How can a few colors, shapes, and patterns provoke millions every time they’re shown off? That is the wonderful trick of architecture, fashion, design, and visual art in general, and in this article we concentrate on the key concepts of all that make it work.
Definition and Importance of Design Principles
Often, when people think of the term design, they think of something tangible that they can see and touch. A chair is designed, a website is designed, a room is designed. But design is more than just a visual result.
The actual design is a plan or solution. Much of the design is informational and invisible. Design aids in communication and understanding. It allows you to experience a message more effectively. While the resulting design or finished product may be visually interesting, if its form does not follow its function, the message may be difficult to access.
Design principles are a set of tools used to communicate with the viewer. These principles apply across the board no matter how the content is to be delivered, be it print, web, video, or some other form.
Why is understanding and using the principles of design so important? Doing so will allow you to communicate your message more successfully. Just as the alphabet is the base of any spoken language, the principles of design are the basis for any visual language. Once you understand what each one can do or how each one can work, you can adapt the design to meet specific objectives for maximum impact.
Most professional/master-level designers know the rules, and they also know when it is appropriate to break them. Even though you may be a beginner or a client who does not plan to do any actual designing per se, using design principles effectively could save you time, money, and unneeded stress in the long run.
Our subconscious is receptive to design because, for centuries, basic principles of design have worked well whether in print or online.
Balance
This principle describes the arrangement of elements that create a sense of stability in a work of art.
There are three types of balance:
Symmetrical Balance (Formal Balance)
Asymmetrical Balance (Informal Balance)
Radial Balance
Perfect symmetrical balance is almost uncomfortably static. While an asymmetrical balance is much more dynamic and allows the viewer to feel more invested and interested in the composition, it has the position to stimulate and generate a more theatrical and artistic result.
Symmetrical Balance
Symmetrical balance is most commonly referred to as formal balance. It occurs when essentially similar elements are arranged relatively evenly about the center axis in a conglomerate form. It is the most accessible form of balance because it can be easily recognized and duplicated.
In art, it is often viewed as a form of visual stability. An example of this type of balance is the circle. A circle is formed around a central nucleus, and no part of it goes off at a tangent. Instead, by its very nature, it is identical throughout its span. It is free of negative space and design elements. It is completely balanced.
It often becomes the least interesting of the two types of balanced design. Graphically, however, framed in a sense both esoteric and complex, it forms a brilliant focus point.
Asymmetrical Balance
The second form of balance is asymmetrical balance. With this type, there is no hard straight line of symmetry. Rather, balance is achieved by feeling and emotion. Asymmetrical balance is also referred to as informal balance. It’s not precise, but it’s a safer way to balance, even if it’s not equal.
When we make things balance with no symmetry, we call it asymmetrical balance because the parts will differ in size and shape.
Balance can also appear in a variety of styles. Its placement and status can also determine what kind of balance it is. A symmetrical balance will appear to be safer and more natural but is lacking when it comes to differentiating proportions. A very important factor of design is to gain a sense of balance between and within the two-dimensional surfaces as well as in space with three-dimensional objects. In design, balance is crucial. When elements of design are placed correctly, then balance will be achieved.
This relates to the arrangement of design elements, the interplay of light and shadow, and color harmony.
Contrast and Emphasis
Our second principle of design is contrast, which includes emphasis. Contrast adds interest to a layout and helps its overall organization. It can also be entertaining. Without the principles of contrast and emphasis, in particular, the design begins to look messy and unorganized, has no focus, and has no hierarchy of information.
This “messiness” is not the same as complex, which denotes a lot of information presented in an understandable way. Without contrast and emphasis, the user’s focus and interest can be lost. People give organized and focused layouts more attention —and remember more of the design content—
Contrast is the degree of difference between things in the layout or between the layout and the page. Lack of contrast can make a piece visually unappealing. Contrast helps the viewer find the most important elements in the layout, keeping the viewer engaged in the message. A page that does not contain contrast —has no differences in elements such as size, shape, color, or position— can be confusing and can overwhelm the viewer. Designers weaken relationships between elements when they ignore the principle of connectedness.
Hierarchy and Scale
It would be truly impossible for me to talk about layout without mentioning hierarchy.
This gives importance to the necessary features of your page and ensures the user will get the most out of their visit. Imagine if you spent hours creating the coolest information graphics, the most hilarious blog post and featured your favorite products in the store… all on the first damn page of your site.
The user would be overwhelmed and wouldn’t know where to go first. You’ve missed your opportunity to control their user experience and guide them through your site. It’s like Disneyland. Which character do you let your kid attack first?
It’ll be important to maintain a similar scale for those headings on every page. This ensures that all of the pages provide continuity and create a solidified experience for your users. It will equally be important to be smart about what elements you do decide to scale. Because it’s a hella easy decision to emphasize all the things. It would allow that text explaining why to click things to remain the most important due to its increased hierarchical level.
Repetition and Rhythm
In our daily lives, repetition of routine, actions, thoughts, and beliefs causes rhythm. Rhythm and repetition are associated with musical terms. In the same way, they are used to create a better sense of unity. When there is a pattern or sequence created by similarity, it causes repetition and rhythm in the design. We have a built-in natural affinity for rhythm. We naturally synchronize with the rhythm and put our activity under repetition.
Rhythm, pattern, and repetition, along with the suggestion of visual connectivity, are used to manipulate and control movement. Unity among different elements is created by using the rhythm and repetition properties of design principles. In the same way, as a least dominant principle, charm is created by a small amount of variation.
Scale, color, and direction-type elements are used the most at a time. In this line, the satisfaction characteristic is achieved more often. In the same way, when the same value of repetitions is employed, it is unsatisfactory. Unity is provided and continuity is brought, which brings functional harmony, weight, and rhythm to any type of art.
Unity and Harmony
Unity and harmony are often considered to be similar qualities in art and design. Unity is defined as the relationship among the elements in the visual that helps all the elements function together. Harmony is defined as the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole. Unity can be thought of as the logical construction of a design from its individual parts. When a design is unified, the parts relate directly to each other.
Alignment and proximity are two factors that play the most important roles in creating unity.
Alignment refers to how the visual is positioned on the page. When elements in the design are aligned along a center or a common edge, they form a relationship or unity with one another. Common alignment techniques are starting all paragraphs at the same horizontal line, centering text vertically and horizontally, and maintaining uniform margins throughout the visual. Proximity concerns itself with the distance of elements on the page. Visual elements that are closely positioned are perceived as related to each other and create a sense of unity in the design.
The distance between elements carries the implication of a sense of relationship.
