GRAPHIC DESIGN
Don't let your graphics contradict your church's message.
How we communicate matters. Good communication isn’t just about what we say but how we say it. It’s not just about what we write but how we write it.
Or in other words
"The medium is the message."
And when we’re designing for church, this is so important. We want our design decisions to help our message not hinder it.
So when we get this wrong in church, it might look like this:
- A website that’s disorganised and confusing could give the impression of a church that’s disorganised and confusing, even if that’s not true.
- A poster that prioritises cool styles over legibility could give the impression of a church that values appearance more than substance, even if that’s not the case.
- A slapdash flyer that was made without much thought gives the impression of a church that doesn’t care that much, even if they really do.
How we communicate matters
If we look at some of the ways that God communicates with us, we see that the Bible isn’t just a short text outlining the gospel. No, it’s detailed and intentional. It’s full of captivating stories, accurate histories, challenging letters and beautiful poetry.
Or we see how creation isn’t just functional, it’s also beautiful. the breadth and depth of creativity on display is astounding. It’s vast and it’s beauty is captivating
Or we see how Jesus didn’t just give a load of university lectures. No, he told stories and parables, he asked questions, he engaged in two-way conversations.
How we communicate matters.
Looking at some of these ways God communicates, it’s undeniable that the medium is important to the message. The medium has meaning. It influences the message we hear.
"It's not what you say, it's what they hear."
Good communication is not just about you saying the right combination of things. But did it actually get through to people you’re trying to reach? Did they grasp what you were saying? Did they take it to heart?
The way that we communicate matters.
And this is so important for us as churches, because what we’re trying to communicate is so important. I really believe we have the most beautiful message in the world. But is it being communicated in a way that helps people receive that message?
“the beauty of the form [..] reflects and honors the beauty of the subject and so honors the truth. The method and the matter become one, and the totality of both becomes a witness to the truth and beauty of the message.”
If you are communicating a beautiful message and you share it in a beautiful way, you’re honouring the beauty of the message. And as churches, we have the most beautiful message to share.
"We should not be so pragmatic that we can’t take the time to say beautifully what ought to be said about the gospel."
So how do we apply this to graphic design in a church context? Well, when we design, we need to be intentional about the medium that we use.
That partly means making decisions about whether to use posters or flyers or social media posts, or website banners to communicate our message, but it’s more than that…
All of our design decisions are helping to craft the medium that we’re using to convey a specific message.
- When you’re choosing a font to use, consider how legible it is, and what feeling it conveys.
- When you’re selecting an image to use, think about the impression it might create.
- When you’re deciding how to lay out your text, the way you use hierarchy and emphasis will impact how it’s read and therefore how your message is received.
Every design decision we make helps communicate something. And that’s why graphic design is so important. All these decisions are what make up the medium that we’re using to communicate our message, and so these decisions have an impact on the message.
So for every design you make, think about the message that you want to be received. Consider how your choice of fonts, colour and image can enhance your message. How will your use of contrast, hierarchy and space help people focus on what you want to say? And how can your design serve the people that you’re trying to reach and start a conversation with them.
"My philosophy is, I want to do it in a simple and beautiful way. I want to keep it simple so you understand it. I want to do it beautiful so that you want to continue to look at it. So that you want to continue to share it with others."
And I think that’s a great philosophy for church graphic design and something I try to carry into my own designs for churches. I think our goal if we design for church is to create beautiful designs that help people grasp the beauty of the message. And to do it simply and clearly so that we serve the people we’re trying to reach and communicate with clarity.
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