Whether you’re a student of visual design or a professional artist, a good working knowledge of what makes a successful graphic design can help you to explore new methods and techniques that will result in the best possible design for your client. It also helps you avoid some common mistakes, which keeps client projects from going off the rails when they could have been easily prevented. In this article, we’ll cover 7 tips on what makes a good design with practical advice from real designers who work with clients every day. 

Good Design Is Unique 

Good graphic design is unique because by definition it stands out from the competition. If your design isn’t unique, then you’re going to have a hard time selling it to someone as something special. It’s important to note that “unique” doesn’t mean original–there are plenty of good designs out there that look similar and borrow heavily from other sources, but they do so in such a way as to present those elements in an exciting new way.  If you are in Australia and you need the services of a good designer, there are local Melbourne projects that provide a full range of design services tailor-made to suit your needs. By combining familiar elements in unexpected ways, designers are able to craft solutions that are more memorable and innovative than they might have been otherwise. It helps if the end result is something that people want, but it all begins with a foundation built upon an understanding of what makes good design tick.

Good Design Is Aesthetic 

The word aesthetic comes from the Greek root meaning “of sense perception” so it’s no surprise that something is only considered to be truly aesthetically pleasing if it appeals to our senses. If you can’t look at a design and appreciate how it looks, then there’s no point in looking any further because it won’t do what you need it to do. Good graphic design enhances an overall presentation while drawing attention to important elements. It takes into account color, shape, texture, and typography–or whichever elements are appropriate for your purposes–and uses them elegantly without ever running the risk of clashing with the message.

Good Design Is Simple 

It might seem counterintuitive, but good design is often simple design. This is because it’s better to convey the message that you’re trying to communicate in a simpler way than to use a more complicated approach and run the risk of confusing your audience. By keeping things simple and streamlined, you make good design accessible and easy for everyone involved, which can actually result in higher conversions if done right.

Good Design Is Timeless 

What makes the good design timeless? Often this means that it will employ elements like symmetry, clean lines, and classic typography. After all, no one wants to look back on their old work with regret because they included something that now looks out of date; the same goes for the graphic designer you chose for your project. The modern trends could change tomorrow–and probably will–so it’s best to choose a designer who can produce timeless work that won’t look old and stale in the near future.

Whenever possible, avoid using popular imagery or fads in your logo or printed pieces–it may be timely now, but it won’t last forever. Similarly, certain fonts can seem dated over time, so if you’re working with someone who wants something modern and sleek, steer them towards sans-serif typefaces like Helvetica instead of Times New Roman or Comic Sans. There’s nothing wrong with using a classic font if it still looks fresh and modern in its simplicity, but if you’re designing something for the long term, timelessness is an important consideration.

Good Design Is Memorable 

This speaks back to the original point about a design being unique–if it doesn’t stand out, then it has no chance to become memorable. The colors used in a design, the shapes, and lines, the typography choices all help make your work more or less “memorable.” You want something people will remember because it makes them feel good when they see your logo on TV during their favorite sports event, hear your company name while listening to their iPod, etc. It’s not enough for your design to just look good if it conveys the wrong meaning! Sometimes designers will push boundaries in their work because they feel it has more impact on the audience. This is a valid consideration when designing a poster for a metal band that wants something edgy, but there’s a difference between pushing boundaries and presenting content that will be confusing or offensive to most viewers. In this case, it behooves you as a designer to communicate clearly

Good Design Makes Use Of Negative Space

This isn’t always necessary, but often times good designers will make use of negative space in their designs. Negative space is the background and empty areas surrounding a focal point or object in an advertisement or piece of artwork; it’s just as important to design as any other element because research has shown that humans tend to notice open, unoccupied areas before they notice items that are cluttered. 

Good Design Is A Collaboration

This final tip is simple: Good design isn’t about one person’s idea or vision; it’s all about putting the client and the audience first. If your client wants something edgy, and you know it will be too much for most people to understand, don’t be afraid to speak up and suggest alternatives that may accomplish what they want while also appealing to a larger segment of their potential customers. You can even show them some example images from other designers who have executed similar concepts successfully (with permission, of course). Making smart compromises can go a long way towards coming up with the best design possible. 

To conclude,  good design is more than just something that has good visual appeal. It’s also about clear communication, making smart compromises, working with negative space, and staying away from fads or outdated imagery.