Digital marketing is fast, inexpensive, and accessible. Although digital design garners more attention, it doesn’t mean print design is obsolete. Print design is the perfect solution to stand out in a saturated environment. After all, physical materials offer a tangible experience, unlike digital content. A screen-weary audience may find delight in flipping glossy pages of a product brochure. 

So what is print design, and why does it still matter? To understand what we’re talking about, we collated the ten best print design examples from Penji’s top designers to create designs with lasting impact. 

Table of Contents

What is Print Design? 

Print design involves any design intended for printing. It appears on business cards, banners, billboards, or brochures instead of digital spaces like websites. Similar to digital designs, the goal of print design is to leverage visual graphics for communicating messages. 

Since over 60% of the population uses the internet, some might say print marketing is no longer popular. In contrast, people regularly encounter print designs as they move around daily. 

Studies show that print is still sweeping away a considerable market share regarding consumer connection and engagement. More than 50% of customers print marketing to be the most trustworthy marketing type. Despite significant investments in digital advertising, less than 2% of users engage with these ads. Interestingly, direct mail consistently achieves an impressive 80% readership rate among households.

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The most common types of print design are the following: 

  • Business cards
  • Branded packaging, labels, and shopping bags
  • Brochures 
  • Flyers
  • Magazines and editorial layouts
  • Book covers and interiors
  • Billboards
  • Signages 
  • Posters
  • Stationery
  • Invitations and greeting cards 
  • Calendars
  • Menus

Inspiring Print Design Examples by Type

Let’s discuss some noteworthy examples from the print design types listed above. Penji’s expert graphic designers created all of these creative print designs. Visit this gallery and watch this short demo video to glimpse over 3.5M designs made by the world’s top 2% talent.

Business Cards

Despite the world becoming increasingly digital, many people still rely on business cards. For instance, the front desk of any place you visit occasionally, such as a dentist, doctor, or accountant, has a stack of business cards. Physical business cards are a traditional way of telling people about your profession or business. Additionally, they make it easier for them to respond to you. Look at these business cards created by Penji designers. 

Example 1: Minimalist Business Card

Example 2: A Business Card Featuring Brand Logo

Brochures and Flyers

Brochures enable business owners to condense extensive information into a concise format. A tri-fold design, for instance, offers multiple panels to describe your products and services comprehensively. Similarly, flyers are printed on both sides to disseminate information about products or events. They are visually appealing, easy to read, and instantly grab people’s attention.

Example 3: A Tri-Fold Restaurant Menu

Example 4: Informational flyer with vibrant colors and engaging icons

Billboards and Posters

Billboards and posters are also effective in conveying all types of information. Posters have hundreds of uses, from product marketing to recruitment and business events. We’ve chosen these two eye-catching poster examples that can catch your target audience’s attention.

Example 5: Stunning Bus-Stop Ad Design

Example 6: An Enticing Restaurant Menu Board

Packaging Design

Despite the rise of online shopping, quality packaging design remains crucial. Good packaging design attracts customers and drives sales. It would be best if you learned how to strike the right balance between innovation and the brand’s signature design. Let’s look at a few packaging designs from Penji. 

Example 7: Minimalist Green and While Bottle Labels 

Example 8: Colorful Beverage Packaging Design

Magazine and Editorial Layouts

They say you should never judge a book by its cover. However, most people are initially drawn to magazines by their covers and engaging spread designs, then dig into the text afterward. Unlike books and newspapers, magazines deliver visually appealing information through layout design.

It is challenging to choose the most critical factor in a well-designed magazine. You must consider the body copy, images, logo, color palette, and more. A good strategy is to ensure that all aspects are impressive. 

Example 9: Simple and Elegant Magazine Design

Example 10: Colorful Children’s Book Design

Vital Elements of Print Design

When you pay close attention to these five essential elements, a perfect print design is within reach. The result? It is a stunning piece you can confidently distribute.

Color

Color matching is one of the most challenging elements of print design. The Pantone Matching System is the best way to ensure proper color matching. You can use Pantone swatches for spot color printing or by specifying the RGB and HTML Pantone swatch number to color-match an on-screen design.

Layout

Before starting any print design, identify essential elements like the website URL, company name and logo, contact information, and product/service descriptions. Also, ensure font size, readability, and orientation are optimized for visual appeal and impact.

Format

Formatting is another important element in creative print design. You must ensure your designer delivers a print-ready file that meets specific requirements for the type of printer you will be using.

If your file format is incorrect, you risk having to redo your printing. In short, formatting ensures that you visualize the design you get after printing.

Paper

The type of paper you will use will influence the success of your print design. It is best to remember that all paper samples are unique. You must inspect everything, from the degree of “whiteness” of white to the texture and weight of the paper.  

Printing Partner

Lastly, the quality of your printed information or advertising material depends on your chosen printing partner. A reliable printing partner can provide a sample electronic or hard copy for your approval.

Look for a printing partner with clear policies about when a reprint can be requested. Moreover, choose a printing partner with a proven track record and reputation for delivering quality print results.

Conclusion

By exploring these ten creative print design examples, we’ve seen the power of print design to leave a lasting impression. From minimalist to bold and vibrant, the possibilities are endless. 

Ready to bring your next print design project to life? Penji can help. Our talented designers can create stunning designs that align with your brand’s vision. Sign up and start your journey with us today!