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Principles of Design
From Jacci Howard Bear, About.com Guide
The principles of design suggest effective and pleasing ways to arrange text and graphics on the page as well as the arrangement of individual elements within illustration, logos, and the overall graphic design of a document. Generally, all the principles of design apply to any piece you may create. How you apply those principles of design determines how effective your design is in conveying the desired message and how attractive it appears.
There is seldom only one correct way to apply each of these graphic design principles. Not all sources agree on which are the most important graphic design principles although alignment, balance, consistency, contrast, proximity, and white space are the most widely recognized principles of design.
Blog / What's New | Forum | Graphic Design Information
The principles of design suggest effective and pleasing ways to arrange text and graphics on the page as well as the arrangement of individual elements within illustration, logos, and the overall graphic design of a document. Generally, all the principles of design apply to any piece you may create. How you apply those principles of design determines how effective your design is in conveying the desired message and how attractive it appears.
There is seldom only one correct way to apply each of these graphic design principles. Not all sources agree on which are the most important graphic design principles although alignment, balance, consistency, contrast, proximity, and white space are the most widely recognized principles of design.
Blog / What's New | Forum | Graphic Design Information
- Alignment (7)
- Balance (2)
- Consistency / Repetition (7)
- Contrast (6)
- Gestalt (7)
- Golden Rectangle (6)
- Proximity (4)
- White Space (4)
- Elements of Design
- Graphic Design Basics
Principles of Design
Generally, all the principles of design apply to any piece you may create. How you apply those principles determines how effective your design is in conveying the desired message and how attractive it appears. There is seldom only one correct way to apply each principle but check your documents to see how well you have applied each of these six principles of graphic design.
Related to these design principles:
Dig deeper into: Alignment | Balance | Consistency & Repetition | Contrast | Proximity | White Space
Related to these design principles:
- Emphasis
An element of a design that dominates or becomes the center of interest has emphasis. Learn how to use the elements and principles of design to create emphasis and a focal point for page layouts.
- Form and Function
The Elements and Principles of Design combine to create the form and support the function of a piece.
- Gestalt
"The sum of the whole is greater than its parts" is the idea behind the principle of gestalt.
- Golden Ratio, Phi, and the Golden Rectangle
Found in nature as well as the work of man, the golden rectangle or golden section is a visually pleasing geometric shape with specific proportions that can enhance a page layout.
Dig deeper into: Alignment | Balance | Consistency & Repetition | Contrast | Proximity | White Space
Emphasis and How It Works With the Principles and Elements of Design
An element of a design that dominates or becomes the center of interest has emphasis. Learn how to use the elements and principles of design to create emphasis and a focal point for page layouts.
Form and Function in Desktop Publishing
The Elements and Principles of Design combine to create the form and support the function of a piece.