Top 9 DIY Design Mistakes That Could Be Costing Your Business

How do people perceive your business?

3 min read

Design plays a huge role in how people perceive your business. Even if you offer the best products or services, bad design can make your brand look unprofessional, untrustworthy, and even drive potential customers away. Without an in-house designer, many small businesses opt for DIY design—which can work, but only if done correctly.

Here are the most common DIY design mistakes that could be hurting your business and how to fix them.

1. Poor Font Choices

Using too many fonts—or the wrong ones—can make your branding look chaotic. Fonts communicate personality, so choosing the right ones is key.

The mistake:

Using more than two or three fonts.
Choosing decorative or hard-to-read fonts.
Mixing styles that clash (e.g., a fun, bubbly font with a serious serif).

The fix:

Stick to one or two complementary fonts.
Use readable, professional-looking typefaces.
Consider Google Fonts for free, well-designed options.

2. Bad Colour Combinations

Colours evoke emotions and play a key role in brand recognition and there's a lot of psychology that goes into colour choices. The wrong colours can turn people off or make your content unreadable.

The mistake:

Using clashing colours.
Not considering accessibility (low contrast between text and background).
Using too many colours at once.

The fix:

Stick to a brand colour palette (3-5 colours max).
Ensure good contrast for readability.
Use tools like Coolors or Adobe Color to find balanced palettes.

3. Low-Quality or Stretched Images

Your visuals should look polished and professional. Low-resolution or distorted images can make your business appear amateurish.

The mistake:

Using pixelated or blurry images.
Stretching images out of proportion.
Using generic or overused stock photos.

The fix:

Use high-quality images (Unsplash, Pexels, or original photos).
Maintain the correct aspect ratio when resizing.
Choose authentic images that match your brand’s personality.

4. Inconsistent Branding

If your website, social media, and print materials all look different, it weakens your brand identity.

The mistake:

Changing colours and fonts across platforms.
Using different logos or variations inconsistently.
Not having a defined style guide.

The fix:

Create brand guidelines with colours, fonts, and logo rules.
Use the same elements across all marketing materials.
Keep templates for social media and print designs.

5. Cluttered or Overcrowded Layouts

More is not always better. A cluttered design can overwhelm your audience and make key messages hard to find.

The mistake:

Filling every space with text or images.
Lack of visual hierarchy (everything looks equally important).
Ignoring white space.

The fix:

Emphasise key elements (headlines, CTAs, images).
Use white space to create breathing room.
Follow simple, balanced layouts (Canva templates can help).

6. Ignoring Mobile-Friendliness

Most people browse on their phones, so your designs must look good on small screens.

The mistake:

Creating designs that only look good on desktops.
Using small text that’s hard to read on mobile.
Not testing how graphics appear on different screen sizes.

The fix:

Check mobile previews before publishing.
Use scalable images and text sizes.
Design with a “mobile-first” approach.

7. Poorly Designed Logos

Your logo is often the first impression people have of your business. A weak logo can make you look unprofessional.

The mistake:

Using generic icons or clipart.
Too many details or complicated designs.
Low-quality resolution, making it blurry when resized.

The fix:

Keep it simple and versatile.
Use a vector format (SVG, AI) for scalability.
Consider hiring a designer for a professional touch.

8. Lack of Alignment and Spacing

Messy layouts can make your designs look unpolished and unprofessional.

The mistake:

Elements not properly aligned.
Uneven spacing between text and images.
Random placement of design elements.

The fix:

Use grid systems for structured layouts.
Check alignment tools in design software (like Canva).
Keep spacing even for a clean look.

9. Overcomplicating Designs

Sometimes, less is more. Trying to include too much detail can result in clutter and confusion.

The mistake:

Adding too many elements (icons, images, effects).
Using excessive text instead of concise messaging.
Trying to be too creative with no clear purpose.

The fix:

Keep designs simple and clear.
Use concise, impactful text.
Stick to key visual elements that serve a purpose.

Final Thoughts

DIY design is possible, but small mistakes can make your brand look unprofessional. By avoiding these common errors and sticking to basic design principles, you can create visuals that enhance—not hurt—your business.

If you’re struggling to get it right, investing in a professional designer (even just for a brand refresh) can make a world of difference. Need help? Let’s chat! 😊