What Is a Cliche in Graphic Design?

A cliche in graphic design is a visually appealing element that has become widely used and overused to the point of being considered a cliché. Clichés are often used as a shortcut to creating arresting designs quickly, with little thought or effort.

The most commonly used clichés in graphic design are stock images, typefaces, and symbols. Stock images are photographs or illustrations that have been widely circulated among designers and can be found on popular stock image websites. These images are often generic and can be seen in many different designs, making them easily recognizable and unoriginal.

Typefaces, or fonts, also fall under the category of graphic design clichés. Certain fonts have become overly familiar due to their popularity among designers; these fonts are often seen as a sign of laziness or lack of creativity when used in design work. Symbols such as arrows, stars, speech bubbles, and hearts also qualify as clichés when they appear frequently throughout a piece of design work.

Clichéd elements should generally be avoided in design work; however, there may be certain exceptions where it is appropriate to use them. For example, if the goal is to create something quickly or evoke an emotion from the viewer quickly through the use of familiar symbols, certain clichés may be necessary for achieving that goal. It is important for designers to understand when it is appropriate to use clichés so they can avoid relying too heavily on them in their work.

Conclusion: In conclusion, a cliche in graphic design is an element that has been so widely used as to become unoriginal and overused. Common examples include stock images, typefaces, and symbols such as arrows or hearts. Clichés should generally be avoided in design work; however there may be exceptions where they can be useful if used appropriately by the designer.