Take a piece of paper and a writing implement and draw a line.
What does your line look like? Is it straight or curvy? Does it vary in size and weight?
What is a Line?
A line connects two points. Lines come in every shape and size. They are one way to define space and shape, and they can give the illusion of dimension.
How You Can Use Line to Enhance Your Designs
The element of line can be used:
1. as a texture
2. to define a space
3. to emphasize
4. to set a mood
5. to create motion or movement
6. as an illusion of perspective
Lines as Texture
The perfect example of lines as texture is US dollar bills. The images are all made up of intricate little lines that create a texture. The type of texture used in the US dollar bills is called contour lines. They define the image as well as add texture to it. Crosshatching is another artistic technique that uses lines to create texture. Depending on the thickness and density of the lines, crosshatching also creates value, which we will discuss in a future post.
Defining Lines
Space can be defined by drawing a line. Generally these create outlines of shapes and are the beginnings of defining an object’s form.
Set Apart
Lines are effectively used to separate a piece of important information from the rest of a layout. They can emphasize information, as an underline does, or they can completely cut off an element from the whole piece, as seen in many pull quotes in books or magazines.
Can Lines Really Set a Mood?
Lines can create a feeling just as easily as any other element. If straight, mono-weight lines are evenly space, it feels orderly and proper. If straight lines are crisscrossing each other at all odd angles that feels tense and out of control. If curved, squiggly lines of varying weight are intersecting each other all over the canvas, this lends to a mood of chaos and confusion.
Lines to Move an Object
Lines are often an easy way to denote motion. When they are at a slant, this can show that an object is moving with great speed. If they curve slightly, the shape can appear to be bouncing or quivering.
Don’t Trust Your Eyes
Line weight and angle are what will make your mind think you are looking at something in three dimensions. Thinner weights make a line look like it’s farther away. Lines that are close together appear to be farther away as well, while more spaced out lines look like they are closer to you. Imagine telephone or power poles on a long highway. Another way to use line to define dimension is vary it with thick and thin weights, so that it appears to turn in space, like a ribbon. Lines, just like any other element, can also be blurred or crisp, which is a way to define the object’s distance from the viewer. Blurry lines are generally very far away or extremely close up, while crisp lines are in focus.
Action Steps
Make it a point next time you design to use the element of line to create your desired effect, whether it be a texture, space, emphasis, mood, movement or perspective.
How do you consciously use line in your designs?
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12 responses so far ↓
1 inspirationbit // Aug 3, 2007 at 4:29 pm
when designing a website mockup, I always start with lines. If I’m designing professionally looking, techy or masculine sites, I start my sketch with straight lines. If I’m designing soft feminine sites, then I start with curves, and the rest just somehow falls in nicely together.
Sometimes I’d add a few straight lines to the otherwise feminine and curvy design, to bring some order to it, or on the contrary, add some curves to an otherwise straight and boxy layout to soften it a bit and make it more inviting.
Great post to ponder upon, Lauren!
2 Jean Browman // Aug 3, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I loved that first curvy line that ended in a heart and also the section on lines setting the mood. It really illustrated what you’re talking about.
Also, good for you for jumping in and getting started. What a waste it would have been if you had waited for your idea of perfection.
Great site!
3 LaurenMarie // Aug 3, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Vivien, using the contrast of curvy and straight is a great way to use line in your design. How do you think you’ll use some of the examples here in your next design? Maybe try adding varying line weights as another type of contrast?
Jean, welcome! Great to see you here. And thank you for the complements :)
4 inspirationbit // Aug 4, 2007 at 1:56 am
I haven’t been using lines as a texture that much, so that would be my focus in the next design. Yes, the varying line weights add a lot to the visual interest.
5 Tara: Graphic Design Blog // Aug 4, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Nice idea to focus on the small elements of design ie. the line. Sometimes I get wrapped up so much in a design that you forget about the small details that bring a design to life. I know sometimes when I design and add a swish or shape to a design and suddenly there is an element to “hang” the whole design on. It makes a design recognisable as a certain service or product when it is run through a campaign, almost like a logo.
There are soem excellent exercises using lines and doodles at http://www.illustrationclass.com/?p=48
6 LaurenMarie // Aug 4, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Glad you found something inspirational, Vivien
My first few posts will be focusing on these elements of design. I thought it might be good to start with the basics. Like you said, Tara, even the pros can forget about them sometimes!
Oh, yes, Glitschka! I remember seeing his stuff for the first time through a link on your blog! That is a great exercise. Looking at the graphic on the top, I’ve seen whole design pieces with that style (and I bet it’s pretty easy to do). Thanks for the link, Tara.
7 redsil // Aug 4, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Straight lines make the world go round.
Nice piece, Lauren. I’m a big fan of the humble line, especially the straight one. As a child I used to copy the etchings of Rembrandt over and over again, and an artist friend of the family taught me to draw straight lines and circles and ellipses with even and varying weights. To this day, I start any design with four straight lines (a box), and then draw a rough grid (lines that will later be invisible).
In design, lines can really hold things together, or differentiate space, like the horizontal rules on this page or the white space separating columns of type. One cannot overestimate the importance of “line”, visible or otherwise. Thanks for the reminder.
8 LaurenMarie // Aug 5, 2007 at 12:01 am
I’m glad you enjoyed, John. And I believe if we were to illustrate it, we would have some curved lines making the world go round
That’s awesome that you have mastered the line. And you’re spot on, lines can really add a lot of personality to a design piece.
9 Creative Fix — July 2007 | graphic design, art, typography and architecture // Aug 5, 2007 at 8:10 am
[…] angels singing, etc) has finally started a blog. Creative Curio already has a great post entitled Get in Line, Now!, a piece in praise of the humble line. Be sure to subscribe to Creative Curio, or you might miss […]
10 redsil // Aug 6, 2007 at 2:12 am
I still have a long, long way to go until mastery… :)
11 Michael from Pro Blog Design // Aug 17, 2007 at 7:21 am
You give some really fantastic examples with each of your points. Great work. :D
12 LaurenMarie // Aug 17, 2007 at 7:37 am
Thanks Michael. I hope you’ll stick around and see what else is in store! I’ve got some good topics planned.
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