Concise Textbook Smartphone Graphic Design

A concise Textbook on Smartphone Graphic Design © 2021 Obulezi Okechukwu J
Course Outline
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Introduction to Graphic Design.
1.2 How to develop Creativity.
1.3 Elements of Designs.
1.4. Principles of Designs.
1.5 Color.
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1.1 Introduction to Graphic Design
What people say graphic designing is!
👉Graphic designing is a representation of thought and ideas using images, text and colors.
While this is very correct. There is a better definition.
👉 Graphic designing is a simple and creative way to communicate a message to a target

audience using the right elements and obedience to design principles.
✍The second definition might look long, but that is the summary of everything graphic
design represents.
✍Graphic design cannot exist without creativity. This is because, when you are designing,
you are simply creating and bringing to life, what only existed in the mind. Creativity is the
most important element in graphic designing.
✍Your ability to see a design and understand the use of element and communication of the
message confirms you are creative.
✍When God wanted to create the world, he carefully created everything before man, this is
simply because he didn't want man to lack anything.
✍Thus as a creative designer, you have to understand that your major duty is to save your
audience the stress of trying to understand your message.
✍Graphic designing is not
* Painting.
* Drawing
* Adding text and color.
* Filling a layout with images.
* Mixing colors on a background.
While your designs need all these elements, it is not limited to them.
👍 It can only be graphic design when all these elements like color, typography, lines, texture
etc are used in the right proportion.
✍Before you begin any design. Always think about this:
I am a creator
You are in charge of the design layout, thus you are responsible for what happens on the
design. You bring to life what the world will see.
Less is more
In as much as you have the freedom to design. You should always understand that every
design element should be used in its right proportion.
In other words, don't use too many images, colors, text, pictures, etc. Maintain a balance.
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Fig 1
✍A practical example of Less is more
✍2 colors minimum and 3 colors maximum.

✍2 - 3 fonts maximum.
✍Only related images.
✍Less busy background.
✍A proper design arrangement.
✍What Is the most important message my design is passing?
👉 See, you need to concentrate on the main message and project it. That is what your
audience is interested in.
👌
✍You can play around with creativity, but don't tamper with the message.
E get why
✍Who is my target audience?

If you don't know who you are designing for, you won't know what you are designing.
👉A good design, with a wrong target audience will fail.

1.2. How to develop Creativity
One of the hardest challenges graphic designers encounter is lack of creativity.
👌
👌 Put the best tool in the hands of a bad worker and the tools will lack effectiveness.
Put a bad tool in the hands of a creative worker and he will improvise and get the job
done.
Steps
1. Decide to be intentional
If you don't take a decision to do anything, you will never do it no matter how easy it is. You
must decide to be intentional about being creative.
2. Accept that you can be creative
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What your mind can't access, it can't process and what it can't process, it can't possess. You
have to agree that you too can create. It triggers an uncommon believe and helps improve
your creativity.
3. Discover YOU
If you don't know who you are, you will end up doing what everybody is doing. Understand
your uniqueness, your thought patterns and ways of doing things. Understand what comes
to you easily and work with it.
4. Understand your tools and gadgets

A lazy man always quarrels with his tools.
I will say, a man who doesn't master his tools will always blame his tools for his
ineffectiveness. If you understand your tools, you will enjoy them. Some people have
mastered Canva, they will do a million designs in a few hours. The creativity flows, when the
tools are well understood.
5. Appreciate other creative designers

You become what you honor. If you don't appreciate other creatives, you risk never
becoming creative. It is your desire to be creative like other creatives that will spur you to
take creative steps that will make you creative.
6. Don't be limited to a platform

Creativity hates to be caged. It will disappear when it is limited. If you conquer a stage, move
to the next level. That is the way to go HIGHER.
7. Be open to improve
If you shut your door to improvement, you will remain small. No two ways about that. If you
must be creative, then you have to go for more always. Don't stop learning. Make it a daily
habit. Learning should be your oxygen. That is how stars do. If you see any man you can
learn from, embrace him. Follow and learn no matter the size or status.If you honor honor,
honor will honor you. If you can't bend down to learn, you will never be able to learn enough
to teach another person. Improve by all means.
8. Model other creatives

Don't try doing it alone, there are ideas you can improve on and still show up unique.
Model other creatives. As a beginner don't try reinventing the wheels. You can modify
already existing ideas. Model designs. Don't design from scratch if you are still starting.
1.3 Elements of Designs

A graphic design is like a "WHOLE". Elements are the parts.
👉 Just like we have half + half to give us one. That is how elements come together to give
us a design.
👌So elements are those design materials that come together to make up a design.
✍There are millions of the but some of them are found in all designs, thus we will be looking
at those few.
a. Lines
Lines are design elements used to indicate directions, develop a shape or highlight another
element.
✍ A Line is a stroke that can be used to form direction. Lines enclose and contain the parts
of a design.
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✍It can be smooth, rough, continuous, broken, thick, thin.
✍Lines can be used to emphasize a particular information and frame the eye to a particular
area.
✍You can form shapes or frames from lines.
👌Majority of what you do on your design is consciously or unconsciously done with lines.
Fig 2.
✍Types of lines in Pixellab
b. Shapes
A shape is an enclosed space designed by lines. Blocks of text are also shapes.
👉 With a keen observation and careful look, you will discover that everything in your design
is a shape. The alphabets, images, etc. All come with one shape or the other.
✍Thus, everything should be ordered and size based.
c. Texture
Texture is the roughness or smoothness of a surface or visual element.
✍Texture sends emotional triggers to your viewers and this should be used with care so as
not to affect the clarity of your intended message.
d. Typography
This is the element that conveys the message of your design and helps you communicate it
effectively.
✍Typography is the style or appearance of a text. It is beyond words. It is the message. It is

called font.
👌Example of modern fonts: *Serif fonts*. These are awesome and clean fonts with serif.
👌 We also have display fonts. These are amazing fonts used to add beauty to a message.
👉Be careful when using a display font so as not to abuse it.
✍Think about your message before choosing a font. Avoid fonts like comic sans, curtz,
paniz etc. These are many wonderful fonts but have been overused overtime.
✍Your typography is really important in your design. Pay good attention to it.
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✍Understanding your typography will help arrange your designs.
e. Color
This is the most sensitive and important element in a design to an extent.
✍Color passes a lot of messages in a design.
✍Color creates mood and passes strong message in a design. It can emphasize specific
areas.
👌 Color can also be called HUE. Color in its pure form is called HUE. White and black can
be added to color in different proportions to produce different shades.
👉Shade is the addition of black to a hue in order to make it darker.

👉Tint is the addition of white to a color to make a lighter version of the color.
👉Tone is the addition of Grey to make a color muted.
👌In design, there are two color systems, *RGB and *CMYK*
RGB stands for Red, green and blue. It is a system dedicated to digital designs that will be
projected only on screen.
✍You produce these colors by adding primary colors together.
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, key (black).
✍It is a subtractive color mode that tend to subtract white from a color/design and in turn
add black.
✍It reduces the light that would be reflected on a white background to create color.
✍It is used mostly for designs that are made for print.
🙏We have other elements like frame, white space, negative space etc.
1.4. Principles of Designs
Just like every field of life, graphic design is governed by principles.
✍There are many principles laid out in graphics. You just have to obey them if you must get
a good output.
✍They might look simple, but if neglected, can destroy your wonderful concept.
✍Permit me to say that if you design without obeying the principles, you will never get a
good design.
👉So here are a few principles you should never overlook in any design.
1. Project the most important elements in a design
It is called hierarchy. Place elements of a design based on their level of importance.
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✍So if the title is the most important detail you want your audience to see, then you have to
project it more. You can make it bigger, give it different color, use a different font etc.
✍So you must always choose the most important element and make your audience know it
is.
✍This selection is gotten from the message of the design and the kind of design.
2. Be clear on the message

If you don't know the message you are sharing, you won't be able to communicate and if you
don't communicate, you have not designed.
✍What is the message of your design? Can someone explain your design to another in your
absence?
✍Be very clear on your message. Understand it and visually represent it.
3. Create a balance
The elements in your design should have proper balance. There should be accurate use of
text, color and images.
✍None of the elements should distract the eyes from the other.
✍Weigh the size of all the elements.
✍Your text should have uniform sizes unless when you are working with hierarchy.
4. Utilize proximity
Proximity has to do with the closeness of elements.
✍Understanding how to space out elements is an asset in design.
👉For instance, you can't have your *date* in Jos and your *time* in Lagos.
👉 You need to make sure that related information are close and can easily be read by your
audience
👉You must ensure that your work is well spaced and neatly arranged.
5. Alignment
This for me will be rated as the most important principle.
✍Alignment has to do with the arrangement of your text and images on your design layout.
✍You don't just fix things anywhere you wish. Your design needs to follow a pattern to
ensure nearness and easy comprehension.
👌We have left, right, centre alignment.

✍Left and right alignment can be used when the image will be aligned to a side and text to
the other side.
Fig 3
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✍ Right alignment
Fig 4
✍Left alignment
Fig 5
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✍Centre Alignment
1.5 Color
Color is one of the most important elements in a design. Color plays a vital role in the
design.
✍It triggers emotional responses. It also draws your eyes to images.
👉Color theory reveals to us how to know which color looks good together.
🙏Color in its pure form is called HUE.
Saturation refers to intensity. The color can appear dull or vibrant. Highly saturated colors
are brighter or richer. Desaturated colors have less pigment and therefore less.
Value has to do with how dark or light the color is ranging from black to white.
Tint is formed when white is added to a hue.
Shade is the opposite of a tint. It is gotten when black is added a shade.
Tone is when you add Grey to a hue.
Chroma refers to the purity of a color. A hue with a chroma has no black, white or Grey
added to it.
Fig 6
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✍Color saturation or in saturation
Chapter Two
FAMILIES OF COLOR
Color comes in different variations and also gives out different feelings.
The families of color are :
a. Cool colors
These are colors that give you emotions such as calmness, relaxing, professionalism. Eg.
Purple, blue, green etc.
b. Warm colors
These are energetic colors that represent passion, creativity, enthusiasm, happiness, energy
etc. E.g red, orange and yellow.
c. Neutrals
These are colors mostly used as background colors. They are used with accent colors.
Fig 7
✍Background color palette
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Chapter THREE: COLOR SCHEME

Color scheme refers to the choice of color used in a range of media.
✍Color harmony uses the color wheel to illustrate time tested color combinations.
✍We have so many color schemes but we will look at a few.
👉Color scheme represents how colors are picked and combined to make a lovely design.
1. Monochromatic
This is a formula of creating color harmony by picking one color from the color wheel and
applying Saturation and value to create variations.
✍The whole color that are created from this are gotten simply by adding white and black to
the chosen color
2. Analogous
This is a formula that uses colors that are next to each other on the wheel, like red and
orange or blue and greens.
3. Complementary colors
These are opposite colors in the wheel. Eg. Red and green.
4. Split complementary
A split complementary color scheme, uses the color on either side of the complement.
Fig 8
✍Monochrome
Fig 9
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✍Analogous
Fig 10
✍Complementary
Fig 11
✍Split Complementary
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Chapter Four
COLOR DESIGN RULE

In your choice and use of color, there is a rule that guides designers and helps them stay
within the bounds of their designs and create amazing visuals. All colors are not used in the
same proportion in a design.
✍To make it appealing, you must assign specific proportions to your colors.
👉 Color design rule refers to the rule that decides the choice and assigning of color in a
design.
👉Basically color in a design is divided into 3 different types.

1. Dominant
2. Subordinate.
3. Accent.
1. Dominant color
This is the highest used color in a design. Just as the name implies, it dominates the design.
✍It is mostly used as background color.
2. Subordinate color
These colors support the dominant color.
✍The are the second highest used color in a design. You can choose a color or two as your
subordinate colors.
3. Accent colors
This is used sparingly to call to action or lay an emphasis on an element.
✍It is used in little proportion to highlight an element. It is the least used color in a design.
👉The color design rule allows you to use these colors in 60 - 30 - 10

This means.
Table 1 : Color types and usage

Types Dominant Subordinate Accent
of
Color
Propor 60% 30% 10%

tion
Fig 12
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✍color rule
Chapter Five: Color Combination

Colors form the sensitive part of a design. It is an element that shouldn't be neglected and it
is important you take note of the color selections you make for your design.
Different colors bring up different emotions.
✍Some colors give the signal of happiness and cheerfulness while some are moody.
✍It is necessary you think about the emotion you wish to get from your viewers and choose
the right color.
👉Some colors contradict and do not go with each other.

✍A good knowledge of Color combination is necessary.
👍 This is why we have color palettes

These are selections of colors that can match in a design.
✍Each color has a HEX CODE
👉 A HEX CODE is a unique code assigned to each color. Inserting a HEX code in a color
generator gives you the exact color with the HEX code.
✍We have sites that can help you generate these colors or get good suggestions on how to
get color combinations.
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✍Example of such site is coolors.co

The alphabets and numbers you see on those colors are the HEX CODE.
✍In those sites you can find the HEX codes of colors and you can save them.
👌Every color has a HEX code

Chapter Six
Sites For Quality Images

http://www.pexels.com
http://www.gratisography.com
http://unsplash.com
http://www.resplashed.com/
https://picjumbo.com
http://thestocks.im
http://images.superfamous.com/
http://hiresstock.com
http://foodshot.co/
http://www.freeimages.com
http://littlevisuals.co/
http://raumrot.com/photo-set-landing/
http://nos.twnsnd.co/
http://www.lifeofpix.com/
http://startupstockphotos.com/
http://picography.co
http://superfamous.com
http://getrefe.tumblr.com
http://www.raumrot.com/10/
http://picjumbo.com
http://pixabay.com
https://stocksnap.io/
http://cupcake.nilssonlee.se/
http://stokpic.com/
https://foodiesfeed.com/free-food-ima...
http://www.morguefile.com
http://jaymantri.com
http://wefunction.com/category/free-p...
http://www.imcreator.com/free
http://publicdomainarchive.com
http://jaymantri.com/
http://magdeleine.co/browse/
http://photos.bucketlistly.com/
http://www.revostock.com
http://mmt.li/
http://www.splitshire.com/
https://stocksnap.io/
http://getrefe.tumblr.com/
http://www.pexels.com
http://www.gratisography.com
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http://unsplash.com
http://www.resplashed.com/
https://picjumbo.com
http://thestocks.im
http://images.superfamous.com/
http://hiresstock.com
http://foodshot.co/
http://littlevisuals.co/
http://nos.twnsnd.co/
http://www.lifeofpix.com/
http://startupstockphotos.com/
http://picography.co
http://superfamous.com
http://getrefe.tumblr.com
Chapter Seven
PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOR
This represents how each color makes one feel. The message each color sends across to
viewers.
✍A clear understanding of psychology of color is what differentiates real graphic designers

and road side ones.
✍In all thy getting, get a good knowledge of the psychology of color.
E get why!
👉When you see RED what comes to your mind? I guess strength, Activeness, energy etc.
👉When you see GREEN what comes to you mind is nature.
✍It's important you understand how this works
Fig 13
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✍Color Psychology
Fig 14
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✍The power of Color
Fig 15
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✍Associations and meaning of colors
Chapter Eight
Design Ideas and Pixellab
Outlines
8.1 How to get design ideas.
8.2 How to get design materials
8.3 Understanding Pixellab tool.
8.1 How to get design ideas

When designing is mentioned, some people shiver because they find it difficult to get ideas
on what to design.
✍They go blank at the sight of a blank design layout.
✍There are 3 stages of design
1. Pre-designing
2. Designing
3. Post-designing
✍A proper use of these 3 stages makes designing sweet and easy.
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The Pre-designing stage is the period before you get to your design app or software.
✍This is where you;

● Prepare your mind to design.
● Assemble some design samples.
● Download and gather design elements.
● Have creative conversations and connections.
✍This stage prepares your mind for design and it is key to getting design ideas.
✍You get ideas by exploring tools and materials used by other creatives.
Here you research more and seek for clarity in areas of confusion.
👌Any designer that neglects this stage will struggle with ideas.
The second stage is Designing stage Here, ideas drop as you design.
✍Your ability to spot areas that need improvement helps you get better designs.
✍When you are designing you just have to be flexible in decision making. Allow yourself to
try out ideas as it drops.
The third stage is the Post-designing stage.
✍What do you do after completing a design?
✍When I was learning, after designing I hurriedly post on my whatsapp status and ignorant
men like me would fill my inbox with Wow wow wow, beautiful.
👉But guess what? If I send that same design to a graphic designer, he will spot 100 errors.
✍So after designing, seek the critics and corrections of other creatives. This helps you
discover mistakes to avoid subsequently.
👉So to develop design ideas.

1. Look out for beautiful and creative designs
The eyes are connected to the mind and the mind recreates what the eyes sees.
✍If you see more creative designs, you stand a higher chance of developing creativity and
that will make. Creative design ideas to always be available.
✍Look out for good designers and study their designs.
✍Download them, spend time analyzing them.
✍Watch their alignment, color combination, text choice, balance, hierarchy etc.
👉 When you see good designs more often, you will easily know what to do when you want
to design.
2. Create an atmosphere for creative thinking
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Give yourself the chance to be creative. As a graphic designer, you must spend time
activating your creativity.
✍Ideas drop in torrents, and when they come, they need a good and prepared ground.
✍Designers can be likened to artists. They sit and allow ideas to flow.
✍They explore their imaginations and enjoy the droplets of ideas.
3. Ask questions
There are things you will never know unless you ask.
✍Better than many years of diligent search is a day with a great teacher. Save yourself the
stress of wishing for ideas and just ask relevant questions.
✍Leverage the experience of others to scale through the hurdle of no idea.
● Ask your client questions.

● Ask yourself questions.
● Ask other creatives questions.
✍Just make sure you keep getting answers.
4. Do proper research
Ideas are hidden in places you can't find until you search for them.
✍Don't overlook the place of research. For instance, when you get a flyer design job, you
are supposed to run a quick research on the industry. Elements that are peculiar to the
industry.
👉You research the brand values and colors.

✍All these come together to give you a clue on how you can get things right.
👌There are ideas that can never be gotten except through research.
✍Think about those who mine gold. They will never get the gold until they set out to start
mining.
✍Mine your ideas through research.
5. Join creative groups

This is the best place to get ideas. By all means find yourself in a circle of creatives.
✍Critics and corrections done on creative jobs can be ideas for you as a creative.
✍Experience is not the best teacher. Learning from people's experience is a better teacher.
✍You can simply learn from mistakes made by other creatives.
✍Ideas roll as you see other creatives constructively criticize other creative designs.
6. Design everyday
When you keep the mind active, it creates more amazing thoughts.
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✍To get creative design ideas. Keep testing ideas.
✍One idea births another.
✍When you make designing a habit, the ideas becomes comfortable around you.
👌Ideas drop faster when they know that you need them.
Have you ever wondered why you seem to know what to write immediately when you hear 5
minutes to submit in the exam hall?
👌There is a trigger that births urgency.

✍Sincerely in the times of great desire ideas flood in.
✍Making a daily habit to design will cause design ideas to make a permanent home in your
heart.
7. Attend trainings
There are so many trainings that are focused on design ideas. Get those training and you
will improve.
✍Most times knowing the theory, makes the practicals easier. If you have the idea,
development will be easier.
✍Attend classes where you are exposed to lots of design ideas. Don't shut your door to
learning because you can't know it all.
8. Get magazines, brochures and other design materials

You get lots of ideas by feeding your eyes with lots of designs and these platforms help you
get such viewing.
8.2 How to get design material
Just like elements, there are so many materials that are needed in your design.
✍The difference between those who create amazing designs and those who don't are :
● Access to design materials.

● Ability to improvise.
● Maximization of design materials.
● Sourcing and usage of these materials.
There are many design materials. But here are few. 👇🏻

1. ICONS
We have icons like social media icons, venue, date, time, direction etc.
Fig 16
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✍3D Social media icons
These icons can be downloaded either in jpeg or png format (transparent background)
👉How to get these icons

✍You can download them on www.freepngimg.com
This site gives you the png format of these icons. All you need to do is open the site through
your browser and type in the icon you are searching for and choose your preferred one.
✍You can download them on google. Launch your browser and type the name of the icon.
👌 Most of them will come with background, so you can simply download them, then move
over to www.remove.bg and remove their background.
👉You can also download them on pinterest.
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✍Just ensure that you remove the background after download.

Shadow effect*
2. SHADOW EFFECTS
At some point in your design you will need to introduce shadow effects.
✍For instance when you have an image hanging, you may need a shadow underneath it.
Fig 17
✍Hanging picture
Fig 18
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✍A picture with shadow/smoke effect
👍So you need a shadow effect.

👉 You can get this by typing, www.shadow.png on your browser, the first result you will get
is a png. There is another way of getting shadow effect contained in the video of this course.
3. Stock photos
The beauty of your design is the quality of the photos and images used.
✍Low quality images can destroy a wonderful design concept. This is why I recommend you
don't download every image you see on Google. Most of them have low quality.
✍Instead you can download from those sites I shared previously.
👌 Personally I mostly use www.pixabay.com

www.unsplash.com
www.freepik.com and www.pinterest.com
4. Color Palette
Color palette is actually a collection of colors you can combine in a design.
✍These are colors gotten from the color wheel that you can choose two or three colors
from.
👉Ensure you obey the major rule.

👌Don't ever use two bright colors in a designer. Dark colors compliment bright ones.
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👉 www.coolors.co is a site that helps you automatically generate color palettes where you
can select colors from.
🙏Let me walk you through the steps

● Click on the start generator.
If you don't like the color pallete that was generated. Keep clicking generate until you see the
one you like.
Fig 19
✍ selecting color from cooler.co
Fig 20
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✍color generator
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Fig 21
✍color palette
Those numbers and alphabets on the colors is their hex code.
5. Backgrounds
There are different types of backgrounds.
✍We have plain backgrounds, abstract, pictorial backgrounds etc.
👌You have to understand your design before choosing a befitting background.

So you can download cool backgrounds from www.freepik.com
👉Just type the kind of background you need.

8.3 Understanding Pixellab tools
Pixellab is a design app that allows you to create designs offline. It is an offline app that has
no template.
Fig 22
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✍pixellab desktop first environment
Fig 23
✍Pixellab tool functions explained
If you launch the app. These are the tools you will see at the first interface. Written there are
the functions.
Here is the link to familiarize yourself with Pixellab tools.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/124SDqNZpXhB6g7epMFl7JH17WY7jNabr/view?usp=drivesd
k
Module 1
How to create flyer designs

A flyer is a digital or printed design that has passes information to an audience
A flyer saves you the stress of explaining your business or advert.
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It explains in a nutshell every needed details for viewers to see.
We have different types of flyer.
1. Awareness flyer.
2. Promotional flyer.
3. Marketing flyer.
4. Event flyer.
5. Personal flyer. Etc.
Your business flyer is one of your brand tools and should be treated as such.
A whack flyer sells a brand cheap.
UNIT 2
❓QUESTIONS YOU MUST ANSWER BEFORE STARTING A FLYER DESIGN

Graphic Designing has 3 stages.
✍pre-designing stage
✍designing stage
✍post designing stage
The pre-designing stage is when you plan out your design, then you move to the next which
is the actual designing. Finally how do you deliver your end product? That makes up your
post designing stage.
All these stages are vitally important. WHAT IS YOUR OVERALL OBJECTIVE FOR YOUR
MARKETING CAMPAIGN?
The first step you should take is finding out why you are actually designing a flyer. What are
you or what is your client trying to achieve with the flyer?
It is a promotional design? Is it just to create awareness? Is it to collect leads?
You need to clearly define your objectives before starting a design. Ask questions before you
start.
2. WHAT ROLE WILL THE FLYER PLAY IN THE CLIENT'S BUSINESS*
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Before you start any design you just understand the effect of your design on your brand and
your clients brand. This prepares your mind and make you to be more cautious and careful
while designing.
This will affect the elements you use and the choice of materials you use. You will also know
how every element affect your clients brand.
It also link to the design objective.

*3. WHO IS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE?*
Most designers make the mistake of failing to ask who are the intended target audience.
Don't start a design blindly. You should know who you are designing for.
You should whose faces your design will appear.
This also helps you in selection of design elements. For instance when you are targeting
children you know you will use bright colors.
When designing for a health industry you know that you will use green or health related
colors.
*4. WHAT IS THE KEY IDEA AND MESSAGE?*
You should know what you are planning to share with your audience before you start.
Some designers in the bid to be seen as professionals starts a design when they have not
gotten full details from a client. This is wrong and will embarrass you.
*5. WHAT IS YOUR CALL TO ACTION?*
This has to do with the end goal?
What action do you want viewers to take after viewing your design. Do you want them smile
and walk away? Do you want them to buy? Do you want them to attend? You need to have a
good call to action.
A knowledge of this will help you plan better and get the necessary design elements.
*UNIT THREE*
============
*FLYER DESIGN CONCEPT*
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Planning is as important as execution. If you fail to plan, you have plan to fail.
It is necessary you take care of the pre-designing stage of your design.
You should prepare all that is needed before you start your design.
*1. What color are you going to use.*
Check out for colors that will enforce your message. It is necessary you take your time and
do proper color selection and color combination.
E.g Green and yellows colors appeals well for health and wellbeing or bright colors for
children.
Bold and bright colors are good. But you must work with the brand identity.
*2. Which brand identity element needs to be highlighted.*
Every brand has the elements that projects their uniqueness. As a designer you should have
a good knowledge of this and ensure you consistently highlight that element so that the
viewers and audience continue to identify with the branThese unique element helps to make
the brand recognizable and identified.
Ask your client, what are the brand identity element that will help people know always that
the design comes from you.
*3. What images do you want to include*
You need to make a choice of the images to be used in the design. This can be gotten from
understanding the message you are projecting.
Search and prepare your images before hand.

*4. What are copy and text to be added*
Every design has a script. Prepare your script before hand. Don't be caught up with lack of
information.
Gather the necessary information before you start your design.
When you get details from a client help him or her make it is as concise as possible.
*5. What is the call to action?*
What do you expect from your viewers? What action do you expect them to take.
Ensure you know this as it will help in your choice of elements, images and words.
*6. Does the flyer need to have any size and shape?*
You should find out from your client if the design should have a specific size. This will help
you to design according to size.
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If you make a design with the wrong size it might affect its appearance on print or when
printed.
*UNIT FOUR*
===========
*THE DESIGN PROCESS.*
A design has a step by step process which must be duly followed to achieve wonderful
output.
It is necessary you follow this process especially when working for a client. *1. Find other
flyers you like as inspiration.*
In the design world no man is an island. Creatives lean on one another to always get the
best output.
Avoid making a design from scratch.. Always seek inspiration. Research on industry similar
to the one you are designing for. See what they are doing.. Learn from it and improve on it.
Note: you are not expected to copy. You are meant to model the work and allow your
creativity work for you.
*2. Use your design concept as brief.*
Remember the flyer design concept? It should serve as your guide when you are designing.
Get it close to you. Remember the colors you chose. Remember the brand identity element
you agreed to highlight. Remember the images you downloaded.
Your design concept should make up your brief.
Don't design without it so you don't leave out any.

*3. Evaluate your designs.*
Create variations of designs and always weigh them to see the best. Don't be in a hurry.
Always seek for suggestions and advice before delivering a design job.
You can reach out to other Creatives for vetting of your design. *4. Proofread*
Go ahead and check your work ones again. You wouldn't want to deliver a job that is filled
with errors.
Ensure you run a severe check for errors.
Don't do this in a hurry as you need to deliver topnotch.
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*5. Choose final design*
After much constructive criticism from other Creatives and probably your client. You can go
ahead and choose your final design.
Be strong in decision making. The final choice should be made after all creative corrections
have been made by other design Creatives.
*UNIT FIVE*
==========
*FLYER DESIGN CHECKLIST*
A quick checklist you should take note of during your design.
Ensure these things are in place and implemented. Design process requires work.
*1. Keep the information concise*
You don't want to fill your design with irrelevant information. Most times your client might
want to write his or her business history in a flyer design.
It is your duty as a designer to educate them and help them make the information more
concise.
Don't fill your design with unnecessary information. Remove them. Designs are best kept
simple.
*2. Make the information easy to read.*
Your flyer design will be read by different people. The educated and non educated, so you
should create a balance.
Your font should clear and visible. It should be readable too.
It should be easy to read. The English should be simple and comprehensive. *3. Make
contact details and other essential information instantly accessible*
Your contact details and important information in your design should not be hidden. Viewers
should be able to pick them at a glance.
Many persons have limited time to spend on your design so they should be able to get
important details quickly.
*HOW TO. DESIGN A BUSINESS CARD*
At the end of this course, you will be able to know what a business card is. Why you need a
business card and what you should keep in mind when creating a business card.
*UNIT ONE*
34
==========
*WHAT IS A BUSINESS CARD?*
A business card is a small digital print design that reveals a summary of your business and
gives a prospect or client a brief of your services.
This little card sells out your business in few minutes as it has the details of your business
services in few words.
Most times you have little or no time to pitch your business especially in a business meeting.
Your card works for you at that point.
*UNIT TWO*
==========
*WHY YOU NEED A BUSINESS CARD*
The importance of a business card can never be over emphasize.
Many people don't go through the stress of printing a business card because they feel
business have gone online and so business cards has gone into extinction.
Even with this changes. Business cards are still very much needed, because we still have
business meetings and opportunities still come to sell yourself.
Without a business card, you might miss them.
So what does a business card do for you?

*1. It projects you as a professional brand.*
A sense of professionalism is attached to you when you have a business card. Clients,
prospects sees you as a professional when they see you hand over a business card.
It sells you as one who is serious and ready for business.

*2. It informs prospects about your business.*
It is so appealing that most businesses are not getting customers because their target
audience does not know what they do.
Most times people can see you show up always but can't really tell what service you offer.
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A business card informs tell.
Your business summarizes everything you represent.

*3. It does the talking in your absence.*
Leaving your business card in the hands of a prospective client is likened to leaving a part of
you with the person.
Your business card reminds the person that there is someone who offers this services even
in your absence.
Your business card pitches to the person and brings him to you.
That is why it has the contact.

4. It is the easiest way to make a memorable first impression on a client.*
Imagine having an opportunity to meet dangote and he gave you one minute to pitch your
business and he is impressed. He wants to keep in touch. He requests for your business
card and you don't have any
Immediately he will see you as an unserious brand. He will lose trust immediately as he will
feel that you are not ready.
So your business card helps you create a great first impression.

*UNIT THREE*
============
*WHAT YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND WHEN CREATING A BUSINESS CARD.*
Business card is a strong brand tool and shouldn't be done nonchalantly.
It should be exceptional design with professionalism.
To achieve this you should take these things into consideration.

*1. Remember basic design principles.*
A business card is not different from other designs. Ensure you stick with the design
principles.
* keep all your key copy at least 5mm from the trim edge.
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* Ensure you maintain a minimum size for your typography to maintain legibility
* Use grid lines while working to achieve the right hierarchy.

*Safety line*: this is a mark line that indicate area of your design that shouldn't be tampered
with either at the point of design or trim after print.
*Trim line:* this is the line where the publisher or printer cuts from.
*Bleed line :* this is part of the design you might call waste as it is cut out during trimming. It
is not part of the design.
*2. Be creative but careful.*
In designing graphic cards you are expected freely design creatively but this should be done
with obedience to size.
Business cards comes in different sizes depending on location.
An European standard of designing business card comes with these sizes.
85 x 55mm.
Bleed size 3mm
Total 91 x 61mm.
A USA standard business card dimension is
3.5 x 2 inches.
Bleed size 1/8 extra.
Total size 3.75 x 2.25inches.
*UNIT FOUR*
===========
*DO'S AND DON'TS WHEN DESIGNING A BUSINESS CARD.*
1. Make your text legible and readable. Make the logo and company name larger than 12pt
font.
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2. Leave the information that change regularly (like person's name or contact) in an editable
state. Company name or slogan can be outlined as it will not be edited.
3. Be careful of bleed :
A bleed is the part of your design that runs over the trim edge or part or the intended outline.
Simply ensure that your design stretch to the edge of the bleed areas.
4. Run a quick check on all your files before you send out for print.
That will be all on this subject. Thanks for being in class.
But we are not done for tonight.
Go back, watch the flyer design video and start practicing now.
*DAY 5*
=======
*8TH COURSE*
*LOGO DESIGN*
In this course you will know learn truly what a logo is. You will further learn the rules that
should be obeyed while designing a logo. You will understand better what a logo brief is and
why you need it as a designer.
*UNIT ONE*
==========
*WHAT IS A LOGO?*
A logo is the face of any brand. It represents the brand in the absence of words.
A logo is a symbol made up of text and images that identifies a business and makes it look
different and unique.
A logo tells your audience what your business represents, it helps in alignment of perception.
A poorly designed logo hunts the brand and send wrong signals and impression to clients
and target audience.
Logo designs requires plenty of practice and experience for It to be successful.
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You can liken a logo to your face. I guess you won't love anyone to hurt your face. This is
because it is the first part of your body that people look at to tell if you are beautiful or not.
Don't hurt your brand with a bad logo.
*UNIT TWO*
===========
*THE ROLE OF A LOGO IN A BRAND.*
As small and insignificant as a logo might look, it plays a major role in every brand.
Ignorance of the purpose of a logo can make you take wrong decisions in logo designing.
So to avoid these errors that can cost a business so much. We will highlight some purposes
of a logo.
*1. For identification*
The major purpose of a logo is for identification. There are many businesses and brands
doing similar things that you do. A logo is there to create that identification and make you
different from them.
Imagine a place like citihub in Logos. Visiting that place with so many tech businesses
running there. One can easily get confused when looking for someone. But the presence of
a logo can help you identify the right person you are out to see.
This is why it is risky to use logo templates. Because it is available for millions of people.
You wouldn't want to discover that you are using the same logo like another brand.
You can draw inspiration from them, but create yours.
So when the thought of designing a logo comes up. You must first think about how you want
to be identified.
2. It is a strategy tool.*
A logo is far from an element to just beautiful a brand. A logo is a strategy tool. It is a tool
that sells your brand.
39
Above beauty you should seek for a logo that has meaning and tells about your brand.
A logo should be very simple yet able to pass the message of your brand at a glance.
Your logo should be beautiful but first must be strategical.
*3. It sells your business.*
Your logo is a marketing tool. Imagine pitching a business using the Facebook logo now.
People will buy because they see Facebook logo there. They immediately trust what you sell
and they buy.
This is when you log into your Whatsapp now, you will see Facebook written under. They are
selling whatsapp with their Facebook influence.
So your logo should be able to sell you.
Note: That doesn't mean you should design a logo with symbols from everything you sell.
*UNIT THREE*
============
*THE IMPORTANCE OF A LOGO.*
The importance of a logo can never be over emphasized.
I have received questions from people asking if it is compulsory for every business to have a
logo.
My general answer is yes, provided you are running a serious business.
*1. Logos help in your brand recognition.*
Your brand is easily recognized by its logo.
You can easily identify with Instagram whenever you see the logo. You can easily identify
and recognize a brand by its logo.
40
This is why you see event host including logos in a dropback design in red carpets. This is
so attendees can recognize the sponsors.
*2. It contributes to decision making*
A business logo contributes to how clients and customers perceive you and decisions they
take after seeing your logo.
This is why you shouldn't joke with your logo as they can easily decide not to buy from you if
they consider your business to be unserious.
*3. It explains your brand message and value.*
Your logo helps to explain your brand values. Take for instance the FEDEX logo. It
immediately informs customers that the brand values speed and direction.
It can be small, but yet carry a strong brand message. Whatsapp logo shows you
communication.
Google mail logo shows you messaging.
This is the job of a logo.
*4. Logo is your brand face.*
Imagine Instagram without a logo, imagine Mr. Biggs without a logo, imagine crunches fried
chicken without a logo.
These brands will look empty. Nothing to represent them. They will look unserious.. This is
why the logo is necessary.
*UNIT FOUR*
===========
*RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN DESIGNING A LOGO.*
A logo being an integral part of a brand identity should be done with ultimate care. This is
why you are advised to follow these rules to achieve great result.
*1. Make a sketch*
41
It is necessary you adopt the style of making a sketch on paper before you start your logo
design.
This is to enable you come out with the best idea to work on.
At this stage you shouldn't be in a hurry, you are expected to take your time and make a
choice.
*2. Ensure every part of your logo is balanced.*
Don't create a logo that seem pleasing to you neglecting the effect it will have on others.
You are serving the public. Create a logo with the view of a potential client in mind, color,
size should be equal on each side.
*3. Take note of size.*
Ensure you consider the outcome and appearance of a logo when it's size is reduced to fit
into an envelope design or letterhead.
Also consider its appearance when it is made larger to fit into a billboard and electronic
formats such as TV.
You can confirm this by texting it yourself. Try to fit it into. Designs and check the outcome.
Use mockups to try them out.
*4. Use color wisely*
Color is one of the most essential element of every design.
Fall back to color theory and get good understanding of color
* Don't use colors that are so bright that they can't be seen.
* Use color near to each other in the color wheel.
* The logo must look good on black and white.
42
Also take note of color psychology. Ensure you adopt the brand color and effectively apply it.
You can match the color to the overall tone and feel of the brand.
*5. Typography matters*
If your logo involves text as part of the logo or as a tagline. Ensure you take your time and
sort through various font types. Test many before taking a decision.
*Avoid the most commonly used fonts such as comic sans.
* Make sure the font is visible and legible when scaled down
* Don't use more than two fonts.
* Don't use a font that is not free for commercial use.
*6. Consider uniqueness*
Remember that your logo is your element of identification. You want to leave a memorable
impression on viewer. To achieve this you have to to. Make it unique.
Consider, size, style, color, typography and originality when creating a logo.
You can place your logo amongst many logos and check if it stands out and can easily be
recognized.
7. *Be different*
Break the rule, don't be held back by the idea of doing what everyone is doing.
Add your touch of excellence.. Keep trying out things until one works.
Ensure you stand out.
*8. Run away from too many effects.*
Graphic design tools have many powerful tools at your disposal. Avoid being carried away
and hurting your design in the process.
43
You don't need most of those effects in your logo. Simplicity is key.
Avoid the shadows, 3Ds when designing your logo. It can come as mock up.
*9. Choose the right design style.*
Get a background information about the client and the brand. Do a quick research on your
clients, it's audience and competitors before you begin your first stage of work.
This will help you determine the best design style.
10. *Keep it simple stupid (KISS)*
This is the ultimate rule of the 2020 logo design trend. Keep it simple
A logo should enjoy simplicity as it fulfills its purpose.
The simpler the logo, the more recognizable it will be. Follow the kiss rule from the start of
the design process when you are still trying out ideas and sketches.
Only include important elements.

*UNIT FIVE*
==========
*LOGO STYLES*
Logos just like every other designs comes in different styles.
*1. Lettermark logos*
These are logos made with the first letters of the business name. It promotes simplicity and
summarizes the business name.
It is simple yet recognizable.

*2. Emblem*
This is a style of logo that has the name of the business or text encrypted in a shape.
*3. Pictorial mark logos*
Logos represented with just icons and picture.

*4. Mascot logo*
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This a logo style that involves the use of illustrations, avatar or characters.
*5. Combination mark*
This is the use of text and symbols in logo design.

*6. Abstract mark*
This is a logo style that comes from creating imaginative symbols

*UNIT SIX*
*LOGO DESIGN PROCESS.*
For you to successfully start and finish a logo design you can leverage on this design
process.
1. Research.
Research your client, brand and audience. Find out their competitors and what they are
doing.
Improve on it and make something unique.
This is to ensure you know what the industry requires.
2. Brainstorm and generate ideas.
Get inspiration from designers. Check out for what other designers have done.
Get many ideas and start practicing. Remember don't copy.
Two business should not have one logo.
3. Develop vector designs.
When you get a logo design job. Create 2 or 3 variations of logo, send it to your client for
selection. You only improve the one that is selected.
This is to avoid rejection of your job after completion.
4. Send to client.
Send the vector design to client for selection. Explain the designs and allow his or her make
the best choice. Guide him or her through the selection process.
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5. Add or remove anything the client want.
It is your job to make corrections and take away the things rejected by the client.
Be professional about this.
6. Finalize the design and send to client.
After the corrections. Add finishing touches and send final design to client.
1. NEVER YOU NEGLECT PRINCIPLES.
There is a great urge that comes to just quickly jump on a design and finish in few minutes.
But guess what? Graphic design is not all about you. It is all about the message and the
audience.
If you your design can't get your audience to take the right action. Then your design have
failed.
So no matter how fast you want to complete a design always make sure all the principles
have been obeyed.
This is non negotiable. Check them thoroughly before you push them out there.
2. YOU ARE AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST DESIGN.
Some designers are living in past glory.
They are still celebrating over their designs of last 2 years. Or maybe last 2 months.
Note that people are interested in the current and not past.
So you should always strive to make your next design the best design.
Don't expect people to excuse your bad design because you made a good design
yesterday.
If your design is not good enough, it won't be accepted.
I ensure I don't make the mistake of assuming that my design will be accepted because I've
always been creating good designs.
No, you are as good as your last design. Go for the best always
3. YOU CAN'T SKIP THE PROCESS.
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Graphic designing has no short cut. Like it or no, you only get better through practice.
This is a skill that can't be forced into you and can't be gotten through affirmation. Graphics
skill is one that can only be improved through practice.
If you want to get better, bend down and practice.

4. MASTERING YOUR TOOL. MAKES YOUR DESIGN BETTER.
The first step to designing better is mastering your tools and Mastery is a product of
consistent usage of a tool.
Do you want to get better designing? Learn how to use what you have.
The reason why one designer will create a design for 10 minutes and another is will do same
for 3 hours is because of the Mastery of the tool.
You can't master what you don't practice If YOU LEAVE GRAPHICS, IT WILL LEAVE YOU.
This sounds strange, but it's true. This is a skill, you don't just start, stop and start again.
This is a skill that you pay close attention to and you don't fail consistently practice.
No matter how good you are in designing, if you leave it for long you will become rust. You
will lose a high level of creativity and you will struggle to come up with beautiful designs.
© 2021 Obulezi Okechukwu. All rights reserved
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A concise Textbook on Smartphone Graphic Design © 2021 Obulezi Okechukwu J

1.2 How to develop Creativity.

1.3 Elements of Designs.

1.4. Principles of Designs.

1.1 Introduction to Graphic Design

What people say graphic designing is!

👉 Graphic designing is a simple and creative way to communicate a message to a target

✍Graphic designing is not

✍Before you begin any design. Always think about this:

✍A practical example of Less is more

✍2 colors minimum and 3 colors maximum.

✍Who is my target audience?

👉A good design, with a wrong target audience will fail.

2. Accept that you can be creative

4. Understand your tools and gadgets

5. Appreciate other creative designers

6. Don't be limited to a platform

8. Model other creatives

1.3 Elements of Designs

✍It can be smooth, rough, continuous, broken, thick, thin.

✍You can form shapes or frames from lines.

✍Types of lines in Pixellab

✍Thus, everything should be ordered and size based.

✍Typography is the style or appearance of a text. It is beyond words. It is the message. It is

✍Understanding your typography will help arrange your designs.

✍Color passes a lot of messages in a design.

👉Shade is the addition of black to a hue in order to make it darker.

✍You produce these colors by adding primary colors together.

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, key (black).

2. Be clear on the message

✍Weigh the size of all the elements.

✍Understanding how to space out elements is an asset in design.

👌We have left, right, centre alignment.

✍It triggers emotional responses. It also draws your eyes to images.

✍Color saturation or in saturation

The families of color are :

✍Background color palette

Chapter THREE: COLOR SCHEME

✍We have so many color schemes but we will look at a few.

COLOR DESIGN RULE

👉Basically color in a design is divided into 3 different types.

✍It is mostly used as background color.

👉The color design rule allows you to use these colors in 60 - 30 - 10

Table 1 : Color types and usage

Propor 60% 30% 10%

Chapter Five: Color Combination

👉Some colors contradict and do not go with each other.

👍 This is why we have color palettes

✍Each color has a HEX CODE

✍Example of such site is coolors.co

👌Every color has a HEX code

Sites For Quality Images

✍A clear understanding of psychology of color is what differentiates real graphic designers

✍The power of Color

✍Associations and meaning of colors

Design Ideas and Pixellab

8.1 How to get design ideas

✍They go blank at the sight of a blank design layout.

✍There are 3 stages of design

✍A proper use of these 3 stages makes designing sweet and easy.

✍This is where you;

The third stage is the Post-designing stage.

✍What do you do after completing a design?

👉So to develop design ideas.

FLYER DESIGN CONCEPT

THE DESIGN PROCESS.

5. Choose final design

FLYER DESIGN CHECKLIST

WHAT IS A BUSINESS CARD?

WHY YOU NEED A BUSINESS CARD