following:

Resolution of artwork

Print resolution is generally higher than web (72dpi) and therefore images will appear much larger in 72dpi (screen) resolution. You have to ensure that you adhere to general browser restrictions.

Fonts

Many nice design fonts won’t work on your website except if you keep them as images. This has pros and cons. The pros are that you’ll have nice looking fonts, but the cons are that search engines can’t read the text and you’ll be shooting yourself in the foot. It’s also much harder to update images than simple HTML text.

With general HTML fonts you’re limited to only a number of fonts. The reason for this is because you want to be using fonts that most users have on their computers (whether Mac or PC).

Scales

A simple brochure might not be designed to the same scale requirements to fit as a website. A lot of cropping might render the artwork useless for use on the web, so make sure you have a designer that’s up to the job of taking the concept and applying it on a website design.

It’s never as simple as it might seem

It’s important to remember that it’s never as simple as it seems to take a print concept to web, so always keep in mind that converting a print design to a website might require some advanced skills!

Where do you find inspiration?

Finding Inspiration from:

* the homeless beggar on the way to lunch
* a chance rainbow on a half sunny day
* reading other design blogs
* networking in business (everybody seems to want what we do, but where are they when you’re looking for clients?)
* a high after a successful meeting
* random colours in everyday life
* raw talent from people that you never believed had any!
* give me some more!

Pop-Up Banner Design

Once again I have some popup banners to design. You know, these roll up banners that pack neatly away into a carry bag… Well your basic banner design principles once again count here.

Client brief was that they’d be using it at events and seminars. Now I don’t know about you, but when I’m attending an event, I’m seldomly going to stop in my tracks to read a whole company mission or vision statement (that’s what the client suggested). I suggested to apply the infamous KISS (keep it simple stupid!) principle and ditched the statements for something more catchy. A one phraser that tell prospective clients exactly what the client does and also carrying over their most important values. In the end, a much more effective banner, with larger text and visuals to do what banners do best, attract interest.

I can’t begin to say how important a slick design is. You need good effective stock photography if you’re going that route, or strong vector based simple design layout. After all, with stock, you’re selling a lifestyle and your trying to create a mood. Often, once single striking image as backdrop for your banner could accomplish just that. Just make sure your text sits well on such a background or make sure you have sufficient non-effect to make it stand out. What’s non-effect? Well, putting effects like stroke or drop shadow on objects without making it apparent that they’re really there, so downtoning it a bit.

Also remember any print material done for a client must create brand awareness, so make sure you convey the message. Louder if you’re working with a lesser known brand and toned down, but themed effectively so that brand recognition is not lost on better known brands.

Print Resolution

As mentioned before, large format is usually printed at lower formats, BUT if at all possible, design your artwork at full resolution at full size. If not possible, work at no less than 25% of the original size, but still hi-res, say 300dpi, which will allow the quality to still remain effective on the large format prints.

How to brief your designer

When commissioning a designer to do graphic or web design for you, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Graphic and web designers need specific information in order for them to accurately do an estimation of costs on the specific design project.

Things like colour preferences, formats and target audiences are important when briefing your designer on a new job.