10 Quick Catalog Design Tips You Need to Know

10 Quick Catalog Design Tips You Need to Know

It’s no secret that catalogs are now in a rebound by bringing customers online. The challenge now is designing it to fit the changing marketing environment. Designing a catalog should not be rocket science. However, it should be a combination of your knowledge of your intended market, as well as creativity that makes your products and services appealing. Here is a list of some catalog design tips that you need to know before creating one.

  1. Your printed catalog’s design and color scheme should fit the contents.

For instance, a catalog for a clothing boutique must portray elegance, such as gold, silver, and ivory. On the other hand, a toy catalog should be whimsical and fun, with bright colors.

  1. Don’t mix typefaces.

Use one or two families, and apply bold or italics to create different styles that harmonize nicely. As a general rule, use at most two or three fonts together. For example, use a slab or serif font for headers if you use a sans serif fonts in the paragraphs. Make your use of fonts consistent per section.

Fashion catalog from PrintRunner

Design elements should be consistent with the theme.

  1. Photos are everything.

Your catalogs should use crisp photos with consistent lighting and background treatments when possible. We recommend 300 dpi for the resolution. Consider using professional photography service to make your product photos as appealing as possible.

  1. Put emphasis on new products as well as those on sale.

In product photos put an indication that they are new arrivals using starbursts or highlights. Adding a discount will also draw customer attention to these new products.

  1. Be consistent with your design.

A catalog is a great opportunity for branding. Customers will recognize patterns in product design, layouts, and colors, which they will associate with your business.

  1. While consistency is important, it can also be monotonous.

Try to break it up by adding a unique page, like a full-size product image or business content that is relevant to your products. Use the centerfold to your advantage. Don’t overdo it however, or your layout will be all over the place.

Technological catalog by PrintRunner

Use white space to your advantage.

  1. Learn how to use white space when laying out your products on a page.

A cluttered page is tiring to look at. White space allows the reader to rest while putting more emphasis on each individual product compared to a huge group of products competing for attention.

  1. Consider the type of material you will use as a cover for your catalog.

You have two choices—the more flexible paper or a rigid cardstock. Flexible paper may be easier to carry and pass around while cardstock may protect your catalog and make it more durable.

  1. Write compelling product descriptions.

Not only should product descriptions give the specifications of a product, it should also entice customers to buy them. Essential information includes prices, materials, and quantities. Write short tips on how the reader can make effective use of your product.

  1. Keep your catalog focused.

A catalog is usually made up of 8 or more pages in increments of 4. Take note of this when you are deciding how many products you are going to include in your catalog. When planning how many pages you use, consider how the reader will perceive the amount of products per page and as a whole. Too many product lines may just overwhelm the reader.

We hope you liked our catalog design tips. Ready to print your catalogs? Head to our catalog printing page to create your own.

 

 

 

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PrintRunner
PrintRunner offers online printing service based in Van Nuys, California. They specialize in supplying discerning clients with superior print stickers, business cards, posters, postcards, and other products at affordable rates. Get a FREE copy of their sample kit now and see for yourself.