What Ifs (for designers)

June 19, 2019

I notice a common question among the graphic designers I’ve observed in the last few weeks: They ask “What if we did this?” instead of taking ideas at face value.

For future reference, I want to compile a big list of “what ifs” that I can add to and come back to in the future when I feel like a design isn’t working out.

What if we…

• made the type really big?
• made the type really small?
• reversed the colors?
• didn’t align the type to the center?
• changed the weight of the typeface?
• cropped the photo differently?
• put the type on top of the graphic?
• tried a default typeface?
• outlined the type?
• repeated the type?
• repeated the image?
• added more random shit?
• took all the random shit away?
• set the type on a path instead of a straight line?
• used all one size of type?
• obscured the photo to make it more ambiguous?
• broke the grid? I mean, really broke the grid?
• put the text in weirdly shaped boxes?
• set the type vertically?
• turned a letter upside down?
• made the type wrap around?
• mixed up the typefaces?
• added icons inside the text?
• used every corner of the page?
• made it look really old?
• made it look brand new?
• made it look timeless?
• used cheesy techniques in an ironic way?

…

To be continued.