# 003: Graphic Design Tips

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2016-03-09
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips
- Listen: http://www.theproductstartup.com/episode-3-heidi-pungartnik-with-design-for-founders/

## Summary

Heidi Pungartnik, founder of Design for Founders, explains how graphic design drives business conversions rather than just aesthetics. She advises founders to use pre-made templates for early validation and to create 'style tiles' to establish visual consistency without the cost of full web development. Key design decisions discussed include limiting fonts to two from the same family, using high-contrast colors for call-to-action buttons, and leveraging white space to create a premium feel. Pungartnik emphasizes that design is about communication and sales, recommending A/B testing to optimize user experience and conversion rates.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips#t=0) Introduction: Heidi Pungartnik and Design for Founders
- [3:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips#t=221) The Case for Using Templates in Early Stages
- [6:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips#t=411) Font Pairing and Style Tiles for Consistency
- [13:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips#t=824) Color Selection and Contrast for Conversions
- [18:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips#t=1110) Spacing, Grids, and the Power of White Space
- [23:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips#t=1421) Visual Hierarchy and Logo Simplicity
- [31:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips#t=1880) A/B Testing and Measuring Design Impact

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Design for Founders (company)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- Savage Jerky Company (company)
- Flat UI Colors (other)
- Adobe Culer (tool)
- Google Analytics (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How to Mind your Packaging, Branding, (and the Font) with Designer and Agency Owner Kirk Visola (2021)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-12-21-how-to-mind-your-packaging-branding-and-the-font-with-designer-and-agency-owner) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Episode 088: Making your mark](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-09-16-episode-088-making-your-mark) (Making It)
- [#69 How to Design a High Converting Ecommerce Website](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-11-15-69-how-to-design-a-high-converting-ecommerce-website) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Advice Line: What’s Your Value?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-19-advice-line-whats-your-value) (How I Built This)
- [27 - Kirk Visola from Mind The Font](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-19-27-kirk-visola-from-mind-the-font) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-03-09-003-graphic-design-tips. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Product Startup.