What are the best ways to use graphic design for a more engaging user experience?

Make it easy to show the important information first, and trickle down from there. Use colors that are appropriate for your audience and brand. Don’t overwhelm, take advantage of white space where you can.

Visual hierarchy helps with this... See Important Stuff First: Big things catch your eye, so put the most important stuff big and at the top. Easy to Follow: Things in order make it easy to know what comes next. Quick Finds: Find what you need fast when big things stand out. Looks Nice: It makes your page look neat and tidy. Fun to Use: When it’s easy to see and use, it’s more fun.

There are many ways to use graphic design to create a more engaging user experience. Here are a few tips: Use visual hierarchy to guide the user's eye. This means placing the most important elements of your design, such as the headline and call to action, in the most prominent positions. You can use size, color, and contrast to create a visual hierarchy. Use images and videos to break up your text and make your design more visually appealing. Images and videos can also be used to tell a story or convey a message more effectively than text alone. Use typography to create a sense of tone and personality. The font you choose can make a big difference in how your design is perceived.

Pay close attention to the width of text columns, font size, line height, and font choice to avoid reader fatigue. Understand the best practices in regards to text usage in your web page.

I developed a training session for faculty on using design principles in their learning materials. When I facilitate the workshop, we start with a slide where everything is as big as possible. The text and graphics fill the slide. Typically, no one notices anything strange about it. We all see slides like this every day. Then, I transition to a slide where the same copy and graphic have room to breathe, plus some. Participants usually say things like, “It makes me feel calmer and more at ease,” or “I’m able to reflect and think more about the message.”

White space helps... Make Things Clear: It separates things so each one is easy to see. Stop Clutter: Keeps the page from looking too busy. Focus Attention: Points your eyes to what's important. Look Clean: Makes everything look neat and organized. Feel Calm: Helps the page feel relaxing, not crowded.

Images and icons help: Show Quick Ideas: They tell you something fast without reading. Make It Fun: Pictures and little symbols make looking at the page more fun. Find Things Easy: See a picture and know what it means without help. Remember Better: Remember what you see better than what you read. Make Pages Pretty: They make everything look nice and colorful.

While using an overlay for displaying additional content, transition effects can be used to 'teach' the user where to find this information if they need to access it again. Or while using a 'slide in/out from left' menu drawer on the phone, the user knows that they can access the menu from the left side of the screen.

Use animations and transitions for: Grabbing Attention: They make things move, catching your eye. Showing How to Do Things: They guide you on what to click or swipe. Making Wait Fun: They give you something fun to watch while you wait. Surprise and Delight: They can surprise you with fun effects. Clear Changes: They help you see when something changes or moves.

The right font can set the 'mood' of an experience like a web page or a printed brochure. If used consistently typography can become the main identity of a brand. Typography + color in combination can form very strong brand associations in the consumers mind. Like the Netflix 'N' in red or the Coca Cola 'C', McDonald's 'M' cannot be missed.

Use perfect typography and color for: Reading Easily: Clear fonts help you read without squinting. Feeling Good: Colors can make you happy, calm, or excited. Finding Things Fast: Bright colors help you see important buttons quickly. Making It Fun: Cool fonts and fun colors make everything more enjoyable. Understanding Better: Different colors and sizes can show you what’s more important.

A focus on accessibility is often overlooked in graphic design. About 25% of the general audience has some form of limitation when interacting with your messaging. This can include temporary limitations like looking at a mobile screen in the sun. Not including proper (color) contrast or limiting movement are design practices that we should stop as design professionals.

Remember that we live in an "attention economy", so people can be overwhelmed by the choices to consume media, whether in print or online. Try to keep things simple and streamlined wherever you can. And make sure there are visual "highs and lows" to keep viewers engaged.