Learn how to make a cool design in 12 easy-to-follow steps. From choosing colors to creating hierarchy, craft stylish, unique design features today.
Design is all around us, influencing how we experience brands, products, and media. But creating a design that truly stands out is no easy feat. Whether you're a graphic designer crafting layouts for clients, a design enthusiast dabbling in creative projects, or a seasoned professional looking for fresh ideas, learning how to make a cool design is essential to staying relevant and impactful.
This blog will guide you step-by-step through the creative process. From defining your purpose to fine-tuning the final masterpiece, these 12 steps will help you design something that's not only eye-catching but also meaningful and effective.
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Before you can create a cool design, it’s essential to understand what truly makes a design “cool.” A cool design is much more than just visually appealing—it’s a perfect blend of form and function, sparking interest and connecting deeply with its audience. It’s the kind of design that draws you in and leaves a lasting impression.
Think about the brands and visuals that inspire you the most. Often, they’re a combination of the following elements:
Fresh ideas, unexpected techniques, or creative approaches that stand out from the crowd and avoid feeling overdone. These designs push boundaries, offering something new or different that grabs attention.
They evoke feelings like curiosity, joy, awe, or even nostalgia. This emotional resonance helps make the design memorable and creates a bond with the audience.
While the design may be highly creative or artistic, it also serves a clear purpose. It delivers a message, solves a problem, or adds value, all while looking great.
To better understand what makes a design cool, take stock of popular brands that are known for their impactful visuals, like Nike, Apple, or even smaller, innovative brands making waves in their industries. These brands’ designs don’t just look good; they tell a compelling story, solve a problem, or create a powerful feeling. Nike’s campaigns often inspire confidence and determination, while Apple’s designs exude simplicity and innovation.
Start your process by analyzing these successful examples. What makes their designs resonate? Is it their bold use of color, their minimalism, or their ability to tell a story through imagery? By studying what works so well for them, you can begin to craft your own unique, cool designs that both captivate and connect with your audience.
Every cool design begins with a clear purpose. What message are you trying to convey? And who are you speaking to? Defining these two key factors will serve as the foundation for your creative process and ensure your design resonates with the right people. Without a purpose, even the most visually stunning design can feel directionless, and without understanding your audience, it’s easy to miss the mark entirely.
Are you launching a new product, revamping a logo, or creating engaging social media content? Maybe you’re trying to build brand awareness or drive conversions. Clarifying the goal of your design will help guide your choices, from the layout to the color scheme to the typography. A design meant to promote a product launch, for instance, may require bold, attention-grabbing visuals, while a redesign of a logo might focus on simplicity and versatility.
Who are you trying to reach? Is your target audience modern and edgy, young and vibrant? Or are they more traditional, professional, or family-oriented?
Understanding your audience is essential to picking the right tone and aesthetic for your design. It helps you decide whether the design should be playful, corporate, minimalistic, or something entirely different.
For example, a tech startup targeting Gen Z should lean into futuristic designs with vibrant aesthetics and bold colors that excite and inspire. On the other hand, a nonprofit advocating for sustainability might want to choose an earthy, muted palette to reflect a sense of calm and environmental mindfulness. Similarly, a professional services firm catering to executives would benefit from clean, polished designs that communicate trust and expertise.
Colors play a crucial role in creating impactful designs. They have the power to make your work stand out while maintaining a cohesive look and feel. A well-thought-out color palette can communicate your brand’s personality and goals, leaving a lasting impression on your audience. Cool designs often rely on unique and meaningful combinations of shades that align with the message you want to convey.
Limiting your palette to a few key colors prevents your design from feeling cluttered or overwhelming. Choose a primary color, a secondary color, and one or two accent colors to create balance.
Colors evoke emotions and associations. Blue often inspires trust and reliability, which is why it's popular among tech and financial brands. On the other hand, red creates a sense of energy, urgency, or passion—perfect for grabbing attention or conveying excitement. Think about the emotions you want your design to evoke.
High-contrast palettes can make design elements pop, drawing attention to specific areas like calls to action. In contrast, low-contrast palettes promote a softer, more soothing aesthetic, ideal for creating a calm and immersive experience.
Tools like Adobe Color or Coolors are invaluable for exploring color combinations. They allow you to experiment with different palettes, test harmony, and adjust tones to find the perfect fit for your design.
A thoughtful approach to color selection ensures your design not only looks professional but also resonates with your audience. Take your time, experiment, and let your colors tell your story!
Typography is more than just picking a font; it’s a powerful design tool that ensures your text enhances your message and leaves a lasting impression. The right typography can evoke emotions, establish hierarchy, and guide the audience’s focus. Bold fonts command authority and demand attention, while elegant script fonts create a sense of sophistication and grace.
Combine 1-2 complementary fonts to create contrast and visual interest. For example, a bold headline typeface pairs well with a clean sans-serif for body text, ensuring both sections stand out without clashing. Avoid overloading your design with too many fonts, as this can look cluttered and unfocused.
Even the coolest design falls flat if no one can read it. Choose font sizes, weights, and styles that are easy on the eyes—especially for longer text blocks. Test how your typography looks across different devices and screen sizes to ensure accessibility.
Typography should reflect the tone and personality of your project or brand. A playful design might lean on quirky, rounded fonts, while a corporate tone requires clean, professional typefaces. Consistent typography builds trust and recognition with your audience.
Fun fact: Many cool brands like Spotify, Netflix, and Airbnb use custom fonts as part of their unique design language. These bespoke typefaces help reinforce their brand identity, making them instantly recognizable across platforms. When used effectively, typography becomes more than an aesthetic choice—it’s a critical element of effective communication.
To elevate your brand with impactful typography, start refining your design strategy today.
A great design doesn't just look good—it guides the viewer’s eyes effortlessly to the most important elements.
That's where visual hierarchy comes in, ensuring the content is read in the right order and makes the intended impact. It’s all about prioritizing elements and organizing them in a way that feels natural and intuitive to the viewer.
Larger elements naturally draw the eye first, so make your focal points bigger. For example, headings are typically larger than subheadings, which in turn are bigger than body text. This helps establish a clear structure.
Bold colors and font weights make certain elements stand out more. For instance, a bold title in a striking color quickly grabs attention, while using lighter or subtler colors for secondary details ensures they don’t compete for focus.
Place your most important content where it will naturally attract attention. This is often the center of your design, or areas like the top-left corner where the eye tends to start. Strategic placement creates a seamless flow for the viewer.
If you're unsure whether your hierarchy is effective, try zooming out or squinting at your project. Does the key information still stand out? If not, you may need to adjust the size, weight, or positioning of your elements to highlight what matters most. Thoughtful visual hierarchy makes all the difference in creating a design that's not only appealing but also functional.
Negative space, or empty space, isn’t just the background of your design; it’s a powerful tool to balance, structure, and enhance your layout. It’s the unmarked area that allows your design to breathe and communicate more effectively.
Filling every inch of your design with content can overwhelm the viewer. Negative space gives each element breathing room, helping important features stand out and keeping your design clean and organized.
Negative space can do more than just fill gaps; it can add meaning. Clever use of negative space, like the hidden arrow in the FedEx logo, can convey subtle messages and make your design memorable.
Minimalistic designs lean heavily on intentional negative space to create a clean, stylish, and sophisticated look. By removing unnecessary distractions, you can focus the viewer’s attention on the most critical aspects of your design.
When used thoughtfully, negative space can transform a good design into a great one.
Cool designs shine when they incorporate stylish, unique design features. Don’t be afraid to experiment with custom illustrations, hand-drawn icons, or textures.
Unique elements add personality, making the design feel distinct and memorable. However, make sure they align with the overall tone and purpose.
One common challenge designers face is finding the sweet spot between too simple and too detailed.
A simple design can still have a WOW factor if each detail is deliberate.
Cool doesn’t mean chaotic. A cohesive design ensures all your elements feel like they belong together.
Ensure:
For multi-page or interactive work, create a style guide to maintain consistency.
If you're designing for digital platforms, consider incorporating animations or interactive elements to make your work more dynamic and engaging. These elements not only enhance the user experience but also help communicate ideas in a more impactful way.
It’s okay to look for inspiration from other cool designs. But remember, there’s a fine line between honoring great work and copying it.
Cool designs feel fresh and genuine, so put your unique spin on everything you create.
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No design is perfect on the first attempt. The secret to making a truly cool design is testing and refining.
Show your design to peers or trusted collaborators.
If the design is functional, ensure it works as intended.
Adjust based on feedback and/or your gut instincts.
Keep refining until the design feels polished, functional, and aesthetic.
Creating a cool design isn’t just about knowing tools or techniques; it’s about blending creativity, purpose, and execution. Follow these 12 steps to craft designs that achieve impact and wow your audience.
