Industry-standard guidelines and professional practices to create better designs, improve workflow efficiency, and deliver exceptional results consistently.
Every design decision should serve a clear purpose and goal
Maintain visual and functional consistency across all touchpoints
Remove unnecessary elements to focus on what truly matters
Optimize workflows and processes for maximum productivity
Name files clearly and consistently: logo-company-name-version-date.ai instead of final-final-v2.ai
Organize by project, then by asset type: Project/Assets/Images/, Project/Assets/Fonts/
Use version numbers or dates: design-v1.0, design-2024-01-15. Keep major versions, archive old ones.
Use cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive) and local backups. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite.
Use 3-5 colors maximum: 1 primary, 1-2 secondary, and 1-2 accent colors. Too many colors create visual chaos.
Text should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text (WCAG AA standard). Use tools like WebAIM's contrast checker.
Don't rely solely on color to convey information. Use patterns, labels, or icons alongside color. Test designs with color blindness simulators.
RGB for digital/screen designs, CMYK for print. Convert colors appropriately and check print proofs as colors may shift.
Use 2-3 font families maximum: one for headings, one for body text, optionally one for accents. More fonts create visual inconsistency.
Use size, weight, and spacing to create distinct levels: H1 (largest), H2, H3, body text. Maintain consistent ratios (e.g., 1.5x scale).
Keep body text between 50-75 characters per line (about 8-12 words). Longer lines tire readers, shorter lines disrupt reading flow.
Set line height (leading) to 1.4-1.6 times the font size for body text. Tighter for headings (1.2), looser for small text (1.7).
Left-align body text for readability in Western languages. Center-align sparingly for short text. Avoid justified text in narrow columns.
Employ 12-column grids for web, modular grids for print. Grids create consistency, alignment, and professional polish.
Don't fill every pixel. White space improves readability, creates focus, and conveys sophistication. It's not wasted space.
Divide layouts into thirds horizontally and vertically. Place important elements at intersections for natural, balanced composition.
Guide viewers through content using size, color, contrast, and positioning. Most important elements should be most prominent.
Use a spacing scale (e.g., 4px, 8px, 16px, 24px, 32px). Consistent spacing creates rhythm and professional appearance.
Add alt text to images, captions to videos, and transcripts to audio. Screen readers rely on these for users with visual impairments.
All interactive elements must be accessible via keyboard. Test navigation using only Tab, Enter, and arrow keys.
Use proper heading tags (H1-H6), lists, buttons, and links. Semantic markup helps screen readers understand content structure.
Consider motor impairments (larger click targets), cognitive disabilities (clear language), and hearing impairments (visual alternatives to audio).
Vector formats scale infinitely without quality loss. Perfect for logos, icons, and illustrations that need to work at any size.
JPG offers good compression for photos. Use TIFF for print to preserve maximum quality. Avoid JPG for graphics with text or sharp edges.
PNG supports transparency and lossless compression. Ideal for logos, icons, and graphics that need transparent backgrounds.
Keep editable versions in native formats (AI, PSD, INDD). Export to universal formats (PDF, PNG, JPG) for sharing and delivery.
Create reusable components, color palettes, and typography scales. Consistency improves quality and speeds up work.
Learn shortcuts for your design tools. Shaving seconds off repeated actions saves hours over time.
Collect and organize fonts, icons, templates, and assets. Having resources ready accelerates project starts.
Share work-in-progress for feedback. Early input prevents wasted effort on wrong directions. Iterate based on feedback.
Keep notes on design rationale, color codes, font choices, and specifications. Documentation helps future you and collaborators.
Explore our comprehensive guides and resources to deepen your understanding of design principles and professional practices.