Design Investments That Are Totally Worth It

There’s a fine line between good design that costs a lot of money and bad design that’s free. While it may not seem like it, it is possible to come up with a great design for free. But there are also a lot of design investments that are totally worth it and can take your design to the next level.

Premium Fonts

When I first started And Possibly Dinosaurs, I was using free fonts. One of them I’m still using, and it’s my absolute favorite, Bebas Neue. But the other one… I was just over. I was using Blackjack as my script font, and I loved it at first. But the more I used it, the more I noticed it everywhere. If you look on Pinterest, you’re bound to see at least 5 other graphics using Blackjack.

The final straw was when I saw it on the menu at Bob Evan’s. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Bob Evan’s, but the menu design is the bane of my existence. They use use way too many fonts, and none of them give off a similar vibe. It’s just bad. So when I saw Blackjack on the menu (literally), I knew I had to change it.

It took me a few months to bite the bullet and change it, and I ended up buying a premium font from Creative Market. I spent far too many hours deciding which one to buy, but I’m so glad I did. It’s really helping me have peace of mind, and it’s helping my brand stand out from the crowd.

Design Software Classes

I’ve used Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator since high school. I was the editor-in-chief of my high school yearbook and took many college classes about design. But even though I was super comfortable with the software, I continued to take classes. I know there’s always more I can learn.

I’ve taken several Photoshop for  Bloggers classes, and I’m super happy that I have. The different software programs are really complex, so everyone seems to be using it differently. Learning from different people really helps you figure out what works best for you.

Plus, if you’re going to invest in the software, you don’t want to be too intimidated to use it. Invest in your education, and you’ll end up saving money when you learn how to do things on your own.

PS If you want to take an InDesign for Bloggers class, I’ve got a treat for you.

A Designer’s Expertise

While I like to think I’ve got a good eye for graphic design, I know having an outsider’s perspective is always useful. And if you have no design experience (or just plain don’t enjoy it), it’s definitely worth investing in a designer.

I’m definitely one of those people who judge a book by its cover. I also judge bottles of wine, movies, and–you guessed it–blogs, all by their design. Think about it. How many less-than-attractive photos have you clicked on when browsing Pinterest? Probably not that many. Sure, the title is important, but the graphic better look damn good, too.

That’s where a designer comes in. They’ll help you figure out how to bring your brand to life and keep everything consistent.

Interested in working with a designer? I’ve got openings for 2016, so send me an email!