The other day, I was asked to design the cover art of a brand-new podcast show.

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I can't wait to show you when it's done.

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But like most people, I open up Spotify to research podcast art to see what's out there, looking for different ways to differentiate.

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While looking for examples, I kept bumping into art like this:

Now, I have never listened to this show, and I'm sure they're nice and smart.

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But I can tell there was some struggle in designing this cover.

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This is what pond design looks like.

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A pond has constraints. It's limited in how you navigate it. You're either in a pond, or not in a pond. (Maybe that should have been my subject line?)

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Pond design is when you try to fit everything into it perfectly.

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The cover of Modern Marketing says, ”Let's just cram everything in edge to edge.”

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Then, let's smash our heads into the title because no space should be left behind.

Pond design ignores the Rule of Thirds by placing the eyes directly in the center of the canvas, working against the visual priority because we can't help but stare into their souls.

What's the opposite of pond design? Waterfalls baby.

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Waterfall design spills over the edge, like this one from Rich Roll.

It's like a large picture window that entices you to peek around the edges, knowing there's more to the story.

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Waterfall design uses the direction of the eyes to lead you into the title or off the canvas.

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Waterfall design has a natural visual stack, overlapping elements without default drop shadows.

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Notice how the word "PODCAST" and the logo is small, subtle, and off-white? Because it's not essential and therefore it's smaller, lower contrast, and hardly noticeable as it should be.

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You don't need to rely on effects or squeeze the white space from your canvas just because you can.

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But if you learn to design like a waterfall, you'll start creating timeless images that don't look like everything else.

p.s. This Friday, I'm launching a design bundle that shows how to design images like a waterfall. You'll also get over 200 hand-picked examples to inspire you as you learn, along with my most popular course to create your own personalized design kit.

p.p.s. It's going to be called The 80/20 Black Friday Design Bundle (that is also sold on Saturday, Sunday, and maybe Monday but definitely NOT Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Simple.)

9740 N Riverside Rd, Mequon, Wisconsin 53092
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