Basic Desing Principles
1. Unity
In this section, you'll learn about Unity, the principle that all elements of a design should be related to one another. For example, if you were designing a website for an electronics store and you wanted to use red in your design because it's the company's brand color, then every piece of text on the site should use red as well. In other words, pick a theme and stick with it.
In the image above, while the layout is a mess, the whole image shares a sense of unity thanks to the use of the same font and color.
You can also achieve unity by making sure that all images are scaled so they work well together (no matter their size) on any given page.
The key here is consistency: If every image uses this same palette or set of colors then people will know what they're looking at when they scroll through your site or reel-to-reel catalog!
2. Hierarchy
You can use size, color, and position to organize content. You can also use a grid to organize content.
The most common way used to organize content is by using a hierarchy of visual elements. This can be size, saturation, placement, or the action of shapes.
In the above image, Hierarchy is shown with size, color, and placement. You can use Hierarchy to draw the eye, show importance, or simply move the viewer's attention around the page.
3. Emphasis
Emphasis is the act of making important information stand out. Emphasis can also be used to make someone take notice of what you want them to see while overlooking what you don't want them to see. And the more you emphasize important information, the more likely people will be to remember it.
Importance can be emphasized through contrast (boldface, italics, and underlining), color, size, position, font choice and style (such as italicized), symbols such as arrows, exclamation points, or icons—the list goes on and on!
Repetition is also a great way to emphasize an idea; just don't overdo it lest your audience thinks that you're being repetitive for no reason (and then they'll probably forget what you were trying to say in the first place).
4. Rhythm
Rhythm is the repetition of elements, which creates a sense of unity and cohesiveness throughout your design. It's important to have a good grasp on this principle because you'll use it on a regular basis when designing for users and other interface elements (like buttons). The key thing to remember is that everything needs rhythm—even if it's just a single line! For example:
5. Balance
Balance is the distribution of visual weight in a composition. Visual weight is the perceived visual mass of an element, and it's influenced by size and proximity. If you have several equally sized elements in a row, they won't look evenly distributed. Instead, one will seem heavier than the others and attract more attention because of its relative size compared to its neighbors.
The easiest way to get the balance right is to use the geometric form: rectangles (with their implied lines), triangles, circles, and squares all represent equilibrium visually. These forms are naturally balanced—when you arrange them on a page or screen, there's no need for additional effort on your part! Other basic forms include triangles within squares or rectangles; these create tension but also offer symmetry.
It's also important to note that balance doesn't just apply to the positive space (elements and designs in your piece) but also to the negative space (areas in the piece without elements or art). Balance can also be applied to typography, composition as a whole, and color.
Design can make or break a piece
Regardless of what you're making, if someone has to see it, design is being implemented Even if it's being implemented poorly. Good design can help guide the eye to where you want it, help to highlight or hide aspects, and even help in the learning process with new software or games. Bad design can do all the same, but with disastrous effects.
The examples above are simple, but when you use these foundational techniques to build your design, you will undoubtedly have a more effective and aesthetically pleasing result.
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