Graphic Design

Graphic Design Ideas To Inspire You For Creating Great Designs

Great graphic design has its easy days and its hard days. For example, it can be hard to find inspiration for your graphic design ideas.

You can get a creative block or just find your current design lackluster.

The busyness of your everyday life can be overwhelming. There’s dozens of reason why graphic design project ideas can stagnate. It happens to everyone.

What you need to do is figure out how to kick your brain into gear. Here are some ideas for graphic design inspiration to get your ideas flowing.

Graphic design ideas to try for yourself

Time Your Work Well

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A lot of people find that late morning is the best time to get creative work done. After lunch, people tend to be sleepier and less productive, making the morning a much better time to work. The first day of the workweek isn’t very productive either, though you can use Monday mornings to throw ideas in catch-up sessions.

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This are general guidelines about productive times to work, and there are a lot of people out there who find afternoons more productive and Mondays to be the day that’s the best to get things done. It all depends on you. The key is to pick a time to do work that works best for you.

Look To New Things for Graphic Design Ideas

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While graphic designs trends can be helpful in figuring out what direction you need to go, you can also find inspiration in things outside of design trends.  Relying solely on current design trends can result in designs that are unoriginal and highly derivative. Those designs can also become dated very quickly.

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Look for other sources for inspiration, from the great outdoors to the forms you see around you to your children’s drawings. Anything can give you good new graphic design ideas.

Tell Your Team Everything They Need

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Everyone involved in the project should know everything that in the design brief. Be very transparent and don’t hold anything back. Let your team know it all, even things that don’t seem important.

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Just make sure they know that it is secondary information. Full disclosure of the details of the project creates a sense of trust and also can open up the floor for new ideas from everyone. Sometimes an off-hand comment on something can give you a new graphic design idea.

Ask Questions about the Brief

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Part of coming up with new ideas is analyses.  Ask questions of every element of your design brief. This may seem to add time to your design process, but it can be an important element to polishing the design brief or giving your chance to bring some new life to it.

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Some example questions: does this completely answer the brief? Is this a good solution? Are we being objective? Take the time to see your own subjective biases in the brief and do some serious analyses of your final design brief.

Sit Around a Real Table

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A proper table can make a big difference to the productivity of a creative graphic design team. Don’t have everyone sit around a coffee table. While it might be fashionable to hotdesk and sit in easy chairs, it’s not really helpful to getting things done for your graphic design idea.

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Scattering your team like you’re working out of a living room is not a good idea. The conversation gets broken up and ideas become fractured between sections of the team. A real table meeting brings everyone closer together, allowing for graphic design ideas to flow freely between them.

Encourage Design with Physical Creative Elements

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While clutter-free, minimalist graphic design studios are in fashion in modern graphic design, try including items like paint, brushes, paperboards, and scalpels. Give your team something that they can use with their hands as they work through graphic design ideas. Offer your team different textured papers and other similar elements for them to see what they are actually like.

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Different colored paints can call to mind what colors look like when not on a computer screen. Having graphic design become something solely generated by a computer can make the process seem unreal and disconnected from the physical world. Offering these physical design tools helps everyone remember that graphic design is a physical experience.

Be Honest With Your Team

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Let people know what you really do think of their suggestions. If someone is very much behind an idea and they know no one else is, this atmosphere of honesty is going to make sure it is really a good ideas before bringing it to the table.

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Communication should always be polite and professional. A lot of how people will take you letting them know a graphic design idea is not optimal will come down to how you communicate with them.

Use Word Games to Stimulate Creativity

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Use what is often called ‘essence words’ to generate a list of ideas. These words should summarize the personality, spirit, and message you’re trying to communicate with your graphic design idea. Some of these words might seem crazy.

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Temperature words like ‘cold’ or ‘warm’, for instance, might be a good fit for what you’re trying to convey, but they might also seem strange for a list of words about graphic design. Put them down on your list of essence words anyway. In a day or two you might find that they resonate with your graphic design ideas.

Take a Break

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Sometimes, the best thing to do is step back from your graphic design project and let everything sink in.  If you have the time, share ideas, then give yourself and your team a few days to sleep on them. This gives everyone a chance to turn the ideas over in their heads and properly evaluate them.

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The following brainstorming session is usually much more productive. There is also often more visual material to work with, allowing for better communication of the graphic design ideas.

What Are Some Current Graphic Design Trends to Look At?

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While trends come and go, knowing what’s hot can be a big help in finding inspiration for your graphic design project ideas. Here’s a list of some of the most recent graphic design trends.

80s Inspired Graphic Design

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Retro graphic design has been a staple of the past decade. This graphic design trend taps into nostalgia, often blending with recent technological advances for a really amazing look.

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The bold and lively color palette of the 80s has seen a recent rebirth. Neon colors and dark colors are both optimistic and boldly in your face. The 80s were a boom decade, a period of arcades and sci-fi movies that look retro and wildly imaginative now. There is a childhood comfort and futuristic optimism to these 80s inspired graphic design ideas.

Arts and Craft Styled Patterns

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The sleek, flat designs of the past decade are about to give away to more individualized design. Consumers are getting tired of the simplified layouts that have saturated the market in the past few years.

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Include patterns, prints, and an arts and crafts inspired feel. Combing these elements with flat design can create products that are both vibrant and ultra-contemporary. Expect to see nature-inspired patterns like plant patterns and marbled patterns. Use painterly patterns next to simple text in printed media for a great look.

Bold Colors

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Light and neutral colors like gray and black are giving way to more bold bright colors. Pantone has declared this year the year of Greenery, so you can expect to see that color show up in many graphic design portfolio ideas.

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To make the best of this change, use colors found in nature and crank up their intensity. Use these bright colors against traditional neutral backgrounds to give your graphic design ideas a fresh new look that doesn’t deviate too far from tradition, especially if you’re working with an established and successful brand.

Color Transitions

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Multi-colored transitions of color in the register is becoming increasingly common, even in small graphic design elements like logos and buttons. Color transitions are much more visually interesting and eye-catching than flat colors.

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A lot of major companies and brands have started adopting the use of color transitions for just about everything, so expect to see a lot of it in both print design and web design.

Asymmetric Layouts

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As a part of the pushback against minimalist layouts, asymmetry had begun to feature prominently. More often than not, graphic designers break the rules of symmetry to create deliberately unbalanced designs. If you were to draw a line between the two halves, they would not look the same, which has been common or a very long time in graphic design ideas.

These graphic designs are fascinating to look at and have a lively aspect to them, especially in combination with interesting patterns and vibrant colors.

Duotone Composition

These designs consist of two bright colors. They are very noticeable, and pulling them well off can require quite a bit of skill.  The end result can be absolutely amazing. You can use any two colors you like for a good look, but for an even more striking effect, use two contrasting colors.

Low-Poly Designs

Inspired by graphic design in video games, this graphic design trend has now found its way into all fields of graphic design. You’ll find it more and more on ads, banners, business cards, flyers, and even clothing. It’s a very cutting edge for graphic design since it uses geometric shapes and colors to create the look and feel of a 3D design.

What Are Some Good Graphic Design Portfolio Ideas?

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When it comes to your graphic design portfolio, make sure there is a lot of diversity in the ideas you present. Only show off your best work, especially the designs that have been a big success.

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Make sure the images are clear, high resolution, and are presented so they look their best. Black background usually work better for mage galleries, since they help the colors of the images stand out better, but you should experiment to make sure.

FAQ about graphic design ideas

What’s a good starting point for graphic design ideas?

Well, my friend, a fantastic place to begin is by finding inspiration from diverse sources such as design blogs, magazines, or even social media platforms like Pinterest or Behance. You know, it’s essential to keep an open mind and be receptive to different styles, trends, and even cultures. Look for inspiration from nature, architecture, or even historical art movements. Trust me, the world around you is filled with inspiration—you just gotta keep your eyes open!

How can I improve my design skills?

Oh, that’s a great question! Practice makes perfect, right? So, immerse yourself in design-related tasks as much as possible. Keep experimenting with various design tools, techniques, and software. And don’t forget to learn from others. Join online communities, attend workshops or webinars, and don’t hesitate to ask for feedback on your work. Remember, there’s always room for growth, and every little bit of knowledge will contribute to your improvement.

How can I make my design stand out?

Let me tell you, making your design stand out requires a unique and innovative approach. Focus on creating a strong visual hierarchy, which will guide your viewer’s eye through the design. Use contrasting colors, bold typography, and captivating imagery. Moreover, never underestimate the power of white space. You know, it’s all about finding the right balance between elements and creating a memorable experience for the viewer.

What are the essential principles of graphic design?

Ah, the fundamentals! It’s super important to be well-versed in the basic principles of graphic design. These include balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity. By understanding these principles, you can create more effective and visually appealing designs. Don’t worry, once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be able to create some real masterpieces.

How do I choose the right colors for my design?

Choosing the right colors can be a bit tricky. It all starts with understanding color theory and the psychology behind different colors. Each color evokes specific emotions, so it’s crucial to choose a color palette that aligns with the message you want to convey. Moreover, consider the cultural context and target audience. And remember, less is more—stick to a few complementary colors for a more harmonious design.

What are the best tools for graphic design?

Oh, there are so many amazing tools out there! For starters, Adobe Creative Suite is pretty much the industry standard, offering programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. But there are other options too, like CorelDRAW, Sketch, or Affinity Designer. Honestly, it depends on your preferences, needs, and budget. Just make sure to invest time in learning the ins and outs of the tools you choose.

How do I work with typography in my designs?

Typography is an essential aspect of graphic design. First, familiarize yourself with different font types, styles, and classifications. Always choose fonts that complement the overall design and convey the right message. Remember to prioritize legibility and readability, and don’t forget about kerning, tracking, and leading. With a little practice, you’ll be a typography whiz in no time!

How can I create effective layouts?

Creating effective layouts is all about organization and structure. Use grids to help you achieve a balanced and cohesive design. Be mindful of the visual hierarchy and the flow of information. Play around with different layout options and see what works best for the content you’re working with. Just remember, a well-designed layout can make all the difference in how your audience perceives your message.

Where can I find design resources?

There’s a wealth of design resources out there! You can find tons of free and premium resources online, like stock images, fonts, vectors, icons, and textures. Some popular websites include Unsplash, Pexels, Google Fonts, and Adobe Stock. Additionally, you can explore resources on platforms like Creative Market or Envato Elements. Just be mindful of the licensing terms and always give proper credit when required. With so many resources at your fingertips, your creativity can run wild!

How do I know if my design is effective?

Well, an effective design should be visually appealing and communicate the intended message clearly. To evaluate your design, take a step back and look at it from a viewer’s perspective. Does it grab your attention? Is the information easy to read and understand? Are the colors and visuals harmonious? Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from colleagues or friends, as they might spot something you missed. Remember, a great design is not just about aesthetics—it’s about successfully conveying a message.

Ending thoughts on these graphic design ideas

It’s far too easy to let yourself fall into a graphic design rut when you’re having a hard time and inspiration dries up. Try our ideas and inspirations to help you get back into your graphic design groove.

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