7 Common Design Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
7 Common Design Mistakes Amateur Designers Make (And How to Fix Them)
Design is both an art and a science. Whether you’re creating a logo, a website, or a social-media graphic, avoiding basic pitfalls can mean the difference between amateur-looking work and truly professional results. In this article, we’ll explore seven of the most frequent design mistakes made by amateur designers, and share practical tips to help you level up your craft.
1. Poor Typography Choices
Why It Matters
Typography sets the tone and hierarchy of your design. Amateur designers often default to too many font families or use fonts that clash.
- Mistake: Mixing more than two font families
- Fix: Stick to a maximum of two – one for headings, one for body text.
Tips for Better Typography
- Use a type scale for consistent sizing (e.g., 16 px body, 24 px subhead, 32 px heading).
- Pair fonts with contrast (a serif heading with a sans-serif body, for example).
- Pay attention to line height (1.4–1.6× font size) and letter spacing for readability.
2. Neglecting White Space
Why It Matters
White space (or negative space) isn’t wasted space—it’s a vital design element that gives your content room to breathe.
- Mistake: Crowding elements together
- Fix: Use generous margins and padding to improve readability and focus.
Tips for Effective White Space
- Apply consistent gutters between columns/rows in grid layouts.
- Balance text blocks and images—avoid filling every pixel.
- Remember: white space can guide the viewer’s eye toward key information.
3. Inconsistent Color Palettes
Why It Matters
A coherent color scheme reinforces brand identity and ensures visual harmony. Amateur palettes often feature too many conflicting hues.
- Mistake: Choosing random colors without strategy
- Fix: Limit your palette to 3–5 colors: a primary, a secondary, and one or two accent colors.
Tips for Color Harmony
- Use online tools like Coolors or the Adobe Color Wheel.
- Apply the 60-30-10 rule: 60% dominant, 30% secondary, 10% accent.
- Ensure sufficient contrast ratio (minimum 4.5:1 for text) for readability.
4. Overcomplicating Layouts
Why It Matters
Complex layouts can confuse users and dilute your message. Clean, grid-based designs improve scannability.
- Mistake: Mixing too many columns or uneven alignment
- Fix: Adopt a simple grid system (e.g., 12-column grid for web).
Tips for Streamlined Layouts
- Align elements to a baseline grid for consistency.
- Prioritize content hierarchy—place the most important information prominently.
- Use whitespace and visual breaks (dividers, background blocks) to separate sections.
5. Ignoring Mobile Responsiveness
Why It Matters
Over 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. Failing to design for smaller screens leads to poor user experiences.
- Mistake: Designing only for desktop without testing on mobile
- Fix: Employ a mobile-first approach and test frequently on various devices.
Tips for Responsive Design
- Use flexible units (%, em, rem) instead of fixed px values.
- Stack columns vertically on narrow screens.
- Optimize images (responsive
srcset, compressed formats like WebP).
6. Skipping Accessibility Considerations
Why It Matters
Accessible design ensures your work reaches all users—including those with disabilities—and improves SEO.
- Mistake: Overlooking alt text, keyboard navigation, or color-blind-friendly palettes
- Fix: Follow WCAG guidelines for contrast, semantics, and navigability.
Tips for Accessible Designs
- Add descriptive alt text to images and icons.
- Ensure interactive elements (buttons, links) are keyboard-accessible.
- Choose color combinations safe for color-blind users (test with simulators).
7. Using Low-Quality Images
Why It Matters
Pixelated or poorly composed images undermine credibility. High-quality visuals elevate your designs.
- Mistake: Stretching small images to fit large spaces
- Fix: Source high-resolution, properly licensed images or create custom graphics.
Tips for Better Imagery
- Use stock libraries (Unsplash, Pexels) or invest in custom photography.
- Crop thoughtfully—focus on the subject and eliminate distractions.
- Compress images for web (Tools: TinyPNG, ImageOptim) to balance quality and load speed.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Avoiding these common design mistakes will significantly improve the professionalism and effectiveness of your work. Here’s what you can do now:
- Examine your recent projects for typography, spacing, and color consistency.
- Create a simple brand style guide outlining your fonts, colors, and grid rules.
- Test for responsiveness and accessibility before launching any design.