Ever furrowed your brow while looking at some design on the street? Creating impressive and aesthetically pleasing designs is a challenge every brand faces. Have you made any of these 5 common mistakes? Here are some quick fix suggestions that you may consider as well.

❌ Relying on Software Suggestions for Mathematical Alignment of Grids or Elements

Software aligns elements using stiff mathematical calculations, but elements of the same size might not appear balanced to the human eye aesthetically. For example, a square and a circle of equal size may appear as though the circle is smaller.

✅ Adjust Elements Based on Visual Judgment

When placed next to rectangular shapes, irregular shapes should be made more prominent, while circles should be positioned slightly higher than the rectangular elements for a more visually symmetrical appearance.

❌ Equal Color Proportions

Using 3 colors in equal proportions (1/3 each) creates too much balance, making it hard to highlight key elements.

✅ Follow the 60-30-10 Rule

Your primary color should take up around 60%, your secondary 30%, and the third color 10%. Use the third color sparingly, such as for a Call-To-Action (CTA) button or to emphasize key points, maintaining its proportion around 10% for better emphasis.

❌ Inconsistent Font Sizes

Too small or too large font sizes disrupt readability, and the size hierarchy should follow the order of importance (i.e., Title > Subheading > Body text > Footnote). Avoid being overly creative with fonts.

✅ Use an Inverted Pyramid Style to Display Text Importance

Recommended to use multiples of 6 for font sizes (e.g., 96 for title, 48 / 24 for subheading, 24 / 12 for body text, 6 for footnote) to create a structured layout.

❌ Inconsistent Font Styles

This can make the design look cluttered and harder to read, preventing the reader from quickly identifying key points.

✅ Use Variations of the Same Typeface

Many typefaces offer various font options, such as Light, Regular, Medium, and Bold, for designers to choose from. If you prefer a font with no variation within the same typeface, limit your design to a maximum of 3 fonts to avoid confusing readers. Keep in mind, moreover, that decorative fonts are best suited for headlines only—while they may look beautiful, they can hinder readability when used in body text!

❌ Lack of Depth in Elements

Placing all elements on the same layer fails to emphasize key points and reduces the design's overall aesthetic appeal.

✅ Add More Contrast to Highlight Key Elements

The focus should be on the primary message, with the most essential elements making up the most significant proportion. In terms of color, use brighter and more saturated hues for emphasis, while lighter, softer shades should be used for supporting elements.



Doo Digital Plus offers professional digital marketing consulting services, including design, website development, and social media management. Want to build a standout visual identity for your brand with ease? Contact us today!