Design things that just feel off

Hyperion Guilds Marketing Guild
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Let’s talk about the design mistakes that don’t always scream “bad,” but still make everything feel … weird. Like you’re looking at the banner and thinking, "hmm… something’s weird,” but can’t really explain why? So now I’ll share some of my tips with you.

So, that’s usually one of these little traitors that will make even the fanciest and most time/effort- consuming design look awkward and weird, and you just can’t even look at it without feeling some inner discomfort.

  1. Margins are completely forgotten or uneven (hello, content stuck to the edge, empty space here and there)
  2. Nothing is centered properly
  3. No logo in sight (what project do you belong to, dude?)
  4. Icons are all in different sizes, so the whole thing feels wobbly
  5. Weird and different spacing between the elements

I am a perfectionist, so sometimes it’s hard for me to let go of some issues, but sometimes you just miss them, and the next day it seems like the most obvious thing. Been there – done that. And here is the juice – It’s not about perfection at all. It’s about the small things that break the visual rhythm, and you gotta study and learn and teach yourself how to see them. It’s not a given skill (although attention to detail and eagle eyes are), but that’s the skill you can teach yourself. You just need to look at more designs and always mark these things down.

Finishing this topic, when these basics are ignored, even the most beautiful idea can look sloppy. And we don’t want that. That’s why you gotta follow these 5 tips. These are the 5 pillars of the basic design.

Let me know if you have your own red flags, I am very curious to see what you guys look out for in other people’s design and what you always try to pay attention to in yours!

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This is so relatable, especially the part about visual rhythm. It’s wild how one off-centered element or inconsistent icon can throw off the whole vibe, even if you can’t instantly pinpoint why. One of my personal red flags is inconsistent typography, like mixing too many font styles or not aligning type hierarchy

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Happy to see your reply, David!
Yes, I totally agree with you, too many different fonts can create a real ratatouille salad in your design!

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Great points! Those subtle inconsistencies really do undermine the whole design’s impact. It’s amazing how small things like uneven margins or misaligned icons can create discomfort without us even realizing why. Definitely agree training your eye and practicing attention to detail is key. What’s your go-to method for spotting these “hidden” issues before others do?

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I think it’s just the experience for me. The more time you study – the more you gonna see these things. It’s not a one day process, I wouldn’t even say it’s a one year process. Such things usually take lots of time in a long run. You gotta train your eyes every day, do your research, find more visuals to see and analyze them. It’s all about learning and your desire to improve at the end.

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Absolutely. Sharpening visual perception is a technical skill honed through consistent analysis and mindful observation. Continuity and methodical practice are essential.

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Curious to hear what people think about color balance too , I often see designs where the palette is technically correct, but the visual flow feels overwhelming or underwhelming. Anyone else notice that?

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Yup, for sure! That’s one of the most popular problems with the bold accents. It can be too bright and even feel too much sometimes. But time to time it also may feel undone with faded and too light shades, that’s another side of this coin.

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