Aesthetics of Your PCB Designs
How to Improve the Aesthetics of Your PCB Designs (Without Compromising Functionality)
In most PCB design workflows, the primary focus is understandably on function — signal integrity, power delivery, EMI performance, manufacturability, and reliability. But what about aesthetics? Can a PCB be beautiful — and does that even matter?
In this article, we’ll explore why aesthetics in PCB design can matter more than you think — especially when it comes to usability, manufacturability, branding, and visual clarity. Drawing from real-world examples and lessons learned from previous designs, we’ll also go over practical tips you can apply today to make your PCB designs cleaner, more professional-looking, and easier to use.
Why PCB Aesthetics Matter (Sometimes More Than You Think)
Before we dive into techniques, let’s address the obvious: in most products, the PCB is hidden from the end user. So, is aesthetics even worth the effort?
Yes — and here’s why:
Manufacturability: Clean layouts reduce assembly errors and improve test coverage.
Debugging and Testing: Well-organized boards are easier to probe and troubleshoot.
User-friendliness: Clearly labeled headers and logical component placement make developer boards easier to use.
Professionalism: If you’re showing your board to clients, recruiters, or on a portfolio — visual appeal does matter.
Marketing & Branding: Visually distinctive PCBs stand out, especially for dev kits or demo units.
Of course, aesthetics should never come at the cost of functionality, cost, or time to market. But done right, it can be the difference between a design that works and a design that wows.
What Makes a PCB Aesthetic?
Aesthetic design isn’t about adding unnecessary elements — it’s about clarity, consistency, and thoughtful layout. Let’s look at key factors and tips:
1. Use a Consistent and Sensible Grid
Using a structured placement grid improves alignment, spacing, and trace routing.
Tips:
Avoid placing parts off-grid — it breaks symmetry and increases visual clutter.
Use a moderate grid (e.g., 0.25 mm) for part placement.
Avoid overly tight placement; give parts breathing space while maintaining proximity where needed.
Group similar parts (resistor banks, decoupling caps) in straight, aligned rows.
2. Partition Your Board Logically
Good design separates analog, digital, power, and RF sections. This improves both performance and aesthetics.
Example partitioning:
Digital signals bottom left
Analog top right
Power top left
Control interfaces bottom edge
This makes routing easier, testing simpler, and the board more visually intuitive.
3. Thoughtful Trace Routing
Messy routing can instantly make a design look amateurish — and function poorly.
Best practices:
Maintain even spacing between parallel traces (especially for buses or differential pairs).
Route into pads centrally when possible to avoid sharp angles or acid traps.
Avoid "necking down" traces unnecessarily.
Use teardrops for vias and pad transitions where appropriate.
Keep trace entries clean, especially for fine-pitch devices.
4. Optimize Silkscreen Placement
Clear, non-overlapping silkscreen contributes to both looks and usability.
Recommendations:
Don’t place silkscreen over vias or exposed copper.
Label connectors clearly (e.g., "UART IN", "SCL", "SDA").
Use consistent fonts and sizes — minimum 1.5 mm text height is a good rule.
Consider inverted labels (white text on a filled box) for highlighting key areas.
Include useful info: board version, test checkboxes, logo, designer initials, manufacturing date, etc.
5. Choose a Suitable Surface Finish and Solder Mask Color
Choosing a different solder mask color or surface finish can dramatically affect how your PCB looks — and how it performs.
Popular options:
Matte Black + Yellow Silkscreen: Sleek, modern look. Great for dev boards.
ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold): Excellent for flat pads and long shelf life.
Matte Blue / White / Red: Aesthetic variants that can match brand colors.
Green: Still the industry standard — cheap and functional.
Just keep in mind that:
Exotic solder masks may increase cost or affect minimum trace/spacing rules.
ENIG is more expensive than HASL but has functional benefits for fine-pitch and SMT.
6. Round Off PCB Corners
Rounded corners not only look better but are more practical for manufacturing.
Why it matters:
Most PCBs are milled — sharp corners aren’t ideal and will be rounded by the fab anyway.
Rounded edges prevent wear on cables, enclosures, or handling gloves.
Makes the board look polished — literally.
7. Keep the Enclosure in Mind
If the board goes into an enclosure, design for the enclosure — don’t just adapt after the fact.
Tips:
Place connectors and mechanical components (LEDs, switches) symmetrically and aligned with enclosure cutouts.
Use metric or imperial round numbers (e.g., 10.0 mm, not 10.125 mm) for alignment.
Collaborate with mechanical designers early.
8. Add Branding and Production Info
A clean board with no logo or version info is a missed opportunity.
Consider adding:
Your personal or company logo
Board name and version (e.g., DSP-BRD-V1.2)
Manufacturing date
Test box or check area for QA
Serial number space for production runs
This improves traceability and shows pride in your work.
Aesthetics That Serve a Purpose
Many aesthetic improvements also deliver functional benefits. For example:
Consistent grid placement
Easier routing, better pick-and-place accuracy
Partitioned sections
Improved EMI, easier debugging
Clean silkscreen
Faster assembly, lower soldering errors
Rounded corners
Better fit in enclosures, safer handling
Teardrops and spacing
Improved signal integrity, easier probing/testing
Bonus: Manufacturer Support
In the video this article is based on, all modern PCBs shown were manufactured and assembled by PCBWay, a Chinese PCB manufacturer offering a wide range of customization, including:
HDI boards
Up to 60 layers
Controlled impedance
Flexible solder mask and silkscreen options
They also support advanced finishes like ENIG, edge plating, and custom stackups — great for both aesthetics and performance.
You can use the coupon PCBWAY-FILLSLAB (linked in the original video) for a discount if you want to try their services.
Final Thoughts
Aesthetic PCB design isn't about showing off — it's about thoughtful, professional craftsmanship. While function and reliability are always top priorities, taking the extra time to refine the visual aspects of your board can pay dividends in:
Usability
Assembly
Debugging
Marketing
Personal satisfaction
Start small: clean up silkscreen, align your parts, and avoid messy routing. Over time, these habits will become second nature, and your PCBs will not only work well — they’ll look like they were designed by someone who cares.
Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to Phil's Lab on YouTube for more advanced PCB design tips and tutorials — and don't forget to leave a comment if you have questions or want to share your own design improvements!
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