Before&After: One-Line Design
How to make expressive designs easily and quickly with just a line.
A design can show strength is in its simplicity. Sometimes, all it takes is one powerful color, one line of text, one familiar shape, and anything more—photos, graphics, borders and so on—would weaken it. What’s nice for the designer is that this technique is so easy. This 15-page article from issue 41 of Before&After Magazine teaches you to make expressive designs easily and quickly with just a line.

Many images can be traced; all you need is a clear outline.

© John McWade/Before&After Magazine, courtesy of Gaye Anne McWade.
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
Recommended for you
Before&After: Callout Ideas
Pull your reader into a story by using these eye-catching techniques for callout...
Before&After: Optima: The Typeface of 9/11
How Optima brings dignity and humanity to the National September 11th Memorial.
Before&After Design Tip: Use a Ghosted Logo to Make a Great Notepad
This small notepad shows off your logo and lets your reader interact with it slo...
