October 13, 2008 – 10:36 pm
Have you ever seen a design that looks so absolutely perfect all you can do is stand in awe of its aesthetic qualities? What is it about those pieces that make them so visually stunning? And, more importantly, how can YOU create a design like this?
The answer is Proportion.
As always, as you read through this article, notice the uses of the elements and principles of design. See how proportion depends on them and helps create and support other principles.
What is Proportion? Proportion can be recognized in several ways; it is the use of the design elements size and scale, evenly distributing the viewer’s attention and the use of the golden ratio.
September 10, 2008 – 7:00 am
I’ve written about the principle of emphasis before, in Stand Out from the Crowd, where I gave practical ways to emphasize different parts of your design. You will see that much of emphasis is achieved through strategic use of the principle of contrast.
The principle of emphasis is used to support direction. Think of emphasis as the stepping stones on the path of direction; emphasis tells the viewer what is important and where to look next.
Emphasis supports balance, too. If your focal point is smack in the center of the layout, that’s rather boring, but use the rule of thirds to place your eye-catching element and you instantly improve the layout.
What is Emphasis?
Emphasis is about hierarchy. Although many other principles contribute to hierarchy, emphasis is what they all ultimately lead to.
August 27, 2008 – 7:00 am
The design principle of economy is the embodiment of the quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery: “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
What is Economy?
The Principle of Economy is the idea that you use as much as you need to communicate the message. This does not mean that the design is minimalistic, but rather that it only contains the essential.
August 13, 2008 – 7:00 am
Direction is realized in the movement of the eye through a design. It helps you as a designer to draw attention to the key points of the layout. Direction gives peace to the design because as a viewer, you know exactly where to go next in the information and you are not left feeling overwhelmed. Direction is used to create focus, emphasize important areas and organize information. Learn more about this vital principle of design and see some examples of it in use.
Contrast is an opposition of attributes. It can be present in any of the elements of design—not just value with which it is commonly associated—which is why it is not grouped with them as an element. You don’t always have to make objects be in high contrast to each other, though; low contrasting items can contribute to the sense of unity within a piece.
I often associate a strong sense of balance with yoga. When you do balance poses like tree, you have to make sure you are well grounded, otherwise you’ll topple over! You also have to maintain a sense of strength in your core and pushing your foot against your leg helps you offset having your leg turned out to the side.
Balance in design is the same way. The balance of a piece is like the underlying structure, the core, than supports the rest of the design.
As you read, notice the uses of the elements and principles of design. See how balance depends on them and helps create and support other principles.
The elements and principles of design are two distinct categories of theories, building blocks and practices that make up the discipline of design. They give us a common language so that we can effectively discuss and critique designs. They also aid us in the design process because the principles and elements of design give us a guide or a standard to reference when we feel our design is lacking.
I have a sticky note that I keep tacked up next to my monitor that lists the elements and principles and two questions:
* How do each affect the mood?
* How do each contribute to the message and the delivery of that message?
