Is Your Design Doing Its Job?

Effective design is like a great outfit. It fits well, flatters, reflects who you are, and turns heads in the right way. Ineffective design? Like showing up to a black-tie event in Crocs and a hoodie (my daughter's outfit of choice 365 days a year). People will notice, just not for the right reasons.

With tools like Canva and the rise of AI-generated content, it’s easier than ever to create a pretty design, but that doesn’t always equal effective. A strong design does more than look good, it serves a purpose. Below are key questions and considerations to keep in mind while working on a project or to help guide feedback during the design process.

1. Purpose & Clarity

• ☐ What is the goal of this design? (Inform, sell, promote?)

• ☐ Is the main message clear within 3 seconds?

• ☐ Does the design direct the viewer’s eye to a call to action?

2. Typography

• ☐ Did I use no more than 2–3 fonts?

• ☐ Is the text readable at all sizes (especially on mobile)?

• ☐ Is there a clear hierarchy between headings, subheads, and body text?
  

3. Color Usage

• ☐ Are my colors consistent with the brand?

• ☐ Is there strong contrast between text and background?

• ☐ Are my accent colors drawing attention to the right elements (like CTAs)?
  

4. Layout & Spacing

• ☐ Does the layout feel balanced (not too crowded or too empty)?

• ☐ Are similar elements grouped and aligned properly?

• ☐ Is there enough white space to let the design breathe?
  

5. Responsiveness & Scalability

• ☐ Does the design work well on both desktop and mobile?

• ☐ Are all images high-res and optimized for web or print?

• ☐ Will it still look clean if resized or printed?
  

6. Strategy & Brand Alignment

• ☐ Does this design feel like my brand?

• ☐ Am I reinforcing a message, mood, or mission?

• ☐ Will this resonate with my ideal audience?
  

7. Final Polish

• ☐ Did I proofread everything (spelling, spacing, alignment)?

• ☐ Did I save/export it in the correct file type and size?

• ☐ Did I get a second opinion before finalizing?

Good design isn’t just what looks good—it’s what works well.