11 Simple Design Tips to Enhance Your Social Media Images

Humans are very visual beings by nature. Just imagine that nearly 30 percent of the entire cortex is devoted to visual processing, compared with 8 percent for touch and just 3 percent for hearing. That’s why, a well-thought-out visual component of your social media campaign is critical, but also difficult and time consuming. We’ve compiled a list of eleven social media simple design tips and principles to help you improve your social media images.

1. Colour

One of the most important and complex aspects of any social media design is colour. It can help to set the tone, create an atmosphere, convey emotions, and even elicit strong personal memories from someone’s past. In a study on the impact of colour on marketing, researchers discovered that depending on the product, up to 90% of snap judgments can be made based solely on colour.

Use colours to guide your audience through a story in your social media images. Consider which colours can help to tell a specific part of the story. Colour theory principles are a great place to start and can be used to create a sense of harmony in your images.

Red = Energy and urgency

Orange = Aggressive

Yellow = Optimistic and youthful

Green = Wealth and relaxation

Blue = Trust and security

Pink = Romantic and feminine

Black = Powerful and sleek

Purple = Soothing and calm

2. Balance

The art of balance in the world of social media image design is difficult to master, but it is well worth the effort. Imagine that each element of your design has a “weight behind it.” This is a great way to think about balance.

There are 4 varying types of balance:

• Symmetrical, which creates feeling of harmony and is great for illustrations, drawings, blog graphics, photographs, and much more.
• Asymmetrical, which creates tension through contrast and can be visually interesting when done correctly.
• Radial (picture a spiral staircase)
• Crystallographic (picture a tray of donuts with different toppings)

All of these can make for a beautiful social media design.

3. Lines

Lines are visual elements in your image that help direct the viewer’s attention to where you want it to go. Straight lines add a sense of order and tidiness to the image, whereas crooked or curved lines can add a sense of organized tension and movement. Paying close attention to how lines are used throughout your image can help guide your audience on a visual journey, stopping at the most important and intentional elements along the way.

4. Typography

Typography is a form of art. Choosing the right font or set of fonts that work well together can make your social media image come to life. It also has a significant impact on how people perceive your design and, ultimately, the message your brand intentionally (or unintentionally) conveys. When deciding which font or fonts to use in your design, one of the most important considerations is readability. “Don’t try to be original, just try to be good,” graphic designer Paul Rand may have said best.

• Limit your design to a maximum of 3 typefaces
• Use font sizing that fits well within the communication channel
• Traditionally, serif fonts are best for print and sans-serif for web

5. Contrast

Contrast distinguishes between elements by making one stand out or “pop” more than the others. Using effective contrast is a great way to improve the look of your social media images. Without contrast, your design risks looking “flat.” However, if you use too much contrast, your design will become cluttered and nothing will stand out.

• Add contrast with colors
• Add contrast with shapes
• Add contrast with sizes

6. Scale

The deliberate sizing of various elements within your design is referred to as scale. “Scaling” brings certain elements into focus and allows your readers to understand a concept.

7. Proximity

When it comes to creating a sense of organization within your design, proximity is everything. Similar or related elements should be grouped together to form a relationship. The goal is to group items together to declutter your design and “tidy things up a little bit.” By connecting similar elements, you can put the proximity principle into action. One simple method is to physically place the objects close to each other. The other option is to connect them visually by using similar colors, fonts, sizes, and so on.

8. Hierarchy

Use the largest fonts for the most important elements. Understanding your goals is the first step in fully utilizing the hierarchy design principle. Make the most important message the focal point, and then use the other design principles discussed in this article to make it stand out. Once that’s in place, you can begin to incorporate your second or third pieces of information without detracting from the overall goal.

9. Repetition

The principle of repetition is one of the simplest design elements to use to improve your social media images. Repetition is an important part of the process because it aids in the establishment and strengthening of various elements. It is also commonly referred to as “consistent branding.” Use the same fonts, colours, and logos every time.

10. Direction

Website design research has provided us with an inside look at how people view websites for the first time. They discovered that we read in a “F” pattern, a “E” pattern, and occasionally a “Z” pattern. It is therefore critical to place important and eye-catching elements on the upper left and left side of your design.

11. Use of space

Don’t underestimate the power of simplicity. Space can add an aesthetic quality to your image while also emphasizing the most important elements. Consider what shapes or outlines are forming around your shapes, fonts, or colours when adding them to your design and use them to your advantage. You might notice that your design is taking shape in unexpected ways. Keep your images simple and use the space around objects to highlight important details.

We hope these suggestions help you create a truly outstanding design for your social media. If you require professional assistance with your digital marketing, including visuals, brand identity, and social media strategy, please contact us and we will handle the rest.