Editor’s note: It’s not easy to make a design classic and timeless, but there are ways to do it, and today we’ll look at 7 tips
The truly classic designs have always stood the test of time, mostly because they conform to the most basic design rules and basic human aesthetic laws. Logos like Nike’s and Coca-Cola’s have endured for decades and centuries because of the power of this rule.
Thankfully, this rule of timeless design can be applied to almost any project. You may not be able to replicate the success of Nike’s LOGO design, but you can create a good design that will last for years through the right design that fits the current aesthetic. The next seven tips are worth thinking about.
1. Focus on readable content
Readable fonts and pictures are the foundation, while clear content design and intuitive information delivery are the keys to creating readable content. That sounds like a tall order.
Typography should ensure that fonts are legible to users at all sizes. A novel font or overly cool font effect may appeal to the user at the right time, but if the user is struggling to read and cannot easily identify the text, the design fails.
Images should be sharp, high quality and easy to understand. Just as text typesetting needs to be readable and easy, visual effects and information should be clearly communicated. The user should be able to see what’s going on and understand what you’re trying to say.
The visual communication of the design should be in place, among which the most important thing is to express clear information and meaning. Pictures and texts should be closely combined to create a comprehensive experience and help users understand. A beautiful design is a failure if the different elements are disjointed in their communication.
2. Introduce interactivity
Once you put different visual elements together, the user will want to interact with them. This doesn’t mean you have to create a virtual experience for your users, although you can. Small interaction details can make your design more realistic and give your project a different personality.
When you start thinking about interaction, ease of use and utility of design have to be taken into consideration. The interaction you bring to the table should be unique and irreplaceable, telling a story, guiding the user as a navigator, and pleasing the user with subtle effects.
Set a basic goal for your interaction: simple and smooth, and make sure it works well with your content.
3. Create optimal visual proportions
Every site has a hierarchy of visual elements. Larger elements, generic components, and detailed elements all over the place. Each element should have enough space throughout the design to distinguish it from other elements.
Good visual proportions allow the design to coordinate and allow different elements to do their job, creating a logical design that guides user behavior.
Good proportions are not only visually advantageous, but also make it easier for users to identify content and move through the process. The vast majority of websites have a LOGO in the top left corner + a large Banner at the top + text content layout, which itself creates a visual contrast and leads the user to absorb content.
In addition, the elements should be consistent in proportion and visual weight. The same button between pages should have the same design, from color to shape. Special circumstances are another matter.
4. Emphasize sex
The vast majority of good designs have something unique about them that makes them stand out from the rest. This is often done purposefully with some emphasis. For example, more childlike color matching, more postmodern art elements, more jumping out of the bright color. Common ways of emphasis are as follows:
· Random and unique typography · interesting and jumping colors · simple dynamic effects · unique background textures · almost all unexpected design
Think about how those small surprises guide the user through the design. These emphasis elements not only make the visuals more interesting, but also provide direction and guidance to help the user understand.
5. Personality and brand recognition
Every element you communicate visually should carry your brand. From your website to business cards, photos to social media, you want your users to remember who you are, so they don’t wonder if the content they see really came from you.
Brand identity is very important. Building a brand identity system is a critical and important task, and if you don’t have one, it’s time to start. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to create a consistent and personal brand identity:
· Use the same colors · Stick to a few specific fonts and sizes · Think carefully about typographical alignment and choose a style · Define the style of the image, be it color, black and white, or some other technique · Stick to one language, casual or formal · Stick to being yourself
6. Forget gimmicks
Design trends change too quickly for fads and trends to follow. While these design trends may look clever, they are not recommended.
Truly timeless design patterns are often rooted in the most basic design theories. Design principles and specifications have outlined classic and timeless design. At this time to look at the current design trend, how to coordinate the relationship between classic and trend? Taking Material Design as an example, its concept is rooted in physical laws and motion. It is based on these two rules and then popularized and refined composition. Forget the superficial gimmicks and get back to basic theory and rules.
Whether to use special fonts, complex plug-ins, motion effects, and colors is a visual consideration. How long can such a design be popular? If you replace these elements, what will the rest of the elements give the user experience? By thinking about these questions, your designs can be timeless and classic, or trendy!
7. Use grids
Well-organized design never goes out of style. From simple grids to complex visual designs based on grid systems, grids give design organization and a solid design foundation.
When you plan grids, consider both horizontal and vertical. Often designers spend a lot of time calculating vertical columns and spacing, and horizontal columns and spacing between columns. A good grid allows for flexible design, creating breathable layouts, facilitating alignment between elements, and controlling the spacing between elements and controls.
The grid system affects every convenience in the entire visual design, from image size to font size. As a result, grids work well for projects that are complex or simple, but each element needs to be handled according to rules during execution to ensure overall consistency.
conclusion
Truly timeless design usually has less to do with technology and more to do with the choice of design balance, making reasonable and easy-to-understand designs is the key. When you’re truly committed to timeless design, the best way to do it is to go back to basics and forget about trends and gimmicks.
[Nick BabichThe user experienceDesign Experience 】
Designshack By CARRIE COUSINS
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