The elements and principles of graphic design include line, color, shape, space, texture, typography, scale, dominance, and balance. Their unity creates a visually striking and attractive image that effectively conveys the main message.
Line – It’s a component of almost every design and comes in various forms: straight, curved, long, short, narrow, thick… It helps to divide space, as well as to draw attention in a specific direction.
Color – It can be said that it’s the most important and obvious, most easily noticeable part of the design. It can make an immediate impression because everyone notices and perceives it. Color can be used as a background or in an element (line, shape, text). It creates emotion and character. For example, green is associated with nature, while yellow can evoke positive emotions.
Shape – A combination of lines such as circle, triangle, square, rectangle, and other abstract forms. You’ll encounter at least one in every design. Like colors, shapes also evoke different associations in people. For example, a circle expresses unity, while a square expresses structure. The color, style, background, and outline of a shape can influence human perception.
Space – White or negative space in graphic design refers to the empty space left around or within shapes. It’s given great importance because it simplifies and improves the perception of the work for the human eye.
Texture – Different materials are now often used in design: paper, stone, concrete, brick, fabric. With these, you can create diverse and interesting three-dimensional images.
Typography – When working with text, a graphic designer should consider two factors and the relationship between them: what the text says and how it looks. Typography is the arrangement of text in such a way that it’s easy to understand, perceive, and attractive. In this case too, different fonts evoke different emotions. Therefore, it’s necessary to choose it correctly to have a strong visual effect on the viewer.
Scale – It’s used to create visual hierarchy, which makes the image more dynamic. With it, you can more clearly highlight important information and emphasize them.
Dominance – Highlighting a part of the design. Outline, contrast, isolation, and other techniques are used for this.
Balance – A balanced design leaves a sense of stability, while an unbalanced one can have a dynamic effect. Balance is achieved by correct placement of shapes, colors, lines, and other elements.
Harmony – It’s one of the main goals of a graphic designer. Good design means that each component of it complements each other and together they effectively fulfill their purpose. However, if everything is similar to each other, the design can turn out monotonous and boring. To avoid this, it’s important to maintain a balance between harmony and contrast.