To succeed as a graphic designer, you must be willing to take risks. This is a cutthroat industry where only the most creative survive. As such, the sooner you begin experimenting with your design elements and following your creative instincts, the more likely you will be to build up a solid client base.
One of the best ways to improve your work is by experimenting with your typography usage. In fact, in most design work, typography is the main attention grabber with the other design elements supporting that typography. The following are four ways you can begin experimenting with typography usage to improve your designs.
1. Go BIG or go Home
If you want your message to grab your audience’s attention and slap them in the face, then big is the way to go. Big, bold and thick typography attracts attention and demands to be heard. However, when experimenting with this typography trend, you must be strategic in the use of big lettering. Sometimes, using large typography creates an unintended interpretation and can even offend audience members. Therefore, test out this experimental usage on friends and colleagues before introducing the design to the general public.
2. Play with Emotions
Colors can stir various emotions within the human mind. As such, a great way to experiment with your typography usage is to incorporate rich, vibrant colors that speak specifically to the emotions you want to call out in your audience members. Red is punchy, loud, and can stir up feelings of anger and lust, while blue is more soothing and calm and can play to the audience’s caring side. To be most effective with your use of experimental color, use it strategically and sparingly. Few things are worse than a color explosion that sends the senses of your audience members into overload.
3. Using Textures
People enjoy viewing designs with interactive elements. While using this interactive element in print design can sometimes be difficult, one option is to incorporate textures into your typography usage. This textural effect can either be authentic, such as by using grainy paper, or it can be simulated by using a design program to create the effect of texture.
4. Improve on the Past
The history of graphic design holds many examples of the risks taken by early graphic designers. By looking to the past, you may discover ways to take those old- school trends and place a modern spin on them. Sometimes a mixture of the old and new is just what is needed to start a typography revolution. At the very least, these early designs can rev up your creative side.
The more you experiment with typography usage, the increasingly interesting methods you will find to draw in audience members and portray your intended message. You have chosen a career field that requires immense creativity and the willingness to take risks. Therefore, don’t be afraid to try new things. While using experimental designs poses certain risks, it also provides the chance to set your work apart from the design crowd and become a trend setter.
Sonia Mansfield is the content editor for PsPrint and editor of PsPrint Blog. PsPrint is an online printing solutions company, which you can follow on Twitter and Facebook.
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A Look into Experimental Typography
