Graphic design is involved with more aspects of life than people often realize. Every word that has been typed and every image that has been created is a part of the graphic design world. Whether it’s a packing label on a gallon of milk, the classified ad section of a newspaper, or an auction based website, a graphic designer had a major role in it’s creation. Computers have made several advances in the industry, but they have also added the problem of causing inexperienced designers to go overboard with special effects that aren’t needed. One of the hardest parts about being a designer is knowing when to stop on a project.

Simplicity can’t be stressed enough when designing for a client. It can be extremely tempting to only use bright colors and flashy images to get their initial attention, but true design that stands up over time generally takes a more simple approach. Muted colors can bring a much warmer feeling and they also translate well for both web and print applications. The use of highly saturated gradient fills will usually look terrible when printed, although they definitely have their place in website design.

The 1950s had a beautifully simple and effective look to its illustration work that has commonly become known as the “cartoon modern” style. It featured highly stylized characters and backgrounds that became instantly recognizable and loved due to their quirky and colorful look. This style has made a fairly noticeable comeback in the past few years for graphic designers. It’s simplicity is a refreshing and stark contrast to the overdone photo manipulations and abrasive advertising color palettes. Target has recently been adopting this style in a lot of their promotional materials.

Another company that deeply sees the benefits of simple design is the animation studio Pixar. They produce an unbelievable amount of quality work that is groundbreaking, yet the character designs are often quite simple and stylized. Many designers working for animation studios have realized that just because it’s possible to make everything look photo realistic, it doesn’t mean that it will actually benefit the final product.

People often look at designs as an escape from real life, while still finding something real about it. Design can become its own world and it’s a designer’s responsibility to fill that world with the highest quality content they can muster. Incorporating simple design should be a conscious decision, not a mere side effect of laziness.

Studying the basic design theories and techniques used in old publication design is a great starting point for those looking to develop their design skills. John McWade has published several books, magazines, and now video blogs about effective design strategies. Reading through fifty-year-old advertisements and comparing them to modern ones is another way to get the wheels of creativity turning.

These are only a couple of suggestions though. The internet is full of an overwhelming amount of design knowledge and it’s proving to be a wonderful time in history for those involved with the design industry. Times may be changing, but sometimes that brings the most creativity out of us.

Brad Claborn is a regular contributor to Key Insurance Quotes and has been writing on a freelance basis for several years since earning a design degree. When he isn’t writing, he’s either involved with graphic design or classic car restoration.