How to Create a Cohesive Visual Design System with Tyler Pate, by Adobe Live on YouTube. 58 min.
- Video length
- 58 min
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Gather 3 to 5 reference images that share a mood. Place them in Illustrator with File > Place, put them on one layer and lock that layer so you can trace shapes without moving them.
Pick 5 to 7 colours: one dominant, two or three supporting shades and one accent. Add each to the Swatches panel, then double-click it and tick Global so every edit updates your artwork.
Draw 2 or 3 simple illustrations using the same stroke weight and rounded or sharp corner style. Repeat the same basic shapes so the set looks like one family.
Add texture with a brush or a grain pattern set to a low opacity, around 10 to 20 percent. Keep the texture on its own layer so you can remove it later.
Zoom out to 25 percent and check that each shape still reads clearly at sticker size. Thicken thin lines or simplify details that disappear.
Select all artwork and open Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork to swap in alternate palettes. Keep the version where every piece still looks related.
Export each asset as a PNG with a transparent background and as an SVG for scaling. Name the files by item and colour version.
Upload the assets to Firefly Boards and lay them out on packaging and sticker mockups. Check the palette holds up across formats, then adjust and re-export.
Tips and common mistakes
Fewer colours look more professional. Five well-chosen swatches beat fifteen random ones.
Global swatches save time. Change one swatch and every shape using it updates at once.
Keep one stroke weight across the whole set, or the illustrations will look like they came from different designers.
Check your accent colour against the background for contrast before you commit to it.
Questions
How many colours should a design system have?
Start with five to seven: one dominant colour, two or three supporting tones and one accent. Add neutrals like off-white or charcoal for backgrounds and text.
Do I need Firefly Boards to finish this?
No. You can test the system in any layout app or by printing a small proof. Boards is just a quick way to see the artwork on packaging and sticker mockups.
Can I reuse one palette for stickers and packaging?
Yes, that is the point of a system. Keep the same swatches and shape style, and only change the layout or scale for each product.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
