How to create design templates in Adobe Illustrator and why it supports your brand identity
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There are a few things I like less than templates. I think they can lead to a lazy way of designing what needs to be quality work and should be designed solely for one individual.
That said, I also think templates can help in the right context and when created for one entity. If you create new design templates for your small business, it can help set you apart rather than hurt your business in the long run.
When it comes to design templates, I believe they can help small businesses when used in the right context. If you are creating and designing quality, individual work, your business can improve with consistent template designs in their brand identity.
It can be both difficult and easy to make a template in Adobe Illustrator. While it’s only a simple click of a button, it can be overwhelming when creating recurring designs for your business. Keep calm as you design your templates, and remember, you still can change them as you need.
I find template designs the easiest to manage when I need things to upload seamlessly. I tend to upload in bulk to Tailwind Plus and schedule everything out over a few weeks. Then I can leave it and not think about any of my content until I need to upload and schedule new content.
Here are a few ways I’ve created processes to design template designs in Adobe Illustrator and a few ways I use my design templates for my business.
How to create a template in Adobe Illustrator
What’s an effective way to design a template in Adobe Illustrator? There are a few ways to make converting templates in Adobe Illustrator. Here are five steps I use to create Adobe Illustrator design templates.
Pick your image sizes
Thankfully, Adobe Illustrator allows you to house multiple image sizes within the same document. Want to make templates that cross over from Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? You can make each platform’s images in their various size variants in one Adobe Illustrator template document.
Create one of the artboard’s elements
I say this step to save you time in the long run. Focus your design energy on one platform, I prefer Instagram posts, but you do you, rather than design each platform all at once. As the design becomes more solidified in how you want it to look, you can move across platforms and arrange similar elements in different formats.
Copy the design elements to the other artboards
Now that you’ve made one of your images transfer those same elements to your other artboards. If things move around, that’s alright. You’re more focused on creating similar design elements on each artboard than having them in the same place on every image. I continuously use my Instagram posts and stories with similar features and finish things off by scheduling everything in Tailwind Plus.
Determine what will need to be changed
You might have things you need to change each time you create a new image, like photos or text. Determine which elements need to be changed and replaced. You might need to determine how small or large text can be on your image or how it needs to be proportioned or placed.
Save as a template
Initially, you’ll save this as a template if you plan to create various files, such as using different dates or similar events. Every time you open the template document, you will need to resave the artboards with a new name that describes your work. If you plan on only exporting images, I will export the file as a .ai file, so you can keep everything this same, but not have to deal with a new .ai file every time you open an Adobe Illustrator template.
Why and Where to use templates in Adobe Illustrator for your brand identity
You’re probably curious where you can use Adobe Illustrator templates and how to use them to create a credible brand identity for your business? There are so many ways and places to create consistent brand templates that you can use! Here are five of my favorite ways to use Adobe Illustrator template designs.
Social Media
Instagram templates are great to create in Adobe Illustrator templates. Social Media should have various authentic content and new content and graphics to have a happy algorithm for your feed. When you can create a template, try it out on Instagram or Facebook to keep a strategized plan when it comes to posting to social media.
Pinterest Pins
I love Pinterest, but it became much easier once I understood how to create various template designs in Adobe Illustrator. I can regularly make multiple pins and strategize them throughout the month with new design templates in a .ai file. I use Tailwind Plus to make scheduling my Pinterest pins easier once I export them from Adobe Illustrator.
Logo Designs
While you should have a few alternatives and different color versions for your logo design, it’s easier to make a template for your various logo designs. Keeping all of your logo designs in one place will also help you create consistent sizing and coloring within your Adobe Illustrator template files.
Website Graphics
I use graphics throughout my website design and keep everything within one Adobe Illustrator design template to make my icons consistent sizes and styles to match my brand identity. You can do the same when you create or use icons and need to transfer them throughout other graphics you might need them in for your brand.
Ad designs
Rather than use another stock photo, see if a graphic or icon would suit your advertisements. You might not need various templates for creating an ad, but it can help create graphics or illustrations across multiple platforms. Find ad designs that line up with your brand and see about creating illustrations that are more targeted to your brand identity with an Adobe Illustrator template design.