Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

If you’re new to the world of ad design, you may be wondering—what can I do to make the most effective ad possible? While there’s no secret formula to creating an ad that clicks, there are a few mistakes to be aware of and avoid if you want to make an ad that stands out (in a good way!). We will be exploring a few of them, and how to avoid them, in today’s blog.

Choosing colors that clash

One of the most important considerations when designing your ad is, of course, color. You want to pick a color or set of colors that represents your business or sets a certain tone (if you’re not already familiar with color psychology, it’s worth looking into!).

However, even when you think you’ve picked the right colors for the job, you may not always end up with the attractive design you were hoping for. Unfortunately, certain colors clash—rather than complement—each other. This might be due to odd color pairings or simple unreadability that occurs when the two are put together (like dark colors on black, or light blue over a darker blue—it’s hard to read and understand!). Avoid this mistake by opting for colors that blend well and have a high contrast, so one can be read easily when placed above the other.

Not leaving enough space or breathing room

A classic design “sin” is not leaving enough space or breathing room in your ad. We understand the ad space is at a premium, and you want to make use of every available inch. However, cramming and stuffing text or images into a tiny space—without leaving much negative space or wiggle room—can actually have a negative effect on your ad, making it harder to read and more frustrating than rewarding for potential customers. Give every design a bit of space between elements and around the edges to avoid this common mistake.

Using fonts that are too small or too big

Font size is a big factor to keep in mind when designing your ad—and a common mistake many designers and business owners make it creating ads with text that’s too small or too large for the space. On the one hand, you want your text to be readable and visible from drivers’ viewpoints; however, you also don’t want your copy to be so large that it detracts from the overall look or feel of your ad and, by extension, your company.

Leaving out personality

Finally, one of the biggest mistakes made in ad design today is the lack of personality and originality in many bench ads. In today’s day and age, information on its own simply isn’t enough—neither are overused design schemes. A common mistake is to take too much information or inspiration from a popular competitor without adding a bit of your company’s own personality in the process.

This year, as you get ready to design your own ad campaign, focus on adding a personal flair to every ad you design.