30 Jan Should You Ditch Your Generic Templates This Year? (Spoiler: Yes.)
If you’ve ever opened a brochure and thought, “Wait… haven’t I seen this before?” there’s a good chance you have.
Generic templates get around. They’re the social butterflies of the design world: everywhere, with everyone, all at once.
They’re convenient, sure. But they also create the kind of déjà vu that makes your brand blend right into the background.
So, let’s talk about those templates you’ve been using “just until we have time to update this.” (Spoiler: it’s been three years.)
Uniqueness, a multi-colored snail takes off on a rocket against the background of snails. Competitive advantage, standing out from the crowd, thinking outside the box. 3D render, 3D illustration
Templates Were Designed to Be Easy, Not Unique
There’s no shame in starting with a template. They’re fast. They’re accessible. They make you feel like a design wizard in minutes.
But here’s the catch: templates were built to work for anyone.
Which means they usually end up working for everyone.
That postcard you like?
Someone else likes it, too.
Actually… a few thousand someone elses.
Your brand deserves more than a layout designed for whoever clicked “download” that day.
When “Good Enough” Starts Causing Problems
Template issues tend to show up at the end of a project, right when you’re ready to print.
Maybe the margins are too tight.
Maybe the fonts don’t embed correctly.
Maybe the pretty layout doesn’t survive trimming.
Maybe the file exports in a format no one’s computer recognizes.
Templates weren’t created with your brand, your designer, or printing in mind.
They’re one-size-fits-most… and “most” is rarely the look you’re going for.
Your Customers Notice More Than You Think
Customers may not be able to explain what feels off, but they notice when a printed piece doesn’t feel intentional.
- A notecard that looks like a school fundraiser.
- A flyer with the same layout as the restaurant down the street.
- An envelope that’s “close enough” to your brand colors.
- A brochure that feels like it came from a public template library.
Those details send subtle signals, the kind you don’t want representing your business.
Your work might be exceptional, but the template sometimes tells a different story.
Good News: You Don’t Have to Ditch Templates Entirely
Templates make great starting points.
Customize them with:
- Your in-house marketing team
- Your designer
- Your favorite freelance creative
- Ask us!
Once the design reflects your real brand (your colors, your tone, your layout needs), then you bring it to be printed.
That’s where the print pros step in to help with the technical side:
- checking the file setup
- catching margin and bleed issues
- ensuring colors behave
- confirming everything will trim cleanly
- helping avoid production surprises
This Is the Year Your Brand Graduates From Look-Alike Layouts
Your business isn’t generic, so your printed materials shouldn’t be either.
Whether you’re updating a postcard, a flyer, a brochure, a notecard, or that template-based form your team quietly keeps reusing, this is the year to give your brand something intentional.
Something that looks like it came from you and not from page one of a template site.
If you want a second opinion on whether your file is print-ready, or you’d like to compare template options before you customize them, we’re here to help anytime.