“Create your own visual style… Let it be unique
for yourself and yet identifiable for others.”
Orson
Welles
Welcome to A Secret Blogmas
2025!
Today is Day Sixteen and this sixteenth post is all about the beneficial impact there is if you – as a content creator – recognise the importance and significance of the design and visuals with your content. In this post, I’ll be looking at why these things can matter so much, how you can judge which are the best graphics, and methods of creating visuals in content creation. Keep reading to find out why and how consistency can impact the success and popularity of your content and/or your platform…
Visuals
Definition:
Visuals are the actual imagery or visual
elements used in content — the things people see directly (photos,
graphics, videos, icons, etc.). They’re the surface-level components that grab
attention and communicate messages quickly.
Examples of Visuals in Content Creation:
- Social Media Graphics – e.g., an Instagram post with bold
typography and an image of a product.
- Video Thumbnails – an eye-catching YouTube thumbnail with a
person’s expression and bright text overlay.
- Infographics – data or information presented visually with icons,
charts, and colours.
- Photography – product photos, portraits, or lifestyle shots used in
campaigns or blogs.
- Illustrations – custom drawings or vector art used to enhance
storytelling or branding.
Design
Definition:
Design is about how visuals are organized and styled to achieve a
purpose — the layout, colour scheme, typography, balance, and overall
aesthetic. It’s the strategy and structure behind the visuals.
Examples of Design in Content Creation:
- Brand Identity Design – creating a consistent look through logos,
fonts, and colour palettes.
- UI/UX Design – the design of a website or app interface for
intuitive navigation and user experience.
- Layout Design – arranging text, images, and whitespace in a
brochure, magazine, or webpage.
- Motion Design – designing animated transitions or effects for
videos and social media posts.
- Ad Design – structuring a digital or print ad so it
communicates the message clearly and drives action.
1. Grab Attention in a Crowded Space
- People scroll fast — visuals are the first thing that stops them.
- Good design helps your content stand out immediately through colour,
contrast, composition, and hierarchy.
Example: A bold, well-designed thumbnail can increase video clicks dramatically.
2. Communicate Messages Quickly
- The brain processes visuals much faster than text.
- Design turns complex ideas into easy-to-understand visuals —
charts, icons, and layouts can show what words take paragraphs to
explain.
Example: An infographic can summarize a 1,000-word article in a single image.
3. Build Brand Recognition and Trust
- Consistent design elements (logos, fonts, colours, styles) create a
recognizable identity.
- Visual consistency signals professionalism and reliability — people
trust brands that look put together.
Example: When you see Apple’s clean, minimalist design, you instantly know the brand and what it represents.
4. Evoke Emotion and Connection
- Colours, imagery, and composition influence how people feel.
- Design can make content feel exciting, comforting, luxurious,
playful — depending on your goal.
Example: Warm tones and friendly illustrations make a mental health brand feel approachable.
5. Guide the Viewer’s Experience
- Design directs where the eye goes first and what message comes
across most strongly.
- Layout, spacing, and visual hierarchy help the audience absorb
information in the right order.
Example: In a social ad, the headline, image, and CTA (Call to Action) are placed strategically to lead to a click.
6. Boost Engagement and Conversions
- Well-designed visuals keep people watching longer, clicking more,
and remembering content better.
- In marketing, design isn’t just aesthetic — it’s functional
persuasion.
Example: A clean landing page design can double conversion rates compared to a cluttered one.
7. Make Content More Memorable
- People remember visual content far better than plain text.
- Strong imagery, icons, and design patterns reinforce your message
in the audience’s memory.
Example: A visual storytelling post on Instagram leaves a lasting impression long after someone scrolls past.
Graphic Design & Visual Creation
These
help you create visuals, posters, ads, and social media graphics — no design
degree needed.
1.
Canva – All-in-one
design platform for social media posts, presentations, and videos. Huge
template library.
2.
Adobe Express – Quick
version of Photoshop/Illustrator in your browser with brand templates and
resizing tools.
3.
Figma / FigJam – Great for
UI/UX design, wireframes, and team brainstorming with live collaboration.
4.
Crello
(VistaCreate)
– Canva-style design tool with animations and templates for social media.
5.
Remove.bg /
Photopea
– Remove backgrounds or edit photos right in your browser.
Video
Creation & Editing
Perfect for YouTube, TikTok, Reels, or promotional
videos.
1.
CapCut – Easy,
mobile-friendly video editor (great for TikTok & Reels).
2.
Descript – Edit videos
by editing the text
transcript. Also great for podcasts and screen recordings.
3.
VEED.io – Online video
editor with auto-subtitles, transitions, and effects.
4.
Runway ML – AI-powered
video editing (background removal, motion tracking, generative tools).
5.
Lumen5 – Turn blog
posts or text into short videos using AI.
Writing & Content Strategy
Helpful for writing captions, blog posts, and
scripts — or planning your content calendar.
1.
Notion – Organize
ideas, plan content calendars, and manage projects.
2.
Grammarly /
Hemingway Editor
– Improve writing tone, clarity, and grammar.
3.
Airtable /
Trello
– Visual project management tools for content pipelines.
4.
AnswerThePublic – Find
trending search questions and topics to inspire content ideas.
Stock Media & Assets
Free or affordable visuals, videos, icons, and music.
1.
Pexels / Pixabay / Unsplash – Free stock
photos & videos.
2.
Flaticon /
Iconfinder
– High-quality icons and vector graphics.
3.
Mixkit /
Artlist / Epidemic Sound – Royalty-free music and sound effects
for videos.
AI-Powered Creative Tools
These use AI to generate or enhance creative
content.
1.
ChatGPT (hi 👋) – For ideas,
captions, scripts, and brainstorming.
2.
Midjourney /
DALL·E
– Generate original images from text prompts.
3.
Soundraw /
Mubert
– AI-generated background music.
4.
Jasper – AI writing
tool for marketing copy and SEO content.
5.
Copy.ai – AI-driven
copywriting and campaign ideation.
To
create the visuals or graphics for my blog posts where they have the title and/or
the subtitles, I typically use Pinterest
for the images in them, and then Canva to
pull them all together with those images and the text.
Where
the visuals are photos at events etc., I take most of my photos through Snapchat on my iPhone 15 Pro so that I can
apply my favourite filter on there. Then for the photos without the filter or
to edit bits of the ones with it, I use an app on my phone called: Moldiv.
Finally,
for the layout and design of I’m NOT Disordered, I have used a template from Pipdig and then customised it slightly to
incorporate my blog’s colour scheme etc.
1. Clearer Communication &
Understanding
·
Good visuals simplify messages. Whether it’s a
tutorial, product recommendation, or lifestyle story, visuals help followers
quickly see
what the influencer means.
2. Inspiration & Motivation
·
Visually
appealing content often sparks creativity, goals, or emotions
in followers.
·
Influencers’
polished design and visuals show what’s possible — a dream lifestyle, fashion
idea, home setup, or mindset.
3. Educational Value
·
Strong
design organizes content — through colour coding, icons, or layouts — making
learning easier and more enjoyable.
4. Trust and Credibility
·
Professional,
cohesive visuals signal authenticity and reliability.
·
Followers
are more likely to trust influencers who clearly invest in high-quality design
and presentation.
5. Easier Navigation & Better
Experience
·
A
well-designed feed or video layout helps followers find what
they need quickly.
·
Cohesive
visuals make the experience feel smooth, intentional, and pleasant.
6. Emotional Connection &
Belonging
·
Design
and visuals communicate personality and tone — playful, calm, bold, luxurious,
etc.
·
When
followers resonate with that visual “vibe,” they feel part of a like-minded
community.
7. Better Decision-Making
·
When
visuals and design clearly show how a product works
or looks, followers can make informed purchase choices.
Having a goal helps creators:
·
Design with purpose, not just style.
·
Stay consistent with their brand or message.
·
Measure success — e.g., Did this visual actually get
people to click, follow, or feel something?
Think
of visuals and design as the visual language of
your message — and every message needs an intention.
1. To Capture Attention
·
In
fast-scrolling feeds, the first goal is to make someone stop and look.
·
Creators
use colour contrast, dynamic layouts, or strong imagery to stand out.
2. To Communicate a Message Clearly
·
Visuals
should make it easy to understand what the content is about
in seconds.
3. To Reflect Brand Identity or
Personal Style
·
Consistent
colours, fonts, and imagery build recognition and trust.
4. To Evoke Emotion or Connection
·
Design
choices influence how followers feel — inspired,
calm, excited, nostalgic, etc.
5. To Educate or Inform
·
Many
creators use visuals to simplify complex ideas.
6. To Build Trust and
Professionalism
·
Well-designed
visuals show care and credibility — followers take creators more seriously.
7. To Drive Engagement or
Conversions
·
Sometimes
the goal is to get action: likes, comments, clicks, or sales.
8. To Tell a Story
·
Strong
design supports storytelling — using visuals to guide viewers through a
narrative or emotion.
1. Lack of Design Skills or Knowledge
·
Not
every creator starts as a designer — understanding layout, colour theory, or
typography takes time.
·
Without
design fundamentals, visuals can look cluttered or inconsistent.
2. Limited Tools or Budget
·
Professional
design software (like Adobe Creative Suite) can be expensive.
·
Some
creators can’t afford premium tools, stock images, or templates.
3. Time Constraints
·
Creating
great visuals is time-consuming — planning, editing, resizing, posting.
·
Many
creators juggle multiple platforms and simply can’t keep up.
4. Creative Block or Lack of Inspiration
·
Even
skilled creators get stuck visually — not knowing what aesthetic, tone, or
design to choose.
·
It’s
easy to feel “tapped out” or overwhelmed by trends.
5. Inconsistent Branding
·
Without
a clear visual identity (colours, fonts, style), content can look random or
unprofessional.
·
Followers
might not recognize posts as coming from the same creator.
6.
Technical Limitations
·
Poor
lighting, low-resolution images, or lack of equipment can ruin visual quality.
·
File
formats, aspect ratios, and platform-specific design rules can also cause
issues.
7. Keeping Up with Trends
·
Design
trends evolve fast — what looked fresh last year can feel outdated now.
·
Constantly
adapting to trends can be exhausting and dilute your unique style.
8. Perfectionism and Self-Doubt
·
Many
creators delay posting because their visuals don’t look “perfect.”
·
This
fear can block progress and kill momentum.
9. Difficulty Aligning Visuals with Message
·
Sometimes
visuals look great but don’t match the tone or purpose of the content.
10. Collaboration or Feedback Challenges
·
If
working with teams or clients, unclear direction or miscommunication can delay
production.
1. Lack of Design Skills or Knowledge
Problem:
Not knowing how to create professional-looking visuals.
Solutions:
·
Learn the basics — watch free
tutorials on YouTube or Skillshare about colour theory, layout, and typography.
·
Use templates — platforms
like Canva, VistaCreate,
or Adobe Express offer ready-made designs you
can adapt.
·
Study good design — follow
creators and brands whose visuals you admire; analyse why
they work.
2. Limited Tools or Budget
Problem:
Can’t afford expensive software or paid assets.
Solutions:
·
Use
free or low-cost tools: Canva (free), Figma
(free), Photopea (Photoshop alternative), or GIMP.
·
Use
free stock sites: Pexels, Unsplash, Pixabay
for photos & videos.
·
Use
royalty-free audio: Mixkit or Free Music
Archive.
3. Time Constraints
Problem:
Not enough time to design or edit regularly.
Solutions:
·
Batch create: Set aside one
day a week to design all your content.
·
Use templates: Create
reusable branded templates for consistency.
·
Automate: Use scheduling
tools (Later, Buffer, Notion) to plan posts in advance.
4. Creative Block or Lack of Inspiration
Problem:
Feeling uninspired or stuck creatively.
Solutions:
·
Look for
inspiration:
Browse Pinterest, Behance, Dribbble, or trend reports.
·
Try new formats: Carousel,
infographic, short-form video, or quote post.
·
Brainstorm visually: Use mood
boards or colour palettes to spark ideas.
·
Take breaks: Creativity
refills when you rest and live life outside screens.
5. Inconsistent Branding
Problem:
Visuals don’t match or feel unified.
Solutions:
·
Create a style
guide:
Choose 2–3 main colours, 1–2 fonts, and a tone of imagery.
·
Use brand kits: Canva Pro and
Figma let you save brand colours and fonts.
·
Stick to a theme: Lighting,
filters, or framing can make photos feel cohesive.
6. Technical Limitations
Problem:
Poor lighting, low-quality visuals, or wrong formats.
Solutions:
·
Use natural light or a simple
ring light for photos/videos.
·
Shoot smart: Clean
backgrounds, clear focus, stable camera.
·
Learn platform
specs:
Each platform has ideal aspect ratios — use preset templates.
7. Keeping Up with Trends
Problem:
Feeling pressure to constantly adapt to design trends.
Solutions:
·
Stay aware, not
obsessed:
Pick trends that fit your personality or brand tone.
·
Blend trends with
consistency:
Use trendy elements within your existing visual style.
·
Plan seasonal
updates:
Refresh your visuals quarterly instead of weekly.
8. Perfectionism and Self-Doubt
Problem:
Overthinking design and delaying posting.
Solutions:
·
Set time limits: Give yourself
a max of 30–60 minutes per design.
·
Get feedback early: Ask a friend
or follower for opinions before over-editing.
·
Remember: Every post is
a step in your creative evolution.
9. Aligning Visuals with Message
Problem:
Visuals don’t match tone or purpose.
Solutions:
·
Define your message
first:
Ask, “What do I want people to feel or do?” before designing.
·
Match visuals to
intent:
Use colour, typography, and imagery that support your message’s emotion.
·
Test & analyse:
Compare engagement rates to see which visuals communicate best.
10. Collaboration & Feedback Challenges
Problem:
Miscommunication between creators, editors, or clients.
Solutions:
·
Use creative briefs: Outline goals,
tone, and design references before starting.
·
Collaborate in
shared tools:
Figma, Notion, or Google Drive allow real-time comments.
·
Ask specific
feedback:
e.g., “Does this match the tone?” instead of “What do you think?”