Graphic design isn’t just for adults, there is also graphic design for kids that are born with creative traits. They get creative with items they find around them. However, Kids naturally are creative beings, their curiosity about things and their work drives them to want to explore.
With their creative thinking, they test ideas despite criticism or hoping their ideas would fail. They just do it.
Graphic design for kids can help develop the creative power of kids between the range of 2-4 years. Within this age range is when the desire to bring their imagination to life burns endlessly, they try new ideas, fail, and try again until it is accomplished
There are ways you could help your kid to become the best creative version of himself or herself. Kids become better future graphic designers when they are introduced to the same graphic design prerequisites that every designer knows.
I’m talking about the basic principles of graphic design which educates your kids on how to use color, space, rhythm, balance, alignment, contrast, etc. And also teach them the basic elements of graphic design(color, shape, form, image, texture, type, Negative space, etc.
However, there are other fun exercises that kids should take part in to help them develop their creative minds But we will start with the essentials first.
Graphic design for Kids: basic graphic design principles
Contrast
Contrast is how well two elements in a graphic design composition stand out from each other. When two elements are very visible to or readable to the viewer then we can say that there is a contrast between them.
Elements could be text, color, shape, texture, or space.
An example of contrast can be likened to two opposite colors on the color wheel that can achieve vivid and sharp visibility when placed on the same canvas or placed on top of each other. E.g. black and white, yellow and black, green and white, etc. Check out the full guide on basic graphic design principles
Balance
Balance is the distribution of elements on the various sides of a composition to achieve stability, cohesiveness, and visual satisfaction.
Elements sometimes are evenly or unevenly distributed to create an interesting visual arrangement which is why we have two main types of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical balance
Alignment
Alignment is simply how elements in your design are arranged in relation to the other elements in the same group or space. Alignments help to identify elements in the same group and also enhance visual balance.
Space
Space is the usable area in your design canvas that is filled with design elements. It is also referred to as the background that enables us to see shapes or forms that are placed in the foreground. Space as one of the elements in graphic design has two types, negative space and positive space.
It is also important to teach kids the importance of space because it separates elements from each other and gives visual clues of functionality and also enhances readability.
Proximity
The closeness between groups or sets of elements in your composition is known as proximity. Proximity in graphic design can help identify or group elements that are of the same category, perform the same function, or are related to each other. It can also be used to establish hierarchy between elements by placing more important information or elements at the top or closer to the front of the page.
The more the closeness between two elements, the stronger their relationship. The further the proximity, the weaker the relationship.
Repetition
The number of times an element is repeated in the design process is known as repetition. For instance, when a particular font is used over and over again throughout the design process, then we consider it to be repetition.
Repetition is a crucial process, it is used to create consistency and cohesion across the design canvas. It’s also used to create unity among elements in a design composition.
Hierarchy
Every element in a canvas has its own level of importance in the whole design composition. Hierarchy which is a graphic design rule of thumb must be present in any design to flourish, be it poster design, flyer design, business card design, and web design.
Hierarchy in graphic design is important because it shows the importance of elements in their various sequence and also influences how the viewers sort out information in your content
Rhythm
Rhythm is simply when elements in a composition are repeatedly used to create an organized pattern of movement. It can be related to the rhythm we hear in music.
When elements reoccur over a certain number of time, it creates a flowing sense of motion. You literally can’t see it moving but you can feel it in design.
Basic graphic design elements for kids
Color
When we talk about graphic design for kids we don’t fail to mention color because color is a graphic design element that could singlehandedly give life to your design artwork.
And now kids are so obsessed with coloring and also the main point of discussion, color is also very important to them, infact, most of their creativity uses color.
Whether on an iPad or on a sketchbook they will definitely need color to go creative with their doodling.
Kids should be first taught about the basics of color, primary color, secondary color, and tertiary color and over time, they gradually move up the ladder of knowing how to use the color wheel and its theory and also how to combine colors.
Type
Type or font as we know it is also a component of graphic design that we can’t do without even for kids. They already always want to name their superhero character.
They also would want to create their favorite logo and they definitely need type to do that too. Helping kids practice how to rightfully a good don’t choice and pairing is a sure of way of giving them a good of for design.
Image
Kids love using images to express their idea and they most times do this by illustration. However, illustrations still serve the same purpose as a real image would. You should teach them how to make use of images for specific design themes.
Images work well in some compositions while others don’t. When the right image is used for a design, the general theme and look of the design will appear cohesive with image and readers will be able to relate to the message the design is trying to convey.
Texture
When we use texture in our design we are trying to achieve the sense of feeling or touch. Texture is the surface quality of your design work. It is how the visual tone feels to the viewer.
It also helps to enhance the presence of other graphic design elements like text, color, and illustration. We have a full guide about texture and other graphic design elements in our previous post.
Shape
Shapes are familiar to kids, they frequently use different shapes in their whimsy artwork. They also play around with various forms of shapes with their Lego toys.
Overall shapes are 2 dimensional flat figures that are characterized by length and width such as square, circle, triangle, and rectangle. They are used to convey meaning and signs in graphic design
Space
Space is the usable area in your design canvas that the other graphic design elements occupy. There are two types of space- Negative and Positive space.
Negative space is the leftover space after all areas have been filled with elements while positive space is the space that we intentionally fill as we progress through our design work. Most times it is the main focus area following the design.
Line
Line is the path created due to the movement of a single point. It is also referred to as the path that connects two endpoints.
Before any complex artwork is made there is always a single line that kicks it off. Kids who love designing on their iPad make use of lines to create interesting-looking doodles and artwork.
We can see how the doodling boy creates amazing doodle artwork for restaurants using just lines.
Value
Value is the amount of brightness or darkness that is present in a design or an image. This can be best depicted in gradient values from black to white.
Value should be taken into consideration if you want to gain contrast in your image or composition, the more tonal variant in an image the less you get in an image. Additionally, when tonal values are similar this could result in low contest too.
Size
Size is simply how big or small an element is in relation to other elements in the environment or when placed side by side with other elements.
Size can also be used to create a visual hierarchy in a design, size can be used to draw attention to important information which is also known as a focal point.
Types of graphic design for Kids
There are various types of graphic design that your kids should practice so they become better as they progress through their design journey.
All these types of graphic design are highly in demand in the industry and are profitable when you invest in your kids creativity in specializing in any of them.
Visual identity design
Visual design is the design process of bringing together all the necessary visual elements that will be sued to identify a company and differentiate it from other competitors.
This has to do with all the tangible and intangible branding component that one can feel and touch, ranging from packaging, logo, and other items that interacts with the brand.
Teaching your kids how to create a visual identity for their dream company is an ideal practice that helps in honing their creativity.
Allowing them to design logos or create color palettes for their favorite toy company or any imaginary industry that they have in mind helps in their development.
Just let them play around with various elements and see what they come up with. Trust me, you will be surprised because kids never fail to amaze us.
UI/UX design
Use Interface and User Experience are two industry that has been booming for a long time. The industry needs new creative minds that could turn things around and make groundbreaking designs for customers.
Companies are willing to pay a huge sum for creativity. Kids are untapped talents that could pull this off because they have ideas that we could never imagine. With proper education, they will become better and will bloom very well in this field.
Poster design
Businesses and brands need to create campaigns from time to time for their business so they inform customers of new updates. And poster design has always been a traditional medium in which they can be able to convey such a message.
They use posters to advertise their new product releases, end-of-year sales, and other informational messages. Kids can study graphic design so that they can help in creating posters for these businesses by the time they become full-grown designers.
Business card design
Kids love mimicking designs that they see from their favorite stores and they would want to try out new ideas for business cards. With a combination of various elements – color, shapes, and text, they could come up with nice-looking business card designs.
But with proper tutoring from you to them, they will be able to learn and master this craft and also harness the future opportunity of it.
Best graphic design practices for Kids
Playing games
Gamification is a clever way of boosting and developing kids’ creative thinking. It is a proven way of fostering creativity and for this reason, design industries approve of it. Kids love gaming, they are mesmerized by the beautiful visuals and action in games.
Allowing kids to play video games will significantly develop their creative thinking thereby making them become better at problem solving. However, video gaming can be extreme and out of control when no regulations are placed on kids.
YouTube videos
Kids can improve their graphic design skills by watching YouTube videos. They can learn theories, tips, and tricks, learn new software and so many more. YouTube has helped a lot of people including myself. Thanks to youtube and my persistence in developing my skills.
Read graphic design books
Graphic design book for kids have essential theories and educative information about graphic design. Convincing kids to read graphic design books will help them to understand the basic theories, principles, and elements of graphic design. The knowledge they fetch from these books will place them on the right path in becoming the best they can be.
Practice with other kids
Practicing with other kids will help kids improve faster because they share ideas that could result in a more complex creation. Normally, bringing two ideas together creates a stronger synergy and yields amazing results just like mixing a lion and a tiger and we get a Liger.
So the point I’m making is this – when kids practice among themselves they create bigger ideas that not just communally but also develop them individually.
Take graphic design courses for kids
Graphic design courses are a series of study curricula that help familiarize kids with the various fundamental principles and elements that designers should mold together to help depict a brand or effectively convey the message to viewers.
Graphic design course ranges from one age level to another. You can find courses for your kids to help hone their graphic design skills here.
Graphic design resources for kids
Kids need resources to be able to create their idea and getting one nowadays isn’t much of a task.
There are numerous websites that offer kids both free and premium resources for their graphic design artwork. Here are some few handpicked site to get resources:
Unsplash
Unsplash is an imagery depository website loaded with millions of free high-definition stock images that are copyright free.
Photographers around the globe upload images to help users who are searching for free images to use for their design project. You can find various categories and different stock image scenarios free of charge.
Pexel
This site also does an amazing job with providing your kids with free graphic design stock images. All of their stock images come in HD quality which gives you crispy clear image quality.
Freepik
Every kid wants to unlock their inner creative spirit and that requires all necessary resources. Freepik has so many graphic design resources needed to unleash creativity in your kid.
You can find essential graphic design resources like vectors, graphic design templates, images, and videos.
Vecteezy
Vecteezy is a one stop place for all your vector-based graphics, illustrations, logo design, icons, photos, and videos. Vecteezy gives you a massive range of resources to choose from, some are copyright free while some need to be paid for.
Pngwing
This is my personal favorite free download PNG site. You don’t believe me? Just visit the link and type any keyword in their search bar and they will give you an impressive result.
Why you should teach your kids graphic design
NFT
NFT(Non-fungible token) is a unique digital identifier that is recorded in a blockchain. These NFTs could come in various types, it could be images, videos, or an artwork of a rainbow cat or maybe an artwork of your kid’s palm print.
Generally, NFT can be any element that people have value and interest in. Check out how this 12-year-old Benyamin Ahmed made a fortune with his NFT work
VR/AR technology
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality is here to stay thereby making businesses and industries want to have a taste of the cutting edge technology. Virtual Reality technology can be found in almost all parts of the industry: education, gaming, automobile, health, and business.
And we know that the visual components in the virtual headset are products of graphic design. Kids could also be taught how to design the visual components of the VR headset. When they learn how to create those components, they could create VR games for kids, educational virtual stories, and so many other endless possibilities.
Gaming industry
Graphic design for kids could also have a strong impact on kids of various ages. We all know how much kids love playing video games.
They want to try out their wildest gaming fantasy. Kids will impact heavily on the gaming industry because they have a lot of ideas to showcase in the gaming world.
When kids study graphic design, they will be able to unleash their creativity by putting the various design elements in motion thereby making them playable as video games.
Metaverse
The news about the Facebook Metaverse release isn’t new to anyone walking on the surface of the earth. Metaverse is a virtual reality world word that gives users an immersive virtual experience with the help of VR and AR technology.
In this immersive world, you can play games, and connect with people from all races all in the comfort of your home.
Teaching kids how to design will create an opportunity for them to create and bring their incredible ideas to life, they could create ideas that will support the existing experience in the Metaverse and even make it a conducive place for everyone.
Graphic design for kids FAQ
Can kids do graphic designing?
Yes, kids can do graphic design. Kids are very intelligent and have a good sense of imagination and creative minds for ideas that could produce an amazing piece of art. Kids from ages 2-4 are filled with curiosity and want to try out ideas.
Before they get up to 18 years, they must have gotten a strong footing in graphic design.
What age can you start graphic design?
One needs to be at least 18 years before he or she can be qualified to be called a graphic designer. Major industries take age as an important criterion before they see you as “qualified”.
However, there are graphic designers younger than 18 years creating waves yet industries hire them because they simply carry out the job.
Why is graphic design important for kids?
Graphic design helps kids in developing their creative confidence and also helps foster creative habits and also have a good eye for art. Additionally, there is a relationship between graphic design and mind mapping which is very important in problem-solving which overall helps in the child’s development.