Seven Projects To Refine Your Graphic Design Process

Most people can’t just walk onto a football field and score a touchdown, enter a kitchen and bake a perfect soufflé, or sit down at a piano for the first time and beautifully play Chopin’s nocturnes; expertise takes trial and error, and graphic design is no exception.

Whether you’re an artist between projects, a student seeking inspiration, or you’re dipping your toes in design for the first time, the best way to refine your graphic design process is to practice. Below, we’ll dive into seven sample projects to help you do just that.

Project Ideas to Cultivate Your Process

1. Logo Design

Logos are a classic in graphic design, and you can take these projects in many different directions. Options include:

Creating a personal logo for your design site, resume, or business cards
Designing a logo for a made-up brand
Revamping an existing logo (search “worst logos” for inspiration)

Once you’ve chosen a subject, decide on a wordmark (text only), icon (image only), or combination mark (both text and image).

2. Packaging Design

You could design:

A box
A bag
A bottle
A jar

Challenge yourself with requirements like interactive packaging, unique materials, or creative use of space and form. In a crowded market, a standout package gets noticed.

3. Website Design

Attractive websites are always in demand:

97% of consumers research online before buying
75% judge credibility by website design

You don’t need coding skills to start—create static layouts in design software (Adobe XD, Dreamweaver) or use website builders (Squarespace, WordPress, Wix). Building a functional site can double as an online portfolio.

4. Infographics

Infographics make dense data visually appealing:

The average human attention span is 8 seconds
Infographics are 30× more likely to be read than full articles

You can create one for virtually anything—sports, music, real estate, nature, pop culture. Infographics let you combine design skills with information storytelling.

5. App UI Mockup

Design a mobile app mockup to test your creativity. Use design software or tools like Canva, and add realism with free templates. If you want interactivity, Adobe XD is a great choice.

6. Ebook

Turn unused content into a designed ebook. Skills you’ll develop:

Book cover design
Page layout
Typography

Adobe InDesign is ideal for creating clean, professional layouts.

7. Social Media Series

Social media is a must-have skill area for designers:

4.48 billion social media users worldwide (2021)

You could:

Create one ad in multiple sizes for different platforms
Develop a related Instagram post series
Design swipe-through stories

Posts could feature marketing campaigns, information, creative photography, or digital art.

Find Your Own Inspiration

These seven examples are just a start. You can find more ideas by:

Social Media

Follow design-focused accounts
Explore hashtags on Instagram or Pinterest

Graphic Design Websites

Free sites for design work, inspiration, and project ideas:

Dribbble
99designs
Designhill
InspirationGrid
Designspiration
Creative Boom

Design Competitions

Look for creative briefs online, even if you don’t compete. They offer ready-made project prompts and examples of high-quality work. Start with the D&AD Awards.

Perfect Your Graphic Design Process with Ashore

Challenging yourself with these projects will improve your design skills and tool proficiency. But to perfect your entire graphic design process, you need Ashore.