Display graphics are one of the most important features that bring a space or idea together. These can take a variety of forms depending upon your needs; whether you are looking to add new elements to a space or revitalize the interior of your building with custom wall coverings, how you create and manage the designs and what is displayed will be the largest deciding factor in how your efforts are perceived.
The good news is that you do not need to be a graphic designer in order to create something that is powerful and effective. If you are considering display graphics as part of whatever project you are working on, keep the following tips in mind as you create so that you can be proud of a clean, effective design.
Cater To How the Brain Naturally Works
One of the most important factors of graphic design is that it caters directly to the human brain. There is no filter between what the eye sees and what it perceives—no one to stand next to the design explaining its purpose. Thus, it is important that any design is crafted with human nature in mind. The brain craves organization, which means that your design should flow logically and cluster related ideas together.
If you are not using text or photos but rather patterns or artwork, this principle can still apply; think of, for example, which direction lines are flowing in, shapes that go from big to small and so on. Be cognizant of how your design works with the margins—whether it sits neatly contained at equal distances within or bleeds over the edge.
Unity And Cohesion
Along the same lines as the previous point about balance, a display graphic should feel cohesive. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, but one of the simplest and most effective is color control. A design will feel much more put together and unified if it uses varying shades of the same color rather than five or six different colors.
Of course, for some brands and purposes, there is a use to including a wide variety of very different colors, but color coordination is still important; this may include which differing colors sit next to each other, what the background shade is and more. Repetition is also useful here; utilizing similar shapes or lines will help viewers understand that each smaller piece is part of the whole.
Open Space And Contrast
Any display graphic will have some level of open space. This is the area in between text or images, at the edges of the design and even among individual elements. You can use open space to create contrast or notions of separation and order; in fact, committing to elements being different and distinct does not harm your visual but rather will clarify each of its unique aspects. Do not be afraid to make things different from each other.
Keep Fonts Well Controlled
If you are using text for your display graphic, the font that you choose is extremely important. You will need to consider not only the size of the font (which can and typically should vary throughout the design) but also the exact font that you want, how it will be laid out and more. Remember that different types of fonts convey different ideas. Handwritten fonts can look accessible and friendly, while cursive fonts appear elegant and modern.
Serif fonts encourage people to take the text seriously and convey a notion of order and knowledgeability, whereas sans serif fonts can be easier to read (especially from a distance) without compromising on their orderliness. The right font for you will depend on your goals for the display graphic. It is generally considered best not to use more than two fonts for a single design.
Most often, these two fonts will contrast for greater effect; for example, a cursive font would contrast highly with a serif font due to the highly different shapes of the letters (one made with smooth curves and one with rigid, straight lines).
Trust The Experts With Your Display Graphics
No matter what type of display graphic you are considering, it is important that you work with professionals who can produce a final piece that correctly and faithfully reproduces your vision. At Tree Towns, we stand behind the high quality of our products, which are made to last for years to come. Whether you already have a design or you need some help getting started, reach out to learn more about what we can do for you or to place your order.