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Content For Chapter 6

The document provides an overview of the 8 graphic design basics: space, balance, hierarchy, lines and shape, color, typography, texture, and branding. It discusses each basic principle in detail and provides examples and additional resources to learn more about effectively utilizing each principle in design work. The principles are presented as fundamental building blocks that layer upon each other to create an incredible design, whether for a logo, website, or illustration.

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John Paul Preston
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146 views20 pages

Content For Chapter 6

The document provides an overview of the 8 graphic design basics: space, balance, hierarchy, lines and shape, color, typography, texture, and branding. It discusses each basic principle in detail and provides examples and additional resources to learn more about effectively utilizing each principle in design work. The principles are presented as fundamental building blocks that layer upon each other to create an incredible design, whether for a logo, website, or illustration.

Uploaded by

John Paul Preston
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The principles of graphic design are like building blocks.

Each one layers


on top of the other until you’re left with the foundation for creating
something incredible—whether you’re designing a logo, a website, or a
custom illustration. If you want the lowdown on all the graphic design
basics, you’ve come to the right place because we’re going to cover
them all.

Let’s take a look at what you need to know to make all of your designs
rock:

Learn the 8 graphic design basics


—
• Space
• Balance
• Hierarchy
• Lines and Shape
• Color
• Typography
• Texture
• Branding

Space
—
You know that peaceful feeling you get when you’re in a gorgeous, wide
open space? Well, graphic design works the same way.
The white space on this menu is just as important as the other design elements (and the food
items!). Menu design by Marcy_McGuire.

The best designs aren’t the ones that try to fit every design element on
the block into a single composition. They utilize open space to bring
attention to the elements that actually matter.

10 ways to use space more effectively


Space is great—but only when you know how to use it effectively. Read
the article above to learn new strategies for taking your use of space and
composition to the next level.

The 5 rules of design composition and layout


Utilizing space well comes from knowing the rules of composition. Get to
know them (and the other must-know laws of layout) in this article.
Embracing space in interaction design
Interested in UX and interaction design? Learn how to embrace space in
digital environments.

Printmaking and the elements of design


What about space on the printed page? We’ve got everything you need
to know about the elements of design in printmaking—including how to
work with space.

Balance and alignment


—
All of the elements in this poster are properly balanced—which adds to the overall effect of the
design. Poster design by Shwin.

When it comes to design, you can definitely be creative, but you also
have to be balanced. Think of it like this: if you were decorating your
living room, you wouldn’t try to squeeze the sofa, the recliner chair, the
coffee table, and the end tables all into a tiny corner, right? No, you’d
spread the pieces throughout the room to create balance and alignment.
With graphic design, it’s exactly the same.

7 principles of design
Proper balance and alignment are core principles of design. Discover
how they work and how to use them in concert with other design
elements.

The 5 rules of composition and layout


Structure the elements of your composition to create a design that
communicates well. These five rules make it simple.

The illusion of movement in graphic design


One of the coolest tricks in the graphic design book? With the right
balance, alignment, and composition, you can create designs that look
like they’ve been brought to life.

Hierarchy
—
You’ve figured out how to use space and balance. But how do you draw
attention to your key elements and make sure your messaging doesn’t
get lost in the shuffle?
Apple Music’s knows how to use visual hierarchy to deliver their key messaging. Image
via Apple Music.

Hierarchy is how you present the elements on your design (whether it’s a
brochure, a website or a business card). This directs viewers to where
they should focus their attention. As a general rule of thumb, the larger
the design element, the more attention-grabbing it will be.

But there’s a lot more to visual hierarchy than “bigger is better.”

The 6 principles of visual hierarchy


This is a great place to get to know the basics of how people view
designs and how you can use that behavior to draw attention to your
most important design elements.

6 tips for better typographic hierarchy in web design


One of the most vital elements of web design is your messaging. In this
article, you’ll wrap your head around the key strategies for leveraging
typography to draw attention to your messaging.
Using F and Z patterns to create visual hierarchy in landing
page designs
Build your hierarchy around human’s natural eye movement patterns
and start driving conversions. Learn more about how people actually see
your page and how you can build your hierarchy around it.

Lines and shapes


—
Lines and shapes form the foundation of your designs, and how you use
them can completely transform how a design looks and feels.
Rounded logos, angular logos, and logos with vertical lines all create a
completely different brand and design experience. Logo designs
by bo_rad, olimpio, AC Graphics.
For example, a design that’s all rounded edges will send a very different
message than a design that embraces sharp lines. Understanding the
meaning of lines and shapes is crucial for creating designs that are in-
line with your brand, vision and messaging.

The meaning of logo shapes


Your logo is the face of your brand. And the shapes you incorporate into
your logo will determine your audience perceives you. In this article,
you’ll learn the different meanings behind logo shapes and how to make
sure you put your best face forward when creating your own logo.

What is brand identity? And how to design and develop a


great one
The lines and shapes you use in your designs are part of an even bigger
picture called brand identity. Learn how it works and how to develop a
great one.

Color
—
Color is so much more than the rainbow assortment of hues in a bag of
Skittles. Color is influence. Color is power. Color drives engagement. But
only if you know how to use it.
Packaging design by ve_sta

The colors you choose for your designs are crucial not only to your
overall aesthetic, but to how well your designs connect with your
audience (which ultimately drives results).

Color meanings and the art of using color psychology


If you want to use color to your advantage, you need to understand how
each color affects your audience. Learn more about the psychology of
color, the deeper meaning behind each hue, and how to best use color
to your advantage.

Branding colors: everything you need to know to choose


your brand’s perfect pigments
Different colors drive different results. When you’re choosing colors for
your brand color palette, you need to be sure the colors you choose are
going to drive the results you want. Get the skinny on choosing the best
colors for your brand in this article.

The psychology of color in web design


Without a doubt, one of your most important brand assets is your
website. And one of the most important aspects of your web design is
color. Discover how to leverage color psychology to choose the best
colors for your website.

How to choose the perfect colors for your business card


Your business cards are meant to leave a great first impression with
people. Choose the right colors, and they definitely will.

Typography
—
The words you use in your designs are important, but so are the fonts
you use to communicate those words.
Typography covers everything from font selection to font layout. Not only
does it communicate your core message, but it also communicates a lot
about who you are and what you’re about. That’s why it’s important to
get it right.

How to use typography principles creatively


You’ve got to understand the basics of typography. But you also need to
understand how to use them creatively. Learn more about how to get
creative with basic typography principles.

Crash course in typography vocabulary


Need to get up to speed on typography lingo? Check out this crash
course and learn the language of typography.

How to choose fonts for your web design


The right fonts will elevate your web design to a more professional level.
In this article, you’ll learn how to choose the best fonts for your web
design.

How to master responsive typography


A huge chunk of your audience will see your website on a mobile device,
which means you need a responsive web design and responsive
typography to go with it. Learn how to master responsive typography.

14 typography crimes to stop committing


There are seven deadly sins—but when it comes to typography, there’s
a solid 14. Learn what they are (and how to avoid them) in this piece.

Texture
—
Texture is a surefire way to add depth and dimension to your designs,
which makes them more visually engaging.
Texture makes graphic design feel alive. Designs via Jacopo Severitano, Greenblatt-
Wexler and Pawel Nolbert.

Whether you add an actual 3D element to a printed piece like a business


card or create the illusion through design, texture makes your designs
even more memorable. But it’s a tricky thing to get right. If you don’t nail
the texture, your design may feel busy or overwhelming—and that’s
never what you’re going for.

Innovative approaches to texture in graphic design


How do you nail texture in graphic design and use it to add the right
amount of depth? Discover the three different types of texture, how they
work, and when to use them.

Branding
—
Branding is how you bring your business, products, services and story to
life. How do you do that? By leveraging all of the graphic design basics
we’ve covered in this guide to build a brand that feels true to who you
are.

The importance of bringing branding to life


Start here and learn why it’s important to bring your brand to life (and
how to do it) in this article.

How to develop a branding strategy for your business


Branding starts with strategy. If you want to build a brand that tells your
story and connects with your audience, you need to plan ahead. In this
piece, you’ll learn exactly how to develop a winning strategy for your
brand.

Branding vs. brand identity vs. logo: what’s the difference?


Believe it or not, these are not the same thing. Discover the difference
between branding, brand identity and logo design.

There’s nothing “basic” about great


design.

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