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Top Graphic Design Companies in 2023: Unlimited & Traditional Design Companies

In the fast-paced digital world we live in today, having the ideal creative collaborator can make or break your brand. Which is why finding out about the Top Graphic Design Companies in 2023: Unlimited & Traditional Design Companies is vital for those wanting to upscale their visual presence.

From adjustable subscription-based strategies to customized, project-based solutions, this blog explains both the strategies in a way that you can pick what suits your recurrent or one-off design requirements the most.

Traditional graphic design companies operate on a project-oriented basis, where clients approach them for specific design tasks, such as creating a logo, designing marketing materials, or developing website graphics. Each project is handled individually, with a tailored pricing structure based on the complexity and scope of the design work.

Clients pay per project, emphasizing focused delivery of predetermined design outcomes. However, this approach may prove cost-efficient and time-consuming for those with recurring design needs or evolving requirements.

In contrast, unlimited graphic design companies have revolutionized the industry with a subscription-based model. Clients subscribe to a fixed monthly plan, granting them unhindered access to design services. This model offers a more dynamic and flexible approach, enabling clients to request an array of designs without the constraint of per-project costs.

The emphasis here is on a continuous workflow, ensuring clients have ongoing design support and the ability to make revisions without incurring additional charges.

In this blog, we will decode which graphic design company would be the best fit for your design needs in 2023. Let’s get started:

What is Unlimited Graphic Design?

Unlimited graphic design is a modern and innovative approach to design services that has gained momentum in recent years. Unlike the traditional project-centric model, where clients approach design agencies with specific one-off projects, unlimited graphic design operates on a subscription-based structure.

In this model, clients pay a fixed monthly fee to access an array of design services without any limitations on the number of requests or revisions.

The essence of unlimited graphic design lies in providing a seamless and continuous design workflow. Clients can request various design tasks, from social media graphics and marketing collateral to website elements and branding materials, throughout the subscription period.

Moreover, the model emphasizes collaboration and communication between the client and the design team, ensuring a clear understanding of design requirements and preferences. This model is particularly appealing to businesses and individuals with consistent design needs or agencies looking for white-labeling solutions.

How is Unlimited Graphic Design Different from Traditional Graphic Design?

Unlimited graphic design and traditional graphic design represent two distinct approaches to delivering design services, each with its own set of characteristics and operational dynamics. Understanding the differences between these models is essential for businesses and individuals to make informed choices based on their specific design needs and objectives.

Service Structure

Traditional Graphic Design: Operates on a project-based structure where clients approach the design agency with specific, isolated design projects. Each project is quoted individually, and costs are determined based on the scope and complexity of that particular task.

Unlimited Graphic Design: Adopts a subscription-based model, allowing clients to pay a fixed monthly fee for uninterrupted access to a wide array of design services. This subscription model facilitates ongoing collaboration and a continuous workflow, enabling clients to request an unlimited number of design tasks and revisions without additional costs.

Cost Efficiency

Traditional Graphic Design: Involves a per-project pricing model, potentially resulting in higher cumulative costs for clients with recurring or frequent design needs. Revisions and iterations may also incur additional charges.

Unlimited Graphic Design: Offers a cost-effective solution, particularly for clients with consistent design requirements. The flat monthly fee allows for budget predictability and eliminates the need to negotiate prices for every project or revision, resulting in potential cost savings over time.

Turnaround Time

Traditional Graphic Design: Project-based engagements often require negotiation, quoting, and approval processes for each design task, which can extend the overall turnaround time.

Unlimited Graphic Design: Streamlines the design process due to its subscription nature, enabling quicker request fulfillment and more rapid iterations, resulting in faster project completion.

Flexibility and Scalability

Traditional Graphic Design: Suited for specific, well-defined projects with clear objectives. It is ideal for one-off tasks or sporadic design needs.

Unlimited Graphic Design: Offers flexibility and scalability, making it ideal for businesses requiring ongoing design support, multiple design projects simultaneously, or frequent design revisions due to evolving requirements or market dynamics.

While traditional graphic design operates on a project-centric, pay-per-project structure, unlimited graphic design adopts a subscription-based, all-encompassing approach. The choice between these models hinges on factors such as the frequency of design needs, budget considerations, and the need for continuous design support.

When Should You Opt for Unlimited Graphic Design Over Traditional Graphic Design?

The decision to opt for unlimited graphic design over the traditional project-based model depends on a variety of factors and specific needs. Here are scenarios where choosing an unlimited graphic design subscription proves to be the ideal choice:

Need for Abundant Creatives, Regularly 

If you need frequent, high-volume design work, an unlimited graphic design subscription is ideal. It ensures consistent, daily creative output.

Diverse Range of Design Requests

 If your design needs span across various formats, such as custom illustrations, social media posts, posters, ads, videos, GIFs, vector emailers, and more, an unlimited graphic design service is tailored for you. You won’t face varied rates for different design formats, common in traditional agencies or freelancers.

Fast Turnaround Times and Urgent Projects 

When time is of the essence, and you require swift design turnarounds or need to manage urgent projects effectively, an unlimited graphic design subscription shines. This service delivers designs within hours based on brief complexity, with the added flexibility to cancel your subscription anytime.

Limited or No In-House Design Support

If you lack an in-house design team or have limited design resources, an unlimited graphic design subscription is a practical solution. It provides the necessary design support, whether you don’t have an in-house designer or need to augment your existing design team’s capabilities.

Cost-Efficient Approach to Design 

If you are cautious about managing marketing costs and seek an agile and affordable design solution, opting for an unlimited graphic design service is a prudent choice. The subscription model offers cost predictability and ensures your design needs are met without incurring exorbitant expenses.

An unlimited graphic design subscription is ideal for businesses with frequent, varied design needs, fast turnaround demands, limited in-house resources, or a need for cost-effective creative solutions.

Top Unlimited Graphic Design Companies

Design Shifu

design shifu as Top Graphic Design Company

Plans:

  • Unlimited – $199/month
  • Unlimited Plus – $399/month
  • Unlimited Pro – $599/month

Pros:

  • 100% 14-day money-back guarantee.
  • 24-hour support.
  • Dedicated designer.
  • Option of multiple active requests up to 5 at the same time.

Cons:

  • Motion graphics are not included in any of the plans.
  • Currently, only English-speaking designers are available.

Design Pickle

Design pickle-unlimited graphic design

Plans:

  • Graphics – $499/month
  • Graphics Pro – $995/month
  • Graphics Premium – $1695/month

Pros:

  • Unlimited graphic design services.
  • Quality output.
  • Advanced features like Canva file delivery.
  • Dedicated designer in $995 & $1695 plans.

Cons:

  • Pricing is on the higher side.
  • A dedicated designer is not offered in the $499 plan.
  • The $499 plan offers very limited design services.

Penji

penji- get inhouse creativity

Plans:

  • Pro – $499/month
  • Team – $699/month
  • Unlimited Graphic Design Services Daytime – $999/month

Pros:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • USA daytime designers (Only in the top $999/month plan).
  • Dedicated art director (Only in the top $999/month plan).
  • AI feature to choose the most appropriate designer according to your industry & needs.

Cons:

  • No option of getting a one-off request done.
  • They don’t offer motion graphics.

Many Pixels

Many Pixels as Top Graphic Design Companies in 2023

Plans:

  • Advanced – $549/month
  • Business – $899/month
  • Designated Designer – $1199/month

Pros:

  • Small feedback loop.
  • Strong team.
  • Quick turnaround.
  • 100% 14-day money-back guarantee.

Cons:

  • Crucial features like a dedicated designer and Slack communication are only offered in the top $1199 plan.
  • They don’t deal with motion graphics, UI/UX design, etc.

Kimp

Kimp-unlimited Graphic Design

Plans:

  • Graphics – $599/month
  • Video – $699/month
  • Graphics + Video – $995/month

Pros:

  • The video plan is great in case you have a video-only requirement.
  • Team of 250+ members.
  • Dedicated design team.

Cons:

  • No dedicated designer.
  • Mixed reviews about the quality of the designs.

Top Traditional Graphic Design Companies

Sagmeister & Walsh

sagmeister & walsh-Top Graphic Design Company

Distinctive Design Philosophy: 

Sagmeister & Walsh, under the creative leadership of Stefan Sagmeister and Jessica Walsh, is celebrated for its avant-garde designs that challenge conventional norms. Their approach often intertwines surrealism and vibrant aesthetics, pushing boundaries to create designs that evoke emotions and provoke thought.

Unconventional Strength: 

A unique aspect of Sagmeister & Walsh is their periodic sabbaticals—every seven years, they shut down their studio for a year to rejuvenate creatively. This practice, while unusual, reflects their commitment to constant evolution and redefining creativity.

Pentagram

Pentagram as Top Graphic Design Company

Legacy and Influence:

Pentagram, a renowned design consultancy, is notable for its collaborative and interdisciplinary approach. Founded by five designers, each with distinct design expertise, it continues to be a symbol of design excellence with a global influence.

Diverse Design Perspectives: 

With a vast team of partners, each bringing their unique design perspective, Pentagram ensures a dynamic range of design styles and approaches. This diversity enables them to cater to a broad spectrum of clients and projects.

Glitschka Studios

Glitschka Studios as known for versatility in design styles

Creative Versatility: 

Glitschka Studios, led by Von Glitschka, is known for its versatility in design styles. From bold and modern to intricate and vintage, their adaptability allows them to craft designs that resonate with various brand identities and target audiences.

Emphasis on Authenticity: 

One of their distinctive traits is the emphasis on authentic, handcrafted designs. Their commitment to infuse authenticity and personal touch into their work sets them apart in the traditional design landscape.

Duck. Design

Duck. Design as designs for humans

Human-Centric Design: 

Duck. Design, with a mantra of “Design for Humans,” prioritizes empathy and understanding people’s needs in their design approach. Their human-centric design philosophy ensures that their creations are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and user-friendly.

Craftsmanship and Attention to Detail: 

Known for their meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship, Duck. Design places a strong emphasis on delivering polished and refined designs, making them a sought-after choice for clients who value precision.

Burst Digital

burst digital-help your brand burst

Integrated Digital Design: 

Burst Digital stands at the intersection of traditional graphic design and the digital landscape. They seamlessly blend traditional design principles with modern digital techniques, creating a unique design proposition that resonates with the digital age.

Agility and Innovation: 

A standout quality of Burst Digital is its ability to swiftly adapt to evolving trends and technologies. Their agility allows them to provide innovative solutions in the fast-paced and ever-changing digital landscape.

Wrapping Up

When it comes to finding the ideal graphic design solution for your needs, both traditional graphic design companies and innovative unlimited graphic design providers have their merits. Traditional firms bring years of experience and expertise, crafting designs with meticulous detail. On the other hand, unlimited graphic design companies like Design Shifu offer a modern and efficient approach, providing a constant stream of designs without the need for a hefty budget or hiring multiple designers.

At Design Shifu, we pride ourselves on revolutionizing the design process, offering unlimited design solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. If you’re ready to elevate your design game and experience the advantages of limitless creativity, start by booking a free demo today. Let’s create an experience that transforms your vision into exceptional visuals.

Click here to book your demo and take the first step towards stunning, unlimited graphic design.

Top Tech Company Logo Designs for Inspiration

Today, in the face of fierce competition, a tech company logo design is more than just a visual identity. It’s a symbol, an embodiment of a company’s spirit and innovation. 

Designing a tech company logo demands a fusion of creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the industry. 

If you are starting a new tech company or looking to rebrand your existing tech startup, we can help you decode logo ideation. Let’s get started.

Essential Elements of Successful Tech Company Logo Designs

Essential Elements of a Successful Tech Company Logo

Minimalistic Design

When it comes to tech logos, less is often more. Minimalistic design is a symbol of elegance, expressing the essence of simplicity and clarity. An effective logo for a tech company cuts through the noise and reduces its message into a clean, focused image.

This approach ensures that the logo remains memorable and instantly recognizable amidst the crowded digital landscape.

Tech Iconography

In terms of tech logos, icons speak for themselves. A well-crafted tech icon is an instant trigger, stimulating the viewer’s connection to cutting-edge technology. 

It communicates a company’s tech-savvy nature and offerings. In many cases, these icons represent the company’s core products or services, revealing the innovation that drives the business.

Modern Typography

Typography is the voice of a logo. Fonts aren’t just letters in the tech world; they’re sleek, modern, and dynamic. 

Modern typography is forward-thinking, aligned with the progressive nature of the technology world. This logo enhances the brand’s identity and positions it as a digital pioneer, adding to its aesthetics.

Balanced Color Palette

Colors are more than a visual treat; they are a strategic choice. A balanced color palette in a tech logo combines hues that resonate with the brand’s essence and appeal to the target audience. 

Each color carries a message – be it trust, innovation, or reliability. The right balance of colors sets the tone for the brand and cultivates a lasting impression.

Scalability

A logo’s true strength lies in its adaptability across various platforms and sizes. Scalability ensures that the logo remains crisp and impactful, whether it’s on a mammoth billboard or a tiny app icon. 

A successful tech company logo design is scalable, allowing it to retain its essence and readability, regardless of the medium or size.

Originality

In a world buzzing with new logos every day, originality is the north star. A tech company’s logo must be distinctive, standing out in the vast digital landscape. 

It should reflect the brand’s unique identity and values, carving its own path rather than following trends. Originality is the DNA of a memorable logo, making it a true representation of the brand it embodies.

Brand Consistency

Consistency is the glue that holds a brand’s identity together. 

A tech logo should seamlessly align with the brand’s overall visual language, creating a harmonious brand identity. 

It’s not just about the logo; it’s about integrating it cohesively with the brand’s website, marketing materials, and every touchpoint where the brand interacts with its audience.

Brand Storytelling

A tech logo is a chapter in the grand narrative of a brand. It should convey a story, a journey, and a promise. 

Successful tech logos are storytellers, encapsulating the brand’s history, vision, and aspirations in a visual tale. 

It’s the art of merging design with the brand’s essence, leaving an enduring impression on those who experience it.

Top Tech Company Logo Designs for Inspiration

Minimal Tech Company Logo Design

Minimal Tech Company Logo

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The Jivsy tech company logo is a study in elegant simplicity and minimalism, showcasing a “J’ at its core, gently nestled within a square frame featuring rounded edges and surrounded by a sleek black backdrop. This design exudes a sense of approachability and modernity.

Design enthusiasts looking for inspiration can appreciate the thoughtful use of rounded edges in the square, which adds a softer touch to the overall logo. This imparts a sense of friendliness and approachability, essential qualities in the tech industry, promoting user-friendliness and ease of use.

Furthermore, the clear contrast emphasizes the design, making it visually striking and easily recognizable. This interplay of colors teaches designers the importance of contrast for achieving a memorable and impactful logo.

Futuristic Tech Company Logo Design

Futuristic Tech Company Logo

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The biotech company’s logo is a splendid fusion of creativity and symbolism. The gradient-filled ‘B’ creatively mimics the appearance of the number ‘3’, it could be used to show the trinity of elements like innovation, progress, and evolution.

Accompanying the ‘B’ are square dots resembling building blocks, portraying the foundational and progressive nature of biotechnological advancements.

The biotech logo exemplifies the innovative use of gradients, thoughtful color selection, and symbolic representation through typography, offering aspiring designers valuable insights into creating a compelling and symbolic logo for a biotech brand.

Elegant Logo for a Technology Startup

Elegant Logo for a Technology Startup

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The Tide logo is a stellar example of how modern typography and subtle gradients can come together to create a visually appealing and meaningful brand identity. The sleek and contemporary typography immediately conveys a sense of modernity and innovation, aligning well with the nature of the platform.

It provides valuable inspiration on the integration of modern typography, strategic use of gradients, and symbolic representation to effectively convey the essence and purpose of a brand. It’s a lesson for designers seeking to create a logo that encapsulates a brand’s message and resonates with its target audience.

Eco-friendly Tech Company Logo Design

Eco-friendly Tech Company Logo

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The Techhouse logo and brand identity ingeniously fuse the concepts of technology and sustainability into a minimalist yet powerful symbol. 

The logo features a fusion of two symbols: a roof representing a house and a laptop, embodying technology. 

This combination signifies the integration of technology into the home, emphasizing Techhouse’s core focus on eco-friendly, technologically-oriented solutions for households.

Designers can learn valuable lessons about symbolism, color selection, and brand communication strategies from this innovative approach, providing inspiration for their own tech company logo design projects.

Generative AI Product Company Logos

Generative AI Product Company Logos

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The Type Human logo is a fascinating blend of typography and iconography, communicating a message of inclusivity and diversity. The initial part of the logo features the word “type”, followed by icons resembling humans of varying sizes. This conveys the idea of diversity, humanity, and inclusivity, which is reinforced by the subsequent text “Human.”

Designers seeking inspiration can appreciate the creative use of typography and icons to convey a powerful message. The combination of text and imagery helps to capture the essence of the brand—highlighting humanity and its varied forms and perspectives.

The strategic connection of the letters P and U through a straight line underscores unity and connectivity, further enhancing the theme of inclusivity. This can inspire designers to explore innovative ways to integrate design elements seamlessly, reinforcing the brand’s message and values.

Generative AI Product Company Logos

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The Tech Talk AI logo is a vibrant representation of conversational innovation and technological advancement. The design cleverly embodies a soundwave in the shape of a conversation bubble, symbolizing communication and dialogue, which is the essence of artificial intelligence in this context.

Aspiring designers can draw inspiration from the ingenious concept of blending technology (soundwave) and conversation (bubble). It showcases the potential to creatively merge symbolic elements to effectively convey the brand’s focus and purpose.

The choice of a colorful palette in the logo is significant. The diverse colors reflect the dynamism and excitement that technology and conversation bring, highlighting the lively and engaging nature of Tech Talk AI’s platform. This can inspire designers to utilize a diverse color scheme to infuse energy and vibrancy into their logo designs, especially when targeting a tech-savvy audience.

Generic Logo for an IT Services Company

Generic Logo for an IT Services Company

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This is the most straightforward logo in the list utilizing typography and iconography to communicate the brand name. 

Designers can find inspiration in this creative amalgamation, understanding how the fusion of letters can represent the core essence of a brand. 

The choice of colors is significant. The gradients of blue and purple symbolize trust, creativity, and progress, reflecting Sijo Solutions’ commitment to innovative solutions. Grey and black, on the other hand, represent professionalism, stability, and sophistication, essential traits for a solutions-based company.

Furthermore, the depiction of an office space in the background subtly reinforces the brand’s focus on providing solutions in a professional way. This element can inspire designers to incorporate subtle, contextual visuals into their logos, enriching the logo’s meaning and connection to the brand.

Data Analysis Company Logo Design

Data Analysis Company Logo

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The Sonic logo is a perfect representation of speed, energy, and vibrancy—core attributes for a tech-centric company specializing in data-related services. The word “Sonic” is followed by a visually striking arrow made of colorful dots, effectively communicating the brand’s commitment to fast, efficient, and dynamic data-related solutions.

Designers seeking inspiration can appreciate the clever use of the arrow, which symbolizes progress, direction, and movement—essential elements in the realm of data and technology. The colorful dots add visual appeal and vitality, underlining the brand’s commitment to innovation and a diverse range of data services.

The choice of a dynamic and energetic color palette aligns with the brand’s focus on tech data and related services. Colors like vibrant blues, energetic reds, or futuristic purples can symbolize precision, efficiency, and modernity, which resonate well with the target audience in the tech sector.

Internet Technology Company Logo Design for Inspiration

Internet Technology Company Logo for Inspiration

This design embodies connectivity, network, and technological advancement, making it versatile for various tech-related businesses.

Designers can find inspiration in the concept of interconnected waves, illustrating seamless communication and integration—fundamental aspects in the tech industry. This idea encourages designers to think creatively about how symbols can be abstracted and reimagined to convey complex ideas and messages.

It encourages designers to think beyond conventional representations and allows for flexibility in integrating a company’s unique brand elements.

Inclined Logo

Inclined Logo

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The Inclined logo cleverly incorporates a symbolic icon and the brand name to convey its message effectively. The central focus of the logo is an image that resembles a combination of a big dot and a checkmark, cleverly reminiscent of forward thinking. The use of light and dark shades adds depth and visual interest to the icon.

Designers can draw inspiration from this logo’s creative representation, illustrating the art of blending symbols to create a unique and memorable logo. 

The integration of light and dark shades in the icon provides a sense of balance and contrast, enhancing the logo’s visibility and making it visually appealing. Designers looking for inspiration can learn from this use of color and shading to create logos that are both aesthetically pleasing and effectively convey the intended message.

Tech Company Logo Design Made using 2 shapes

Tech Company Logo Made using 2 shapes

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Designers can find inspiration in the way this logo plays with shapes and negative space to create a recognizable letter Y. It demonstrates the creative potential of combining seemingly unrelated elements to form cohesive and meaningful symbols. 

The capsules and circles, combined in this way, can evoke notions of health, balance, or interconnectedness—depending on the interpretation.

The use of negative space, particularly in forming the letter Y, showcases the importance of utilizing empty spaces effectively in logo design. If you are looking to design a tech company logo, you can learn and understand how negative space can enhance a logo’s visual impact and convey a dual meaning.

Typography-based tech company logo

Typography-based tech company logo

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The incorporation of blue and red circles within the C, along with a red dot, adds depth and visual appeal to the logo.

Designers can derive inspiration from the simplicity and elegance of this design. The usage of circles within a C-shaped structure exemplifies the creative potential of incorporating geometric shapes to enhance a logo’s visual interest and convey the brand’s identity.

The combination of colors—red and blue—offers a visually striking contrast. Red, being a bold and attention-grabbing color, complements the subtler blue hues, emphasizing the importance of color choice in logo design to evoke specific emotions and convey brand attributes.

The placement of a red dot adds a focal point to the design, guiding the viewer’s attention and contributing to the overall aesthetics. This could work as a great idea when you want to use well-placed elements to enhance a logo’s composition and visual impact.

Tech company logos made by Design Shifu

Tech company logos made by Design Shifu

Not enough inspiration? Check out some of the most innovative logo designs Design Shifu has created for clients around the world. 

At Design Shifu, we’re experts at creating logos that look super cool, especially for tech companies. For us, a logo is like a special picture that represents a brand creating a unique signature.

Our logos are like eye-catching stamps that scream, “Hey, look at us, we’re awesome!” They use bright and exciting colors, making them fun to look at, especially for people who love tech.

Our designers are like magicians. They take ideas and turn them into these fantastic logos that tell a story about a brand. Every stroke, line, or dot they use is like a magic trick that makes the logo even better.

Looking at our logos, you’ll see all the small details we’ve carefully put together, like solving a puzzle. They’re like a sneak peek into the future, showing what a brand wants to be in the exciting world of technology.

What Makes a Tech Company Logo Standout?

What Makes a Tech Company Logo Standout?

Innovation

A standout tech logo is a canvas of innovation, where creativity intertwines with purpose. It’s a testament to a brand’s forward-thinking ethos, showcasing inventive ideas and novel approaches. Innovation sets it apart, pushing the boundaries of conventional design and inviting the audience to witness the brand’s cutting-edge spirit.

Recall

The hallmark of a remarkable tech logo is its ability to etch itself into memory. It leaves an imprint that resurfaces effortlessly in the minds of the audience. A memorable logo becomes a mental bookmark, associating with a brand’s values and offerings, making it easy to recall amidst the multitude of logos encountered daily.

Simplicity

In the cluttered landscape of logos, simplicity emerges as a beacon of distinction. A great tech logo distills complex ideas into a straightforward visual, ensuring that its message remains clear and unambiguous. Simplicity is the essence that speaks directly to the viewer, allowing for instant recognition and resonance.

Clarity

Clarity is the guiding principle in a standout tech logo. It illuminates the brand’s essence, communicating its purpose and identity without ambiguity. A clear logo doesn’t leave room for misinterpretation; it is sharp and easily comprehensible, conveying the brand’s message crisply and directly.

Dynamism

A tech logo that stands out exudes a sense of energy and dynamism. It isn’t static; it’s alive, embodying movement and progression. The logo is an ever-evolving symbol of a brand’s growth, adaptability, and vitality in a swiftly changing technological landscape.

Interactivity

Interactivity isn’t limited to user interfaces. A standout tech logo engages with its audience, sparking a connection that goes beyond visuals. It invites exploration, curiosity, and a desire to interact with the brand. It’s a digital handshake, initiating a meaningful dialogue between the brand and its stakeholders.

Futurism

The future is the playground of a tech logo that stands out. It’s a glimpse into what lies ahead, an invitation to embrace the unfolding possibilities. A logo infused with futurism resonates with a brand’s vision, projecting the sense of adventure and evolution that awaits those who align with the brand.

Summing up

In this cut-throat competitive atmosphere of the tech industry, the process to success begins with a compelling logo. Innovation in design isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity. Your logo should be a statement of innovation, a symbol that echoes your forward-thinking ethos. 

It should be simple, yet impactful; clear, yet dynamic. Your logo needs to tell a story, a story of the future, a story that engages and interacts.

That’s what Design Shifu has been doing for years. We have crafted hundreds of tech company logo designs carrying the brand vision forward. Do you want to get one designed instantly? Book a free demo here to get started.

Graphic design trends to avoid in 2023: Examples of bad graphic designs

What keeps changing all the time? Graphic design trends! No matter how much emphasis is placed on graphic design, it will never be enough. It is essential to understand that all trends are industry-specific and bio-individual in nature. 

We see evolving trends all the time, some of which, stir the market and rule it for a long time while others just fade away. The importance of graphic design in the professional world cannot be underestimated. A combination of images, colors, and shapes is used by businesses, marketing heads, and start-ups to enlighten, communicate with, or persuade their audience.

You must have heard of Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) fuelling the world of digital art. They were well received when they first launched, and their market has grown rapidly since then. The designs now make their space in fashion, lifestyle, and many other industries. As a result, businesses are going big and connecting with their audiences in an unprecedented way. 

Graphic design trends are a sure way to hop on the wagon. Good design goes far beyond how something looks and strengthens the identities of our favorite brands. 

We understand that keeping up with changes in the graphic design market can be challenging because there are so many players. It’s advantageous for designers to stay current with graphic design trends and choose which ones fit well in their portfolios. 

The graphic design trends you must avoid in 2022

Keeping up with trends is critical to success; however, not every graphic design trend helps the brand grow. If a trend goes wrong, it can damage a brand’s reputation and user experience. At times, we lose sight of the brand’s objective when we focus on trends. 

As a graphic designer, you must evaluate trends to determine their applicability. Trends can assist in developing a solid brand identity. They also help devote following when appropriately used. 

Some of the graphic design trends you must take a look at and why you must avoid using them: 

Asymmetrical Layouts 

It certainly sounds appealing to disregard symmetry and order. Asymmetry has always been a source of inspiration for designers who seek to create ground-breaking products. Web and graphic designers have come across design elements that were misaligned, crooked, overlapping, or unbalanced.

In asymmetrical layouts, the designs often lose the text or substance. The user experience is particularly delicate if you show crucial information in a specific way. Customers anticipate seeing it there each time they interact with your company. The design loses a piece of information as asymmetrical layouts induce users to deviate from this well-known behavioral pattern.

Modern consumers have limited attention spans, making time an expensive currency. When switching between tabs at the speed of light, users want information delivered at the right time and place. Asymmetrical layouts challenge the user, and not all users will be up for the effort.

Take a look at the poster from Swissted 

Graphic design trends

The above example helps us understand how inconvenient this layout is from a consumer’s point of view. 

Absence of White Space 

Designers were famous for utilizing every blank inch of a project. Creating something entirely without white spaces was considered novel and intriguing. Any piece of graphic design must be cluster-free if we want to produce designs that make a statement in the year 2022.

Attempting to fill in blanks will only make the designs packed and uneven. But it’s worth the risk if you know just how to make it seem out of the ordinary and not clustered.

Improper Typography 

Typography can be challenging to read. Humans are visual creatures, and while we are getting better at reading and understanding written language, attractive pictures will always win the attention war over words. 

The designer can creatively use bold or twisted typography to transform the text into visuals. What does this indicate for the buyer? That they must simultaneously read, evaluate, and understand visuals. It can undoubtedly increase their attention to the design, but that spike won’t last long. If you still wish to use it, know more about typography and then go for it. 

An example would help you understand the concept better; 

Graphic design trends

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The example given is a failed typography, hard to read and not pleasing to the user’s eyes, thereby diverting the user’s attention. 

What are the popular graphic design trends of 2022?

3D Design

3D designs give a realistic touch to your artwork. It looks as if the user can touch the object in reality. The design seems to stand out from the background. The trend is all about experimentation and moving away from flat design elements. It focuses on depth, detail, and dimension. 

The designers focus on a mixed-media approach with an attention-grabbing approach, combining animation, photography, and illustration. The designs are playful and powerful.

Graphic design trends

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The examples above show precisely what 3D designs look like—incredibly lifelike and abstract while blurring the physical and digital boundaries. Start including 3D designs in your and stay up to the trends.

Candy Colored Artwork 

It takes a lot of effort to stand out from the sea of digital content creation. Graphic designers have consequently started developing innovative ways to leverage color to catch our attention as we explore.

All over the internet, bright scenes in candy colors are becoming increasingly popular. The candy color artwork makes your designs funky and subtle at the same time. It all depends on the choice of color that you make for a piece of artwork. 

This trend inspires the idea of choosing opposite colors from the color wheel and creating something outstanding. The designs from Marta Veludo Studio are a perfect example of using colors in the right way.

Graphic design trends

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Crypto Art 

Virtual reality is on the verge of replacing our current reality. NFTS & the crypto world has got significant attention around the world. Similarly, crypto art has been popular recently, and it’s time you must explore it. NFTs are design works published directly on the blockchain with proof of origin. NFTs can be 2D,3D, candy-colored, or anything the designer wishes to make.

To understand better, look at how this gentleman turned crypto art into a significant growth opportunity with his designs. People around the world love recent artwork. 

Graphic design trends

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Maximalism 

In contrast to minimalism, Maximalism is about making adventurous and outgoing choices. It is coming out of your comfort zone to create something outstanding. Although minimalism is trendy in modern design, it may be a creatively constricting approach. Maximalism uses various graphic components to communicate with the same clarity as minimalism. 

It’s about going over the top, bold colors, combinations, contrasting patterns, layered images, and repeated motifs. For design as a field to move beyond its current reliance on minimalism, exploring Maximalism is essential. If we dare to defend our right to experiment, perhaps the digital environment will change into something more luscious and fascinating.

Bug collection designs showcase the magic of Maximalism.

Graphic design trends

Back in the 90s 

Cobra Kai and Stranger Things on Netflix, among countless others, have recently revived nostalgia for the 1980s and ushered in a time of vaporwave landscapes, neon colors, and Gothic serifs. And in 2022, the 1990s will finally see a comeback!

Many of the patterns on this list show a return to the 1990s. However, the nostalgia tendency shows romanticized nostalgia. The designs are majorly helpful for business logos and product packaging. 

To that purpose, basic emojis, ancient internet frames, geometric forms, and scribbly images allow us to relive the 1990s. Childhood favorites like drippy slime and vivid color blocks are still rulers. 

Australian design agency Date of Birth came up with a design that is a visual identity of nostalgia and freshness for this toothpaste brand; 

Graphic design trends

While you are stunned by the above logo, do check our logo design ideas article for some ideas and inspiration.

Takeaway

In 2022, if you want to be a well-known graphic designer, you can browse many websites and get ideas from other bloggers and designers to create outstanding designs.

We hope the article helps update you on the popular graphic design trends and what to avoid in 2022. However, you must understand that no matter where you find your inspiration, you need to be able to assess a design’s viability simply by looking at it. Trust your instinct if you feel, as a graphic designer, that your strategies have combined to produce something worth looking at.

Do you want help with graphic designs for your business? Get a dedicated designer and unlimited graphic designs for just $399 per month with Design Shifu.

Advertisement Poster Ideas & Examples: Outdoor & Online

Do you know why cab drivers can be good marketers? They know how to ‘drive in traffic! 

Jokes apart, as a marketing manager, your struggle is real to think of creative ideas and promotional strategies on a daily basis.

A poster is a visual representation of your business, and a well-designed one can also successfully convert the viewers to your advantage. Let’s dive into advertisement poster ideas that leave a lasting impression. 

Why advertisement posters are essential for promotions

Advertisement posters have always been one of the best ways to communicate with your target audience. There is always a massive demand for print media. The chance of people remembering printed material is 70% more than online advertising. Here are a few reasons you should choose posters for the next marketing campaign for your business.

Posters are inexpensive 

Posters are cost-effective in designing and printing. They are easy to install and stay put for a long time. You can reach out to many at an affordable cost when compared with other mediums, like TV, radio or digital posters.

Posters offer high recall value

The human brain is able to process and remember printed advertisements easily. Posters have a great recall value and serve the purpose if you want to increase your brand credibility.

Posters Evoke customer response

A thoughtful advertisement poster idea can work wonders by influencing your customer’s reactions. It can invoke empathy and emotional response that can directly connect your brand with the target audience’s mind. 

You can add effective call to action in posters

Besides advertising, you can use posters for call-to-action messages as well. Use the layout smartly by including text that you would like your customers to act on, like ‘Book Now‘ or ‘Call on this number‘ or ‘Use this discount code‘ etc. If you design a digital poster, you can also print a QR code.

The above points leave no argument for the benefits of a custom-designed advertising poster. You might often struggle to develop new ideas, which is perfectly normal. Everyone faces creative block at some point or other. If you are looking for fresh and innovative ideas to make posters, then you are at the right place. You can create and use different posters according to your company’s marketing requirements. Read on to know more.

Also Read: Most Practical Campaign Poster Ideas that Guarantee Maximum Conversions

Below is the choicest list of creative advertisement poster ideas with examples to kick-start your promotional activities.

Creative advertisement poster ideas with examples

DIY advertisement poster

Do you think you need to hire a professional artist to design posters and worry about how to take care of the escalating marketing budget? Here is a solution. You can easily create a poster yourself. It may sound overwhelming initially, but with consistent practice, you will discover that it is a simple task. 

Few points to note when you are working on DIY advertisement poster ideas.

  • Firstly, you should be clear about the goal you want to achieve. You want to launch a new product, inform about an event or announce the upcoming sale at your store; For every situation, your poster design will vary. So defining a goal is the first step.
  • The next step will be to understand your prospective audience. The complete design layout and presentation will depend on the customers you want to target through the poster.
  • Suppose you are advertising for a guitar lessons class, then you should design something that has an image of a guitar with a matching combination of fonts to make it appealing. However, if you are announcing the launch of a new cafe in the area, then the poster design will be completely different. 
  • After taking note of your goal and target audience, the next task is to choose an appropriate image with a coordinated color palette and striking typography. Make sure you choose a high-quality image so it doesn’t pixelate after printing.
  • You should go for bolder fonts for the heading and gradually decrease the size. The best way is to use a typography hierarchy to focus on the information you want to convey. 

These tips will help you design an advertisement poster by yourself using tools like Canva, etc. In case you are looking to get a creative advertisement poster designed by experts, Design Shifu should be your choice. We provide graphic designs on a flat-rate, monthly subscription while allowing you to choose plans starting at $29 only.

Here is an example of a DIY advertisement poster idea for a guitar class.

advertisement poster ideas - guitar class

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Simple advertisement poster idea

The saying that less is more stands true here. Simple or minimalist poster designs are practical and immediately bring the audience’s attention to the message. You can choose bold text with a simple image or the opposite. It depends on whether you want your customers to focus first on the image or the content. 

Also Read: Elements of Graphic Design and How to Apply Them

Here is a classic example of a simple poster design. Look at how the image of the apple alone is enough to communicate with the customer.

simple advertisement poster ideas

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Street poster advertising idea

You can opt for street promotions with an impactful poster design to have maximum visibility within a budget for your brand. The placement of the posters on the streets should be done strategically based on traffic statistics for complete coverage. Street poster advertising is a preferential medium to promote businesses like bands, lifestyle, food, and services for ages. 

Street promotions work wonders to catch the attention of consumers. You should take utmost care while designing these types of posters; otherwise, the whole effort of finding strategic locations will go to waste. 

For example, take a look at this advertising poster for a cab company.

Street poster advertising idea

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Poster idea for business advertising

The critical element for a poster for business advertising should be information. You can’t just go for a visually appealing design when promoting your business. The catch is to have a balance of both because if the design is not aesthetic, consumers wouldn’t be interested to read the information shared. 

Another thing to note is to incorporate your business logo. Your branding on the poster is essential to drive the target audience to your business. Otherwise, what’s the point of having put so much effort into designing a poster? Your business logo will not take up much space and communicate the brand effectively.

Lastly, how you arrange all the elements together will decide the outcome. You can fuse images and words to create a striking visual or use shapes to spell words. The ultimate aim is to harmonize different elements to tell the customers about your business or any event.

Below is a perfect example of a poster for a business advertising video doorbells. Check it out.

Poster idea for business advertising

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Digital advertising poster example

Digital marketing is the need of the hour. A digital advertising poster can target consumers at any time when they are browsing digital screens. You can use digital ads to remind customers about your business, whether they are at work, at home, or on the move. 

Digital advertisements are easier to edit and maintain according to the customer insights making them highly dynamic. Another advantage is that you can test CTAs, text, graphics, etc. using several tools available at your disposal. 

Also Read: Illustration And Graphic Design: What’s the difference why does it matter?

Check out this cool digital advertisement poster of Coca-Cola.

Digital advertising poster idea

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Outdoor poster advertising example

Outdoor poster advertisements provide highly targeted local coverage. You can place them in commercial and residential areas to reach out to pedestrians as well as motorists. They are an excellent medium to communicate with customers based on their demographic and socio-economic differences. 

Outdoor advertising posters are perfect for promoting local businesses and compel the viewers to react and take action. 

Outdoor poster advertising example

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Famous advertising posters

Even though the world has become digital, the charm of print media is still intact. Print posters provide a better and broader canvas for any brand to display its creative side and kindle its reader’s interest. There are many such examples of all-time famous advertising posters that you can refer to when designing one for your business. 

The beauty of these popular posters is that they are much more than just simple advertisements. They successfully capture the brand essence and their target audience’s imagination. As a marketing manager, when brainstorming for newer ideas and strategies, it is always a good practice to refer to these famous poster designs for inspiration. 

A few examples to prove the point: 

This brilliant advertisement by Staedler pencils..from afar, it looks like a bunch of haphazardly sharpened pencils, but on closer look, you discover detailed carvings of buildings as the lead. 

Famous advertising posters

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Check out this clever poster for posting job recruitment from RBH. The pictograms in the poster spell out “copywriter needed“. 

Modern advertising posters

In the present times, advertising methods have undergone a radical change. Traditional advertisement has taken a back seat in the digital world. Modern advertising posters are more appropriate considering how everyone is hooked on their mobile phones and tablets. It makes more sense to shift to modern poster designs in the present scenario.

The difference between the conventional and contemporary methods of designing posters is that in the latter one, the advertisements are shown to the target audience by an automated system based on their preferences and browsing history. The posters can directly communicate with the consumers making them more impactful.

Here are a few examples: 

Check out this poster campaign by Burger King.

Modern advertising posters

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Iconic advertising posters

Some posters are successful as advertising campaigns; some influence our lives and change the way we look at certain things. The second one is known as iconic advertising posters. Do you remember the poster by DeBeers where the tagline “A diamond is forever” has become an anthem when proposing marriage? Another one that you would definitely relate to is the 1942 poster by Westinghouse Electric. The slogan “We can do it!” is still used to communicate that females are strong and independent individuals.  

Who can forget the US Army’s motivational poster in 1916 with an image personified as “Uncle Sam” calling out to young Americans, “I want you”! There are countless examples like the 1931 poster of Coca-Cola featuring Santa Claus, The Marlboro Man poster from 1954, “Think small” by Volkswagen in 1959, and so on. 

Iconic advertising posters

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To conclude

The shared advertisement poster ideas can be useful in creating a poster for brand awareness and promoting the latest products & services. They are also helpful for event promotions like product launches, etc. The shared tips would be enough to get you started with poster designs, and if you still require some experts to do this for you, Design Shifu should be your next stop.

How to Tell if Subscription-Based Graphic Design is the Best Fit For You

Graphic Design is an essential part of marketing and branding. If you think about it, it is through graphic design that your brand gets its identity, and becomes recognizable. So finding the right designer for your graphics is pretty important. But there are multiple ways to find yourself a designer. So how to choose among them? What’s best for you, subscription-based graphic design services, design agencies, freelancers, or in-house designers? 

Here’s some insight into each situation to figure out what is the best option to go ahead with for your brand’s design needs. 

Understand your options well

Consider this 

1) You hire an in-house Graphic Designer 

You decide to hire a graphic designer. Now to find the right fit for your brand, you have to scour through chunks of portfolios, choose one applicant, interview them, offer them a competitive fixed salary, no matter how many graphics you get from them. You also have to offer them added benefits and hope they don’t leave soon. 

2) You choose to work with a Design Agency 

Agencies on the other hand work on a per-project model. This is usually billed by the hour. While this does sort out your budget problem, it leaves you to the timetable that is feasible to the agency, rather than your schedule. If you need graphics with a tight turnaround, you might also have to pay your agency more. Design agencies usually mandate long-term commitment by way of fixed-term contracts, which can make it difficult for you to withdraw if your requirements are over or you are not satisfied with their services.

3) You choose to work with a Freelancer

Working with freelancers comes with its own set of challenges. You can either hire a graphic designer through a marketplace or individually. However, freelancers tend to work at their own pace given that they have so many clients. You probably have to sign a contract with the freelancer, depending on whether or not you have connected with them over a platform, or according to their individual preferences. Turnaround time for the graphics that you need, would depend on the freelancer’s availability. 

While a marketplace will help you connect with independent graphic designers and can help reduce the friction inherent in hiring freelancers, marketplaces also have their limitations. 

Freelancers who use marketplaces want to accept as many projects as they can because they are charged high fees.  Someone with more design experience will be more expensive in the marketplace, while somebody with less experience would probably not deliver the quality you need. There is no guarantee of the overall quality of the graphics delivered since they might be in a hurry to complete their projects at hand. 

You can go through this hassle or you can avoid these complications and simply choose a Subscription-Based Graphic Design Service.

What is a Subscription-Based Graphic Design Service 

A Subscription-Based Graphic Design Service is a service that caters to your daily design requirements. You choose a subscription plan, which usually is a flat monthly fee and you can get your graphics within a quick turnaround time that suits your goals. Subscription-Based models like Design Shifu offer you a combination of the perks of in-house designers, at a reasonable price, with a turnaround time that suits your needs. 

Benefits of a Subscription-Based Graphic Design Service 

You can work with experienced designers

With a Subscription-Based Graphic Design Service, you get to work with experienced designers who work for you as your in-house designers would, at a flat rate. This not only saves your budget but also allows you to get your graphics more efficiently since you don’t have to go looking for designers by yourself. 

At Design Shifu, our designers function like your in-house team and are available for your daily design needs. But remember, the more specific and detailed the brief is, the clearer the communication between you and our designers. 

No long term commitment 

As this is a subscription-based model, there is no added pressure of contracts, and other bindings. You can simply choose a plan that fits your needs and start adding requests to the so that the designers can start working on them for you. It is a hassle-free service in comparison to the commitment with an agency or with a freelancer. 

Quick turnaround time 

You don’t have to wait for long. Subscription-Based models work around your schedule, therefore the turnaround time for your graphics is relatively quicker than freelancers, or design agencies. Such a prompt solution for your design needs is also dependent on how detailed your brief is. It is as simple as laying out a clear idea for the designers to work around so that they can deliver your designs quickly and efficiently. 

Get your source files 

You own the designs most Subscription-Based Graphic Design Services create for you! For example, with Design Shifu, you can get the editable Adobe +, JPG, PNG, PDF image file formats and are sent to you along with the designs, should you feel the need to refer to them or make any changes in the future accordingly. 

We know the struggles that businesses undergo in the process of finding the right designers for their daily design requirements, and we hope this article helps you make an informed choice. If you’re looking for a Subscription-Based Graphic Design Service, Design Shifu is a one-stop-shop for all your design needs. Design Shifu offers unlimited design requests and unlimited revisions for a flat monthly rate. You can check out our portfolio and our pricing page to know more about our service. 

Top 5 Print Design Mistakes and How to Avoid them

Did you ever create the perfect design but then you printed it, and it was something completely different? Your text was cut on the edges, your colors were all wrong or it just turned out blurry? You probably made one of these amateur print design mistakes.

Don’t worry. It’s fixable! In this blog, we will talk about the top 5 print design mistakes one is likely to make, and how to avoid them. 

Print Design Mistake #1. Bleed Margins 

In printing, bleed is the area or the edge of the sheet that is going to be trimmed off. While thinking out of the box is a great way to go about with designing, you have to make sure that your design remains inside a box so that it doesn’t get cut off while printing. The trick is margins!

Print design mistake - Bleed margins

Without set margins, you may end up putting your text or other elements of your design, too close to your document’s edge. 3mm of bleed on all sides is usually good enough to avoid losing parts of your design while printing. 

Print Design Mistake #2. Low Resolution

Resolution can be described as tiny dots of color that make up a digital image. Resolution is commonly measured in pixels per inch or PPI, but for print, you need to look at DPI. 

DPI means dots per inch. If your printed images are turning out to be blurry, you probably need a higher DPI. A higher DPI means high pixel density in an image which will result in sharper print.

Print design mistake - Low Resolution

300 DPI is the usual standard for printing. However, it is important to note that dots per inch count alone won’t cut it. The resolution has to go hand in hand with the correct size.

Print Design Mistake #3. Wrong Color Profile

The first thing to look at when you’re creating a design is where it is going to be used. 

If your design is going to appear on a digital screen it should be created in RGB color mode. RGB stands for red, green, and blue – the colors of light screens use to display a range of colors.

If the design is going to be printed, use CYMK color mode.

Wrong Color Profile - Print Design Mistake

Printers use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) inks to render images. When you design in CYMK color mode, you are already seeing what is going to be printed. This way, you can avoid unwanted surprises like getting different colors printed by mistake.

Print Design Mistake #4. Crowding with Font and Text

Often print design mistakes are layout mistakes. Sometimes when you print a design, it simply looks shabby and illegible. Some things to avoid to make your design more readable.

Don’t use more than two fonts. Overcrowding your design with different typefaces and fonts will only make it illegible and annoying to read. 

Crowding with Font and Text - Print Design Mistake

Kern your text. Kerning is the space between text characters. When kerning is not done right your text becomes different to understand. 

Print Design Mistake - Bad

Don’t overload your design with text. Less is more. Be concise and crisp.

Print Design Mistake #5. Saving the Right Format

There are a lot of image file formats that you could save your design image in, but which one should you choose for a design that you want to print?

Think about whether or not the image needs to be in a raster or vector format. Raster images are made up of pixels while vectors are made up of geometric lines and curves, which means they can be scaled to any size while keeping their shape. 

Raster and Vector Format

If you are worried about your design getting pixelated, always make your design bigger than it has to be. You can always reduce resolution, but you can never increase it.

Pro tip – Proofread 

Always proofread the text on your design before you finalize it. Even though you aren’t the writer, before giving out the design, one glance at the text can save a lot of time that could go into re-editing.

One grammatical error one misplaced comma can change the meaning of a text entirely. Spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, etc make your brand look unprofessional and customers don’t take it kindly. 

Print design mistake - proofreading

We hope the tips provided in this article to avoid print design mistakes come in handy the next time you plan to create a print design.

If you still feel that you would like to avoid the hassle of going through this then you could always ask Design Shifu to help you create the perfect printable designs for your brand in just 24- 48 hours. Check out our portfolio and our pricing page to know more.

Elements of Graphic Design and How to Apply Them

When we come across a graphic design, our minds don’t automatically deconstruct the different elements of graphic design used to create it, unless we actually already know them.

That is why sometimes you think you can create a design that looks seemingly simple but when you look at the end result you’re like… 

“I don’t hate it. I just don’t like it at all and it’s terrible.”

Michael Scott  – You when you look at your design attempt

That’s because graphic designers have an in-depth understanding of the principles of graphic design that makes their design look professional. Even with the right tools, it is difficult for amateurs to create a polished professional looking graphic design. 

The thing about graphic design is that there is always something new to learn, the newest software or program to master, the latest design trend and style to follow and sometimes this can be overwhelming to keep up with when your foundations are not as strong as they should be. 

So let’s take a step back and go back to basics for a while because today we’re going to talk about the different elements of graphic design and how to apply them. 

1. Lines

Lines are a versatile element of graphic design. They can be used to highlight something in a design, divide the design, or add angles to it as well. Lines can also be used to evoke certain ideas or convey the emotion that the design intends to convey.

Straight lines can evoke a sense of order, while curvy lines or slanting lines can emphasize movement. You can also use two different types of lines in one graphic design to add contrast.  

Look how curvy lines are being used to evoke the idea of a flow and straight lines are used to emphasize the focal point, in the following design.

Lines in Elements of Graphic Design

Another effective use of lines is the concept of ‘leading lines’. The term leading lines means exactly what it does. Leading lines are used to lead the eye of the reader to the focal points in the design creative. Take a look at an example of how these lines lead the eyes of the audience to text in the center. 

Leading lines in Elements in Graphic Design

2. Scale 

Scale is the deliberate sizing of individual elements of graphic design. However, it does not refer to the size of the design itself. Scale refers to the direct relationship between the elements of a design. It helps us make sense of designs and navigate to the focal point through the design elements.

For example, there is a reason why designs have the scale of the headline larger than the scale of the text of the article.

Scale in Elements of Graphic Design

3. Color

Color is one element that can make or break your design. Each shade of color has its own connotations and much like lines, they also channel and evoke certain emotions. Warm colors like red, yellow, orange, and variations of these three, emphasize and evoke happiness, energy, and positivity. 

Color in Elements of Graphic Design

Cool colors, like green, blue, purple, and variations of these, on the other hand, evoke calm, relaxed, and reserved emotions. 

Cool colors in Elements of Graphic Design

Colors can be used to establish a tone in the design as well. Strong vivid colors create contrast in the design and add drama. Take a look at what Design Shifu created for International Beer Day. The colors stand out against each other creating a vibrant energetic look.

Color in Element of Graphic Design

On the other hand, light, soft and pastel tones create a calm and elegant effect on the eyes of the audience. 

Pastel colors in Elements of Graphic Design

4. Repetition

Repetition not only ties together your entire design but also your brand identity through consistency. Brand-specific designs that come to your mind as soon as someone mentions the brand name is an example of repetition. 

Through repetition of elements like brand color schemes, general tones of the brand, etc, you establish your brand identity in your design. This makes your brand recognizable and memorable.

Repetition in Elements of Graphic Design

5. Negative Space

Do you see this manipulation of space? 

Negative Space in Elements of Graphic Design

Negative space is just that. The strategic and clever incorporation of empty space in your design. One of the most clever design principles, negative space is like an optical illusion. The human mind can identify similarities or familiarities in order to make sense of a thing. 

For example, we know there is no peacock in the above design, but the shape in between the colorful circles led us to see the peacock in the design as a whole. This is one of the Gestalt Principles of Psychology.

6. Alignment 

All the elements of your design have to be aligned by their edges as well as by their axis. An orderly composition of a design ensures a neat look and a symmetrical balance in the elements of the design. 

For instance, this would give a designer or your audience a stroke

Alignment in Elements of Graphic Design

And this wouldn’t

Alignment in Elements of Graphic Design

7. Contrast

The juxtaposition of different elements in a design is to create contrast. Creating contrast in your graphic design has a great impact on readability and legibility. Contrasts such as dark vs light elements, thick vs thin elements, etc create visual interest and draw attention to particular elements in the design.

Take a look at how well the yellow text and the lights inside the house stand out from the rest of the poster. This is a great example of contrast when it comes to color.

Similarly, check out how contrast comes into play when thick text is juxtaposed against thin text.

Contrast in Elements of Graphic Design

8. Randomness

Until now, we’ve been talking about order and alignment. But there are some designs that require you to throw all these concepts out of the window and still come up with a design that is trendy, fun, and professional at the same time.

Randomness is an element in graphic design that can be a great tool if executed properly. Take a look at this poster, the randomness of the colors and the shapes make a brilliant background for the subject to be in.

Randomness in Elements of Graphic Design

Or this poster, that contrasts the text with the randomness in the color scheme in the design.

Randomness in Elements of Graphic Design

While these designs don’t overthrow every rule or design principle, they do twist and turn them to their preference to create a new and fresh look.

9. Depth

Depth is a fantastic way to create illusions of different kinds in your graphic design. Through depth, you can add dimension, texture, shadows, and even 3D effects in your design. 

Check out how this design uses depth to create a shadow to the text 

Depth in Elements of Graphic Design

Or this design that creates a depth like dimension by adding variants of colors in the text.

Depth in Elements of Graphic Design

10. Composition 

The composition is simply all the elements and principles of graphic design coming together. This is where you get to experiment with these elements, by systematically arranging them and creating great layouts for your graphic design.

Let’s look at some examples. In the following design notice how type is used in a random order and yet the eye catches it as “smart” not only because it is in close proximity but also because of the contrast it creates against the yellow.

Similarly, notice how a combination of a warm color and a cool color is used to create drama in the poster. 

Composition in Elements of Graphic Design

Notice the scale that is used for the text “Donuts” that is meant to be the focus of this poster, and the scale of the text “Tasting and Pairing”

Composition in Elements of Graphic Design

Check out the alignment and the different uses of line to create various shapes in the next design. 

Composition in Elements of Graphic Design

And that’s that. 

Design is complicated and overwhelming sometimes but it is a discipline that is always evolving, and with it, you should too. There is always something new to pick up and always something old to say goodbye to. But more importantly

Creativity is the backbone of design! 

So, don’t forget to get creative. Follow the rules, but twist em’ when the opportunity calls for it!

Do you still think creating a professional-looking graphic design is complicated? Don’t worry. We can handle it for you. 

At Design Shifu, we celebrate creativity by creating designs as per your request at a flat rate! We offer unlimited designs requests and unlimited revisions. Check out our portfolio and our subscription plans and get flyers, brochures, banners, flyers, logos, t-shirts, and much more with a 24 to 48 hour turnaround time! 


Top 5 reasons why digital media and social media marketing agencies should also consider using an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency

These are busy times for digital media agencies as companies are increasingly looking to hire professional help for their digital media needs. More often than not, agencies find themselves swamped with multiple projects to be completed within tight deadlines. In such a scenario, it may be convenient to outsource the design work either partially or entirely to an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency.

Here are the top reasons why you might want to consider outsourcing graphic design requirements either partially or entirely to an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency:

1. Designs on demand

An On-demand unlimited graphic design agency can provide digital agencies with designs on request within a turnaround time of just 24-48 hours. So, if your in-house designer already has their hands full, you will no longer have to put extra work on hold. All you need to do is submit a design request with an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency and they would deliver your order in under 24 to 48 hours depending on the graphic design plan you opt for.

2. Get a different perspective

If you feel you need to infuse designs with a newer, fresher flavor, an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency might just be able to provide you with what you are looking for. An on-demand unlimited graphic design agency having experienced designers will be able to offer you a variety of options that would add a different perspective to the task on hand.

3. Save on cost

Hiring an extra in-house designer would mean incurring additional expenses associated with recruitment, training and retention, not to mention, loss of precious time. However, outsourcing to an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency would bypass all the intermediate steps and you would receive a top-notch design in next to no time at all. In short, you would only be paying for the specific task as and when you need it.

4. Save on infrastructure

If yours is a bustling agency, working on simultaneous projects, you may find yourself short staffed at times. Recruiting extra designers would necessitate the allocation of extra infrastructure in the form of office space, furniture, and equipment, along with the addition to your payroll. It may be more viable to maintain a limited number of in-house designers and outsource any additional design work to an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency.

5. Save on license costs

Doing all design work in-house would require you to buy expensive design software licenses, thus stretching your budget further. Outsourcing saves you licensing costs and you only pay a flat fee for the final design.

6. Scale up and scale down in real time

Give yourself the flexibility to be able to scale resources as per the demands of the workload. Having dedicated in-house designers may prove impractical when design assignments on hand are fewer than usual. Having an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency look after your design needs reduces unnecessary burden on your budget, saving you precious revenue.

7. Free up time for your creative head & your in-house designers

If you are looking for a convenient, cost-effective option for your designing requirements, Design Shifu can be your on-demand unlimited graphic design agency which offers multiple design plans to match your requirements. 

Still, if you’re unsure whether you want to go ahead with an on-demand unlimited graphic design agency or with a creative graphic agency,  read our blog on type of agency to choose for your daily design requirements.

To sign up with Design Shifu and get started, click here.

 

Design Shifu vs. Creative Agencies: Which is Right for You?

Have you been contemplating signing up with a creative design agency for your graphic design needs, but aren’t sure how to choose the right one? Before you commit, consider Design Shifu—an online unlimited graphic design platform that delivers high-quality work at irresistible rates.

Well, why choose a design agency at all when you have Design Shifu, an online unlimited graphic design platform, at your service to give you the best designs at irresistible rates

However, let’s not be biased. Here are some factors that you can keep in mind and decide for yourself which of the two to pick for your requirements – Design Shifu or other design agencies:

1. Cost

Design Shifu works out to be far more cost effective as compared to design agencies that charge exorbitant rates, particularly when it comes to unlimited graphic design requirements. So, it’s an ideal solution for individuals, as well as businesses of all sizes, big and small, to get unlimited graphic designs from expert designers without having to worry about the budget.

Wondering how? Well, it’s simple. Design Shifu follows a flat rate pricing, wherein you can subscribe to the $299 plan and place unlimited graphic design requests for a host of services every month, which include:

Services

  • Digital Graphics
  • T-shirts Print Design
  • Event graphics
  • Flyers Design
  • Banners Design
  • Blog Post Graphics
  • Brochures Design
  • Online Ads
  • Direct Mail Pieces
  • Social Media Posts

But understandably, since our designers aka Shifus are only human, they can only work on one request at any given point in time! They complete your previous job to your satisfaction before starting a new request.

But if you have more than one design requirements per day, you can opt for flexible plans under our $299 plan. This means, if you want your Shifu to work on one design per day, you go for $299 plan.

However, if you need 2 designs per day, you can go for $549 plan. Similarly, for 3, 4, 5 active requests per day, you can sign up for $799, $999 and $1149 respectively. We promise a 24-hour turnaround time under this plan.

Alternatively, in case you have only limited design needs on an intermittent basis, you can subscribe to our $99 Pay Per Request plan.

Your subscription activates a monthly plan that gives you 5 requests—each time you place one, the system deducts a credit.

The committed turnaround time under this plan is 48-hours.

So you now have a sure shot way to keep your marketing budgets in check without cutting back on your requirements!

2. Lock-in period

Design agencies usually enforce long-term commitment through fixed-term contracts, which restrict you from leaving if you’re done or dissatisfied.

This is not the case with Design Shifu, as you are under no obligation to make long-term commitments to avail our services. You simply need to subscribe to the plan that best fits your requirement and get started with placing your requests. You are free to unsubscribe whenever you want without having to worry about any implications!

3. Money back guarantee

Graphic design agencies rarely offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with their services for any reason

So, whether or not their work meets your expectations, it makes a dent in your pocket anyway!

However, when it comes to unlimited graphic design platform – Design Shifu, we are so confident about our expertise and service standards that we are willing to take complete onus and offer 100% money back, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, if we fall short of your expectations in any way.  You can request for a refund anytime within 14 days of subscribing to our services.

4. Services offered

Design Shifu focuses on fulfilling clear, ongoing graphic design needs quickly—no in-person meetings, just fast, defined delivery.

This model forms the basis for the cost advantage we offer over others in the market. Our focus is to get the mundane stuff out of your way quickly, irrespective of the volumes, so you can focus on the more important work.

Design agencies, on the other hand, may follow a more consultative approach, and therefore, take on a wider scope of work, albeit at hefty rates! To keep your budget in check, you can offload the regular work to Design Shifu, while keeping aside only selective work for design agencies to handle.

While there are now choices aplenty in the market when looking for graphic design solutions, the key is to find the right partner who is not only an expert in the field but can work within your budget to meet your unique needs. So the next time you need to decide on whom to pick for your graphic design needs, use the aforesaid tips to make the right choice.

Also, if you are considering hiring a freelancer for your graphic design requirements, our article on Freelancers Vs Design Shifu will help you weigh the pros and cons, so you can make the right decision.

To sign up with Design Shifu and get started, click here.