Top Proven Design Principles I’d Teach
If I were to open a Design School
Compiled By
Edwin Murimi
19-Jan-2025
Disclaimer: I am going to base these tips on a selection of my personal design work. All these tips are important & have their role to play.
Why: The average small business hardly enjoys the power of design. To them design is kind of out of reach. They are missing easy opportunities of presenting their products & brands in a different light. This article gives easy tips that any beginner can harness and make good design. After all... Good design sells.
#Imporant I will list tips starting from the most important
Tip No. 1
Focus on the central message
Never leave your audience guessing what is the central message. Make it so obvious the moment they glance at your design.
People generally don't have the patience to start deciphering the message you are trying to convey.
Fig1: A section of a e-flyer I designed for a family event.
Tip No. 2
Ensure no essential detail is missing
You'd think this is super obvious. You'd be surprised how many times - I have given design work just for it to come with an important missing detail. For instance key details on time or venue or organizer, etc.
Fig 2: The yellow school van - quickly tells my audience - there's an outing or road trip involved.
Tip No. 3
More imagery - less text
Human beings are visual. People aren't good readers - but a picture or image in your design can speak 1000 words in an instant
Tip No. 4
Experiment - Experiment - Practice - Practice - Learn by doing.
Fonts, Colors, color balancing, backgrounds, design styles, gradients, effects, etc. - all these and more more go into good design. Trying to learn these aspects of design theoretically in any way is just an impossible task.
The easiest way is to just open your computer and start designing, researching, experimenting and learning. Or get a design gigs or any job or internship.
#Important Templates especially the ones found on Online Design Platforms tools such Canva, PosterMyWall, Pixlr, Adobe Express, etc. can make this much process easier.
Templates do make design easier - although they restrict creativity & originality
Tip No. 5
Keep it simple
Complications make humans give up quickly. Do your best to make even a complex message as simple & user friendly as possible.
Fig 3: A screenshot from a Wordpress Website I
designed - for my wife's cake business.
The landing page & the order button
are simple & easy to understand
Honorable Vital Mention
Collaborate - Community - Partner - Share - Team up
Whenever you can - especially as a beginner - don't work alone. At least do a part of the design project with others. It can be brainstorming, seeking advice, co-creating concepts, reviewing, sharing tools & tips, testing etc.
Working with others can make designing fun - and can eliminate tiring hurdles for a beginner. Of course - it matters who you choose to collaborate with. Choose wisely!
Collaborating provides opportunity to learn, enjoy divergent perspectives, plus could always build up to critical professional network and paying design opportunities.
While collaborating you can pick up - special & unique talents that different individuals have - vice versa - others will likely notice your potential. Therefore, open even newer opportunities.
Fig 4: Collaboration is vital for learning, growth and is a catalyst for opportunities.