What are the best practices for creating a consistent style in conceptual designs?

1 Define your style guide

A style guide is a document that defines the rules and guidelines for the visual elements of your conceptual designs, such as colors, fonts, shapes, textures, lighting, perspective, and composition. A style guide helps you to maintain a consistent style across different designs and avoid confusion or inconsistency. You can create your own style guide or use existing ones as references, such as the ones from Adobe or Google. A style guide should be clear, concise, and easy to follow, and it should also allow some flexibility for creativity and experimentation.

2 Use references and inspiration

References and inspiration are essential for creating conceptual designs, as they help you to generate ideas, learn from other artists, and improve your skills. You can use references and inspiration from various sources, such as art books, magazines, websites, blogs, social media, or your own sketches and photos. However, you should not copy or plagiarize other works, but rather use them as a starting point or a guide for your own designs. You should also use references and inspiration that match your style guide and your project's theme, mood, and tone.

3 Choose a color palette

A color palette is a set of colors that you use for your conceptual designs, and it is one of the most important aspects of creating a consistent style. A color palette can convey emotions, moods, atmospheres, and meanings, and it can also create contrast, harmony, and balance in your designs. You can choose a color palette based on your style guide, your project's theme, mood, and tone, or your personal preferences. You can also use tools such as Adobe Color or Coolors to generate or customize color palettes.

4 Use a grid system

A grid system is a framework that helps you to organize and align the elements of your conceptual designs, such as shapes, images, text, and icons. A grid system can help you to create a consistent style by ensuring that your designs are structured, proportional, and coherent. You can use a grid system based on your style guide, your project's format and dimensions, or your design goals. You can also use tools such as Adobe Illustrator or Sketch to create or apply grid systems.

5 Review and refine your designs

Reviewing and refining your designs is a crucial step for creating a consistent style in conceptual designs, as it allows you to check for errors, inconsistencies, or areas of improvement. You can review and refine your designs by yourself or with feedback from others, such as clients, peers, or mentors. You can also use tools such as Adobe Photoshop or Procreate to edit or enhance your designs. You should review and refine your designs throughout the design process, and not just at the end, to ensure that your style is consistent and effective.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?