Discuss Four Major Principles of Design
CAREER RELEVANCY
Being able to apply the principles of design is an essential part of working professionally as a designer. Clients and employers will not only expect their graphic designer to master the tools of design, they will also have to master the principles of design in order to make aesthetically pleasing images. Photoshop can help designers make powerful, focused, imagery that has a strong message. It is a tool to help get their clients’ messages across.
BACKGROUNd
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
The elements that make up a design can include line, shape, color, space, and texture (among others). How these elements are arranged in a composition is what makes a design effective or ineffective. The way these elements are arranged should conform to the principles of design. These principles are contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity.
Let’s take a look at what these terms mean:
Contrast
Contrast means making certain parts of your design stand out. The most important type of contrast is value contrast—making sure your focal point (whether it is text or an image) is significantly lighter or darker than your background so it is easier to read. But contrast can also refer to contrast of size, contrast of color, contrast of shape—using difference to make certain things stand out. Contrast is important to design because it helps make a design readable.
Repetition
Repetition means using the same visual elements to create a cohesive look. This might be using a cohesive color scheme, repeating a certain font, repeating a certain type of bullet point, or repeating a shape to create a pattern. Repetition is important to design because it helps make a design cohesive.
Alignment
Columns and rows in a design ensure the text and visual elements line up neatly and utilize balance. A systematic approach to alignment will ensure your design appears neat and well thought out rather than just a random assortment of images and text. Alignment is important to design because it gives a design structure.
Proximity
Placing objects or elements that are related somehow close together, helps to make them visually connected. Proximity is important to design because it makes a design easier to understand.
PROMPT
Now that you understand the elements and principles of design, you will critique a design that utilizes these elements and principles effectively and a design that utilizes these elements and principles ineffectively.
- For your initial post: View these two designs (below) and evaluate them in terms of their use of contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity.
A.
- Discuss how the 4 principles of design are used either properly or improperly in design "A"
- Discuss how the 4 principles of design are used either properly or improperly in design "B"
- Which design is more successful in utilizing the principles of design with the placement of the elements?
- What is your reasoning for choosing one design over the other?
- Research resources of constructive criticism techniques to apply to your feedback