When you are making a design, whether for a poster or an ad campaign, having focus is vital. If you remember your basic design lessons then perhaps you would know that one of the crucial elements to a good composition is a solid focal point.

As the name suggests, your focal point helps your audience’s eyes linger on the specific area in your design. Keep in mind that the primary goal of any effective design is audience communication. This can include communicating anything from a concept, an idea, or a piece of information. In some cases, designers may even seek to communicate a particular feeling or emotion.

Of course, readers should understand that there are a number of different ways this can be done. Techniques such as scale, contrast and leading lines are common practices that you should familiarize yourself with.

Making an effective graphic design is often easier said than done. There are many aspects to it that you must pay close attention to. That being said, establishing an effective focal point should be one of your main priorities.

When it comes to design and art, the choice of font is an important one. This is because the right font can perfectly emphasize the strength of the message you are trying to communicate. On the flip side, choosing the wrong kind of font can make the whole piece jarring and make its different elements disjointed.

That being said, you first need to have a proper understanding of the different font families available to you. Be sure to take note of the following:

  • Serif Fonts – This type of font is characterized by the small vertical lines noticeable at the end of each stroke. They are widely considered to be the classical fonts thus evoking a sense of reliability, comfort, and reverence. Prominent examples of this font family are Times New Roman, Georgia Italic, and Trajan.
  • Sans Serif Fonts – As the name suggests, these fonts do not have the serifs that characterize their predecessor. As such, they possess a more modern and bolder look that is characterized by its novelty and neatness. Franklin Gothic, Helvetica Bold, and Calibri are some of its more famous examples.

Make sure to keep these in mind when you find yourself working on your next graphic design.