Avoid These 10 Common DIY Design Mistakes (And Look Like a Pro)

Avoid These 10 Common DIY Design Mistakes

(And Look Like a Pro Without Losing Your Mind)

DIY-ing your brand and website? You’re not alone. Most start-ups and small businesses give it a crack.

And hey, we get it. Budgets are tight. Creativity is flowing. And Canva’s free, right?

But here’s the thing — without meaning to, you might be making some simple mistakes that are quietly undermining your business.

Let’s fix that. Here are 10 of the most common design slip-ups we see (and how to avoid them).

The Top 10 Mistakes (No Shame! We’ve All Done Them)

1. Too Many Fonts
Stick to 2 or 3 fonts max. More than that, and it starts to look like a ransom note.

2. Colour Overload
Choose a simple colour palette and use it consistently. Less is more.

3. Pixelated or Stretched Images
Blurry photos make you look amateur. Always use high-quality images, sized properly for your website or print.

4. No White Space
Cramming everything into every corner? Give your designs room to breathe.

5. Logo Looks Like a Clipart Special
If it looks cheap, people will assume your business is too. Invest in a proper logo when you can.

6. Inconsistent Branding
Every platform should look like it’s from the same business. Website, socials, flyers, the lot.

7. Overcomplicated Layouts
Simple layouts help people focus on what matters… Your message!

8. Forgetting About Mobile
More than half your audience will see your website on their phone. If it’s not mobile-friendly, you’re losing them.

9. Trying to Be Too Clever
Clear beats clever every time. Make sure people can instantly understand who you are and what you do.

10. Doing It All Yourself
You don’t have to be a designer, marketer, web developer and business owner. That’s why people like us exist.

The Good News

These mistakes are fixable, and you don’t need to become a full-blown designer to get it right.

We’ve put together a simple guide to help you dodge these common pitfalls and give your brand the polish it deserves.

Free Resource:

Dalligator’s Top 10 DIY Design Mistakes Guide
Get your hands on our free PDF and start looking like a pro, fast.
[Download The Guide]