You want to create a stunning graphic without breaking the bank. How can you do it?

1 Define your purpose and audience

Before you start designing, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you want to reach with your graphic. What is the message you want to convey? What is the tone and style you want to use? Who are your ideal customers or followers? These questions will help you choose the right colors, fonts, images, and layout for your graphic. You can also look for some inspiration from other creators in your niche or from popular design trends.

2 Choose a tool that suits your needs and budget

Creating stunning graphics doesn't have to cost a fortune; there are plenty of online tools available to help you out. Canva and Crello are two popular, easy-to-use tools that offer thousands of templates, icons, photos, and fonts. With Canva, you can create logos, flyers, posters, social media posts, infographics, and more. With Crello, you can create animated graphics, video ads, stories, and covers. Figma is a more advanced tool that allows you to create vector graphics, UI/UX design, wireframes, prototypes, and interactive presentations. You can use these tools for free or upgrade to a pro plan for more features and customization options.

4 Add your elements and content

When you have your canvas or template ready, you can start adding elements and content like images, icons, shapes, and text. Make sure to include your message, logo, slogan, call to action, and contact information. For a more effective and appealing graphic, use high-quality and relevant images that match your purpose and audience. You can find free or low-cost stock photos from sites like Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay. Icons and shapes can add visual interest and emphasize your message; try sites like Flaticon, Iconfinder, or Noun Project. Fonts should be legible, appropriate, and complementary; Google Fonts, Font Squirrel, or DaFont are great sources. Colors should be harmonious, contrasting, and expressive; Coolors, Adobe Color, or Color Hunt are great resources for finding free or low-cost color palettes.

5 Review and export your graphic

Before you finalize your graphic, you should review it and make sure it meets your goals and expectations. Additionally, you can ask for feedback from other creators or potential customers. When reviewing your graphic, consider if it is clear and concise, attractive and engaging, consistent and coherent, and optimized and compatible. Once you're satisfied with your graphic, export it in the format and size you need. You can also save it in your online tool account or download it to your device, then share it with the world to showcase your creativity and skills.

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?