Ever wondered why some brands just don’t feel trustworthy or professional? Why do some designs seem cheap, even if the product or service is top-notch?

It often comes down to a few simple design mistakes we overlook—bad fonts, clutter, poor contrast and inconsistent branding. These slip-ups can seriously harm your brand’s reputation and, ultimately, your bottom line.

At Cleartwo, we help businesses spot these design pitfalls early and put solutions in place that make a real difference. Let me break this down for you: here are the most common design mistakes to avoid so you can build a brand that genuinely stands out for all the right reasons.

Image showing a cluttered and inconsistent brand design with mismatched fonts and contrasting colours—classic signs that make brands look unprofessional and cheap.

Why Are Bad Fonts a Big Deal for Your Brand?

Think about the last time you glanced at a website or flyer. Did the fonts make you want to stick around or run for the hills? Fonts aren’t just decoration—they set the tone and help you communicate your message clearly.

Using too many fonts, or fonts that don’t work well together, instantly looks messy and unprofessional. When fonts clash, it distracts your audience and lowers the value of your offering.

Here’s the real talk: More than two or three fonts makes your brand look like it’s trying too hard, or worse, that it lacks focus. For example, pairing a clean sans-serif font for body text with a bold sans-serif or serif for headings creates strong hierarchy and improves readability.

We worked with a local Manchester business with over 15 staff who used four different fonts across their materials. Their message was confusing, and leads slipped through the cracks because customers struggled to read their communications. We simplified their typography to two fonts. Three months later, their conversion rates increased by 18%. Why? Because clarity builds confidence.

How Cluttered Layouts Undermine Your Brand’s Credibility

Ever opened a flyer or website that felt like an info overload that just swamps your customer? Too much content packed into every corner with no breathing room—that’s cluttered design.

Clutter overwhelms users and makes it hard to focus on your key message. It’s not just annoying; it causes visitors to bounce or lose interest fast.

Good design uses white space, or empty space, deliberately. It helps your content breathe and guides the eye naturally to what’s important.

Try using a grid layout to organise your content. One clear message per section helps users process information step by step. Clean layouts also improve mobile experience, which is critical for UK audiences where mobile browsing dominates.

For example, a client in Birmingham had a busy homepage crammed with text, images and buttons. We restructured their site with white space and clear hierarchy. The result? Engagement went up by 25% within two months.

Why Poor Contrast Is More Than Just Ugly

Contrast in design means placing elements that stand out next to each other—usually colour contrast between text and background.

Poor contrast makes text hard to read. It frustrates visitors and reduces accessibility for people with visual impairments. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend specific contrast ratios to ensure text is legible for everyone.

There are free tools like Contrast Checker that help you test your colour palettes easily.

We helped a startup in London whose brand colours were elegant but caused readability issues on digital ads. Adjusting their contrast improved click-through rates by 22% because their message was finally visible and inviting.

Inconsistent Branding Costs You Recognition—and Revenue

Does your logo, font and colour scheme stay the same across your website, social media and print materials? If not, you’re training your audience to forget you fast.

Consistency builds trust. When every touchpoint looks and feels the same, you reinforce your brand identity and make it easier for customers to recognise and remember you.

A simple style guide is your best friend here. It sets clear rules on how your brand should look and speak across all channels.

Cleartwo offers style guide templates and branding audits to help you lock in consistent messaging and visuals. It’s not a one-and-done fix; staying consistent takes ongoing effort. But this investment pays off with a major impact on how seriously your business is taken.

Quick Self-Check: Spot These Design Mistakes in Your Brand

• Too many fonts
• Cluttered layouts
• Poor colour contrast
• Inconsistent logos
• Mixed messaging tone
• Low-quality images
• Lack of whitespace

Spend 10 minutes scanning your materials for these red flags. Fixing them will instantly boost your brand’s perceived value.

Practical Tips to Clean Up Your Brand Design

1. Choose two main fonts: One for headers, one for body text. Use free Google Fonts for quality options.
2. Embrace white space: Don’t fill every inch; let elements breathe.
3. Test contrast: Use tools to ensure your text is readable on all backgrounds.
4. Create a style guide: Define colours, fonts, logos and tone for consistency.
5. Keep images sharp: Avoid pixelation or stretched images.
6. Review all platforms: Check website, social, print for consistent branding.
7. Get feedback: Show designs to fresh eyes; they spot what you miss.

How Cleartwo Helps You Move Forward with Confidence

Your brand is your biggest asset. Getting design right isn’t rocket science but it takes know-how, focus and discipline. Cleartwo supports businesses by auditing design elements, offering clear action plans, and guiding through technical fixes.

Whether it’s simplifying your typography, decluttering your website or making your brand consistent across channels, we make sure these issues don’t hold you back. The results? Clearer messaging, better customer engagement, stronger market position.

Want to see how these changes could impact your business? We offer practical consultations tailored to your brand’s unique needs. Let’s get this sorted, together.

For more on building a strong brand, check out our guide on how to develop a brand identity that sticks and our advice on key design principles every small business should know. Ready to audit your current materials? Explore our free branding audit checklist.

Wrap Up: Don’t Let Design Mistakes Hold Your Brand Back

Here’s the bottom line: bad fonts, clutter, poor contrast and inconsistent branding don’t just look cheap—they erode trust and cost sales. Start by fixing simple things like typography and contrast, then lock in consistent branding.

This is about practical moves that work on the ground—no fancy tricks, just clear, effective design that helps your brand grow. With steady effort and the right approach, you can turn your brand from overlooked to unforgettable.

Let’s move forward on this. Your brand deserves to be taken seriously.