Designing your own graphics

DarthHazard Level 1

July 19, 2017, 10:23 am

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Designing your own graphics

Graphics on websites or social media can be extremely important because first impressions are everything. If a user has a bad first impression then they may leave your site and never come back. Because of this do you prefer to have your graphics professionally made or do you prefer to design your own graphics? It is important that the graphics on your site/social media pages portray something professional and do not look cheaply made/poorly designed. Because of that I like to get graphic designers to design my sites graphics. Most of the time it's not too expensive and in return you get great graphics.

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TheArticulate

TheArticulate

I'm by no means a graphic designer, but I know my way around the Adobe Suite well enough. What I did for my logo design was get a rough edit done in Photoshop, and then shot it to a professional designer to use as a "starting point" for what I wanted my logo to look like. Needless to say, they provided me with a much higher quality version of what I was trying to do in a faster time. Anything design-related, I would sooner hand off to a professional as opposed to try myself, as I don't have the expertise to make them look extremely professional.

8 years ago

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galegatling

galegatling

Sometimes, if you couldn't do it yourself, it's wise to turn it over to someone who is expert on doing such things. Designing your own graphics only works if it is one of your niche and probably a hobby. If you have some knowledge about designing and photoshop, then you can always start there. Work your way up and you will eventually learn a lot specially now that most of our technical questions regarding softwares can be found on the Internet.

7 years ago

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

I'm not the best with graphic design either, to be honest, but like you, I know my way around a few different programs. I can make some basic logos and graphics, nothing special but not too bad either. I'm currently developing a gaming social network/platform and since we need a lot of graphics, what I did was hire our own graphic designer. It's just a lot easier to have someone else design the graphics for the site especially since they are a lot better and are able to design better graphics.

7 years ago

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TheArticulate

TheArticulate

I have no problem paying someone a reasonable amount to design the graphics that I want for me. Since my knowledge is limited, I know that by outsourcing it to someone who knows their craft, it'll get done right and look good. Plus, I can keep tabs on the project along the way to make sure it's coming together how I imagined it to.

7 years ago

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Painterly

Painterly

Visual appeal matters so much. There are multiple reputable studies you can read that suggest our information consuming habits have changed dramatically as a consequence of web use. We expect information to be formatted succinctly, yet to be engaging. If your readers are not immediately interested in what they see on the screen, there's a solid chance they won't stick around, even if your site has the best information on a topic the web can deliver! For these reasons I strongly recommend against people handling their own graphic design. I would go as far as to recommend someone use an off-the-rack, free blog theme, rather than see an amateur handling their own design. Of course, this is assuming you have no background in design.

On the other hand, I also warn people against a trend I'm seeing more in professional design where web pages are saddled with gigantic header displays. They are often very clever, involving parallax scrolling, animated layers, and very tasteful use of form. On an image gallery site, this may be appropriate. But, if I have to scroll very far to find the information I'm looking for I am very unlikely to stick around. This is an extension on the web 2.0 mistakes designers made by using unnecessary splash screens.

By all means be visually engaging, but don't let your decorative instincts come in between me and what I came to your site for. Design should enhance your information, not hinder my access to it.

7 years ago

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vinaya

vinaya

My designing skills are rudimentary. I know how to use photoshop to create logos, book covers, banners, infographics and edit images, however, I am also not a designer. Usually, I do my own logos because I am always on budget constraints and also when I am starting I don't want to spend a lot of money just to hire a skilled designer. Interestingly, I have done logos for few clients and they have always been satisfied.

7 years ago

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TheArticulate

TheArticulate

It sounds like you have the beginnings of some design skills under your belt! Keep at it and you'll be a graphic designer in no time.

Affordability is key in terms of things like this, especially since so many of us are on tight budgets. Have you looked at Fiverr graphic design gigs? Generally those gigs are really affordable and the work is pretty well done, too.

7 years ago

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

The fact that you can use Photoshop well to actually create logos, book covers, banners and for editing various images is a pretty good skill to have. I could never use any photo editing software, especially one like Photoshop because of how hard they are. To be fair, I have never really attempted to try and learn them that much though. It's good to hear that you have done some work and that your clients have been happy.

7 years ago

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Tronia

Tronia

I couldn't agree more. Graphics are crucial for the overall look for our websites that is why I believe that unless you're a skilled graphics designer and know your way around the different programs, it is simply better to hire a professional. Most of the designers are rather cheap and they don't ask for too much money. In exchange, they are very willing to listen to your wishes and create something that matches your vision.

I do know a few things about graphics designing programs because I used to use them very frequently but I still prefer to hire somebody else. Why? because I feel like it can be very time consuming and I prefer to invest my time into other aspects of the website that also need work. I guess it just depends on your own skill set, knowledge and of course, your budget.

7 years ago

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DenisP

DenisP

Website designs and graphics are absolutely essential in attracting and keeping clients. Much like when going on a date with someone, if you don't make a good first impression with them, then odds are that you won't be getting a second date. Thankfully, I actually have a background in graphic design. I was doing graphic design as a hobby since I was about 16, and then later I went on to go to college for Graphic and Advertising Design. If I have the time, thankfully I can always handle creating something myself thanks to those skills.

7 years ago

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fishmonk

fishmonk

I would engage professional freelancers to create the logo for my ventures. I feel that logo and brand recognition is very important. This is like the first impression for potential clients when they go to your website. I find the services to be reasonable and there are plenty of good designers in the market. In this case, I feel that this is a necessary expense if you want to build your brand.

7 years ago

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tingavai

tingavai

I amnot an experienced designer so my skill is limited, while the pros can do a much better job in amuch shorter time, why should I try to prove myself? I do know how to use the softwares though and I believe that you should be engaged to your business ventures as much as you can, so when I need to something designed, first I do it by myself, illustrating the main points that I need to be presented in the final products, only then will I pass it to the professionals, doing things like this will make me feel some sorts of bond to the product and it makes me work harder.

7 years ago

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fishmonk

fishmonk

I have to agree with you on this. Although I have experience in the designing feel, I prefer to have a really high-quality design. Therefore, I will come out with my own initial design before getting a professional guy to improve it. This way I can have the building blocks for the designer to create since it is easier to see than to create based on textual descriptions.

7 years ago

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tingavai

tingavai

That is exactly my point though? First I try to design the product myself to get the hang of it, knowing where the main points of the design is, what I expected the designs should be, after that I will ask a professional for help in fleshing out the core of my product since their skill level is way above mine.

7 years ago

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fishmonk

fishmonk

I guess we are similar. However, it makes it easier to have a partner in your venture who is a real professional in the scene. That way, we do not have to outsource the job. I am currently getting my designer friends to do this for me.

7 years ago

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Authord

Authord

It's always important to design your graphics if you aere a graphic design, when doing things that's precepts your personality or even contrary, because i believe that no one can do it better than me. and as legends say "When writing your story don't let another man hold the pen". when designing i feel like am writing my own legacy and inscribing in story on it. and only me can do it better. but if you can't, you outsource of course

7 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

It's good to design one's site if you have the skill and expertise to do so because it would allow you the opportunity to fix it up exactly as you desire without worrying about how the site designer you gave the designik job is faring.

Sadly, I don't have much knowledge about how to design sites, so I normally contract my very good friend who is an expert in the field of web development and designing to aid me with the job.

7 years ago

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galegatling

galegatling

Well, since I know a little bit of photoshop, I would definitely do my own graphics since it also helps me learn something new specially if I get to have errors, then I would ask the Internet for solutions and workarounds so it benefits me always. And the best part is, I wouldn't even have to hire or outsource that job since I know for a fact that hiring freelancers will just make your product or design modified and will probably be used again with a little bit of tweak, here and there.

7 years ago

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Baburra

Baburra

My family members do this too, even if they know they could just as easily reach me and ask me for a favor to get me to design something for them. I am glad they are thoughtful enough to consider the time and effort I would have to put into their project for free, so they just do small design projects themselves whenever they can just do it themselves. The only pet peeve I have with this is that their results aren't very professional looking and I always feel bad that they aren't getting the best designs possible, but I suppose they just feel they don't need it as much.

7 years ago

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Baburra

Baburra

I agree. I think a good design is necessary because even if you have good content, sometimes, it's not enough to keep people engaged, especially if the people you are targeting aren't familiar with you yet. Sometimes, people or companies can get away with bad designs because their content is way too valuable or if it fits the culture that they are cultivating, but in general, I think a good design and a proper system can be helpful to most businesses, probably more so for ones that are just starting out and wanting to leave a good impression.

7 years ago

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Soulwatcher

Soulwatcher

I don't know enough about graphics to make my own graphics. So I have them professionally made and I have about by a dear friend and her prices are more than reasonable. And if you ask me my website looks top notch but I am partial because it's mine =D

7 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

The power of appearance can never be overemphasized because it's very important to websites or social media sites just as good contents are to such sites in keeping its visitors to stay and always keep coming back for more.

Good graphics appeals to the sense of sight which is easily fooled or convinced with how the appearance displays. The eye enjoys first before anything else and once it's not satisfied, the interest to continue would die off immediately.

7 years ago

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

You've summed it up pretty well Martinsx1. It's weird to see how far design standards have come since the start of the internet. You can easily see how far we have come by just comparing one of the first few websites and some of the websites that have been created now. It's no surprise really considering how much we care about the actual appearance of sites, we are at a point where we value appearance over actual content.

7 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

Finding a way to tilt between the two - appearance and content is the only to have a better experience with any site one comes in contact with.

7 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

I do agree that visual stimulation is a very effective marketing factor. There's power in pictures and it's well worth it to use it effectively.

6 years ago

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