12 Common Mistakes New Graphic Designers Make

Graphic design is a career that requires creativity and an artistic eye to develop visual communications. The success of these messages and communications is ultimately dependent on basic design principles like font and color, which is why it’s crucial graphic designers ensure they stay current with their skill set.

When these important elements are used incorrectly, the message can become jumbled and difficult for the intended audience to interpret. An ineffective design can not only affect client satisfaction, but repeated mistakes can have a negative impact on your professional reputation. With over 57 million Americans working as freelancers, it’s more important than ever for graphic designers to have a solid portfolio and references within the industry.

This article will cover 12 common mistakes that new graphic designers make while first navigating the field, so you can ensure your practices and proofreading cover these areas. While every Designer will make mistakes at some point in their career, being able to identify these common issues and ensure their work is free of error is conducive to overall success.

1. Using Too Many Fonts

One of the most common mistakes new graphic designers make is using too many fonts on one project. This can be as simple as using two fonts that clash with one another or using several different fonts on a single design piece. Blocks of text should be easy to read and flow naturally with the project. On average, designers should use no more than two or three fonts per piece.

Another important area related to using texts is kerning fonts, which essentially refers to the spacing between letters. Letters that are too close together may be hard to read, while those spaced far apart can seem independent from other letters in the text. Changing the kerning can help with the legibility and the overall success of the communications.

2. Overusing Icons

Some graphic designers use flat vector images or icons to enhance their projects. While these elements are helpful with some pieces, they can cause some issues if used excessively. On average, you should use no more than three small icons per image unless following specific design instructions.

Another great way to help customize your work and break up the monotony of icons is to edit them and make them unique. For example, you can edit these icons to change the presentation or find elements that are not widely used.

3. Relying on Trends

Another common mistake graphic designers tend to make when new to the field is relying too heavily on industry trends rather than preferences and guidelines set forth by the client for the anticipated target audience. While it’s important to add a unique flair or some influence from popular trends, focus on the style guide provided by the client to ensure the proper message is communicated.

4. Using Too Many Stock Images

Stock images are a helpful, time-saving tool that graphic designers can use to enhance their work and add a creative flair to specific projects. Instead of having to create images or photos from scratch, designers can use reliable platforms like Adobe Stock to add royalty-free illustrations, videos, photos, and 3D assets to their work. Be sure to edit stock images and transform them so that your style stands out from other designers in the field.

Always make sure to check the laws and practices of any stock images you use to ensure there are no legal or copyright issues for you to deal with in the future.

5. Choosing the Wrong Color Scheme

Choosing the wrong colors or using colors that do not create balance in the piece can truly make a design ineffective. When working with a client or company, you should always refer to the style guide or confirm directly what color scheme you should be using. If the instructions are more open-ended, be sure to select just a few colors that contrast with one another and make a statement without causing any visual confusion.

6. Not Following the Style Guide/Brief

Every Graphic Designer should recognize that the style guide or brief from a client is the set of rules and requirements designers need to follow when creating content for the brand. Not reading through and familiarizing yourself with a style guide can lead to inconsistencies in your work, the brand’s image, and the company’s overall message.

7. Too Many Filters

Similar to the mistake of not choosing a successful color scheme, using too many filters on your work can interfere with the message and goals of the piece. Some designers choose to use Photoshop filters to try and hide inconsistencies in an image or hide low-quality, but this can end up looking worse in the long run. The best way to keep your work authentic and unique is to source high-quality images and steer clear of heavy filters.

8. Improperly Naming Files

While it can be tempting to give files a jumbled or rushed name when in the middle of working, it’s important you take the time to properly name all of your saved files. Naming files improperly can lead to issues with organization, meeting deadlines, and client satisfaction, all of which are crucial to a Graphic Designer’s overall success. Keep all of your files organized and correctly named so there are no issues obtaining older work.

9. Using an Improper Resolution

One crucial element of graphic design is using or creating images that have an effective resolution, especially if any part of the design images will be printed. It’s common for designers to use a resolution of 300dpi for images to ensure the sharpness and quality are on par with the rest of your work.

10. Not Proofing the Final Design

Though it is often the last step of a Designer’s process, proofing a final design is a crucial and vital part of a project. In addition to using a spellchecker, designers should have an additional two or three eyes scan the image for any spelling issues. You should also refer to the style guide multiple times and ensure that each area of the client’s requests is met. Be sure to proof your final design several times, so there are no small errors that make it to your client.

11. Procrastination

One common mistake new graphic designers often make is procrastinating tasks or assuming you can complete work in a set amount of time. While there is no harm in setting a work schedule or strict deadlines, many designers will put off completing tasks and not give themselves enough time to create quality work in such a short window. Making a daily schedule of tasks is one of the best ways to stay motivated and ensure you are not procrastinating on important work.

12. Losing Patience

Working in a creative role like graphic design can be challenging, especially when you are new to the field and still trying to build your skills or find your unique niche. It can seem like success is hard to obtain or like you will never master some of the harder skills. The best way to remain motivated and keep working towards your graphic design goals is to remain patient and positive. Things that seem challenging this month may come easily after a few weeks of practice!

It’s inevitable that most graphic designers will make mistakes at some point during their careers. This doesn’t mean that these mistakes have to impact these designers forever, as they are a great opportunity to learn and grow fundamental skill sets. One of the best ways to ensure your knowledge of design principles stays fresh in your mind and that you are current on the latest industry practices is to sign up for graphic design classes. These courses like the ones offered at Noble Desktop cover software and even help students to build a portfolio of work.

There are also live online graphic design bootcamps for designers who want in-depth training from the comfort of their own homes. With these convenient courses, there is no need to commute through heavy traffic or change your existing schedule! One of the best ways to get started with classes and refresh your skills is to search for graphic design bootcamps in your area.