Just as you need to get yourself familiar with English alphabets to be able to form a word or sentence so do you need to understand?graphic design?basics?to be able to come up with a design, on the other hand?design principles?are set of values that act as guide for your design processes; they’re the guideposts that should be followed to be able create an attractive and worthwhile design.
The Graphic design basics and principles are fundamental and can always be applied to any aspect of design that you venture into; the likes of UI/UX, motion design, Animate or illustration.
Before we go further let’s pause to define what?design?and?graphic design?are:?Design?is a plan of action for the implementation of an idea, activity or process while?Graphic design?is?about communication of such idea, activity or process through?visual elements and textual content.
Every visual medium, from fine art to contemporary web design, is built on the basics of design. Even seemingly trivial aspects, like the fonts used in the majority of compositions, include them.
- Line: A line is a path traced by a moving point. Lines can be straight or curved, thick or thin, and can be used to create a sense of movement, direction, or emphasis in a design.
- Shape: A shape is an enclosed area that is defined by lines or curves. Shapes can be geometric, such as circles and squares, or organic, such as freeform shapes. Shapes can be used to create visual interest, balance, and contrast in a design.
- Form: Form refers to the three-dimensional quality of an object. forms are often created using techniques such as shading, highlighting, and perspective.
- Color: Color is a powerful design element that can affect the mood, emotion, and impact of a design. Color can be used to create contrast, hierarchy, and unity in a design.
- Space: Space refers to the areas around, between, and within objects in a design. Negative space is the area around and between objects, while positive space is the area occupied by the objects themselves. The use of space can affect the balance, hierarchy, and composition of a design.
- Texture: Texture refers to the tactile quality of a surface. In graphic design, texture can be simulated through the use of patterns, lines, and other design elements.
Graphic Design Principles
These principles are a set of values that act as a guide for any design process; they’re the guideposts that should be followed to be able to create an attractive and worthwhile design.
These principles include:
- Balance:?Balance refers to the arrangement of visual elements in a way that creates a sense of equilibrium in a design. There are three types of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial.
- Contrast: Contrast refers to the use of differences in visual elements, such as color, size, or typeface, to create interest and emphasis in a design.
- Emphasis: Emphasis is a strategy that aims to draw the viewer’s attention to a specific design element. That could be to an area of content, to an image, to a link, or to a button, etc. We see emphasis used in most fields of design, including architecture, landscape design, and fashion design.
- Repetition: Repetition refers to the use of similar elements, such as color, shape, or typography, throughout a design. Repetition helps create a cohesive and consistent look and feel.
- Unity: Unity refers to the sense of cohesiveness and wholeness in a design. Unity is achieved when all the elements in a design work together to create a unified whole.
- Movement: Designers use movement to guide the user's eyes through the art to a predetermined path. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color within the work of art.
- Hierarchy: Hierarchy refers to the organization of visual elements in a way that reflects their importance or relevance. Designers use hierarchy to guide the viewer's eye through a design and emphasize the most important elements.
- Proportion: Proportion refers to the relationship between the size and scale of different visual elements in a design. Maintaining a sense of proportion can help create a cohesive and harmonious design.
Understanding these various design basics can make your design piece successful when used right. To do that, you’ll need to learn, practice, and experiment with the rules of applying them, known as the principles of design.
