Published in · 4 min read · Jul 28, 2020
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The principles of design are the most important part of any design process. Without these principles, it would be very difficult for the users to understand the type of message that the designer is trying communicate.
Below are the lists of various design element and principles and how they impact good.
LINE
“A line is a shape that connects two or more points of a design”-gcflearnfree.org
The line is the most basic of all the design elements. It could be straight (fat or thin), wavy, curvy etc. Lines are known to appear very frequently in design, they can be used to lay emphasis, divide or organize contents or ever guide the viewer’s eyes.
SHAPE
“Shapes are a vital part of communicating ideas visually.”-gcflearnfree.org
Shapes are any two-dimensional area with a recognizable boundary. They are the foundation of so many things in a design. Shapes fall into two categories which are geometric and organic. They can be used in design in organize contents, create simple illustrations or add interest to designs.
FORM
“Form makes realism possible in 2-dimensional design.”-gcflearnfree.org
When a shape becomes 3D, it called Form. Forms can be 3-dimensional and exist in the real world or they can be implied using light, shadows and perspective to create the illusion of depth. Having a good understanding of lighting, shadows and texture can a designer bring an object to realism, but they must be used in moderation.
TEXTURE
“Texture adds depth and tactility in design to other wise flat images”-gcflearnfree.org
Texture is the physical quality of the surface, it can be 3-dimensional i.e when appear very realistic and touchable. Texture makes the object appear smooth, rough, soft or hard depending on the element to be used. Textures should be used moderately in design so as not to overwhelm the design.
BALANCE
“Balance helps the user to focus on the object that is of high importance in a design.”-gcflearnfree.org
Balance is the equal distribution of visual weight. Balance can be affected by many things including color, size, number and negative-space. The rule of 3rds is created using a 3 by 3 grid system to help the designer create a visual balance between the rest of the space.
TYPOGRAPHY
“Typography is the style or appearance of text.”-gcflearnfree.org
Typography is the appearance of text or how text are used in a particular design. It is one of the principles of design that makes a design user friendly. When choosing a font in design, less is more. One or two fonts can be used repeatedly in different styles to create good design.
HIERARCHY
“Hierarchy shows the users where to begin or where to look in order of emphasis.”-gcflearnfree.org
Hierarchy is used to guide the reader’s eyes to whatever is most important. Important items in a design are usually larger, bolder or of a different text but should be kept as simple as possible.
IMAGES
“Users are naturally drawn to visually appealing images.”-gcflearnfree.org
High quality images should be used for all types of designs. High quality images are known to be sharp, clear and free of distortions. When choosing images for a design, the designer must avoid images that lack context or are literal in meaning, the images to be used must be related to the context of the design.
COLOR
“Colors evoke certain mood or emotions in design.”-gcflearnfree.org
Colors bring a design to life. It can be used to create good contrast which makes a design stand out. In order to use colors correctly in design, the designer must understand hue (another word for color), saturation (which refers to intensity) and value (it explains how dark or light a particular color is). The color theory helps us to select the right colors for our design. There are formulas that helps to create the right colors for our design and they include monochromatic formulas, analogous formulas, Complementary colors, split complementary colors, triadic colors and tetradic colors. Colors used for designs should be readable, legible and easy on the eyes.
LAYOUT AND COMPOSITION
“Layout and composition are the foundation of design.”-gcflearnfree.org
Layout and composition gives your design structure and make it easier to navigate. There are 5 basic principles that helps to transform a design and helps to sharpen eyes for design, they are:
- Proximity: It is all about using visual space to show relationship in your context. It teaches the designer to keep related images, paragraphs and titles visually grouped together
- Whitespace: It is also referred to as negative space. It is simply the area of a design that do not include any design. It helps to define and separate different sections, it gives the content room to breathe.
- Alignment: Alignment allows proper positioning of objects in design.
- Contrast: It allows users to focus on a particular object of importance in design, it helps to catch the reader’s eyes or create emphasis. Some elements such as colors, sizes, shapes, fonts can be used to create contrast in design.
- Repetition: Certain elements in design such as shapes, fonts, colors should be reused so as to reinforce the design. Consistency in design can help to make the design easy to read and understand.
In conclusion, all the principles communicated above are what makes a design friendly and and usable, and understanding these principles is what makes a designer standout.
