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1 Desktop Cheatsheet

This document is a cheatsheet outlining key design principles including contrast, hierarchy, balance, whitespace, emphasis, repetition, proportion, rhythm, movement, and pattern. Each principle is defined with a focus on how they influence design elements and audience perception. The content serves as a quick reference for understanding fundamental design concepts.

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gwyn022
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3 views1 page

1 Desktop Cheatsheet

This document is a cheatsheet outlining key design principles including contrast, hierarchy, balance, whitespace, emphasis, repetition, proportion, rhythm, movement, and pattern. Each principle is defined with a focus on how they influence design elements and audience perception. The content serves as a quick reference for understanding fundamental design concepts.

Uploaded by

gwyn022
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DESIGN PRINCIPLES

CHEATSHEET

What is contrast? What is hierarchy?

Contrast makes elements stand out from each Hierarchy is how elements rank in relation to
other. It can be created by changing small each other. It is a subjective sensation created
elements like size, weight, shape, and color. by combining other design principles while
leveraging audience reading patterns.

CONTRAST HIERARCHY

What is balance? What is whitespace?

Balance is a sensation of symmetry and Whitespace is the area of your canvas that
asymmetry. The former creates a feeling of goes unfilled. It does not have to be white or
predictability and comfort, while the latter empty. Whitespace is the absence of things
creates a feeling of unpredictability and that grab our attention. Not to be confused
tension. with negative space.
BALANCE WHITESPACE

What is emphasis? What is repetition?

Emphasis is when certain parts of a design Repetition is when similarly designed elements
stand out from the rest. On the flip side, when repeat. It can be achieved by reusing color,
one element has emphasis, the other elements weight, shape, and even wording within
blend in. sentences.

EMPHASIS REPETITION

What is proportion? What is rhythm?

Proportion is how the size of elements relate Rhythm is a pace and feeling. It can be slow
to each other. Larger elements are often seen and calming or fast and exciting. Repetition,
as more important, while smaller elements are movement, and whitespace are the basic
treated as dependent or tertiary. building blocks of rhythm.

PROPORTION RHYTHM

What is movement? What is pattern?

Movement, or "momentum," is how a design Patterns are when repetition, rhythm, and
or element guides the eye across a other elements come together to create
composition. It can be achieved with lines, expectations in the audience. Patterns can be
positioning, emphasis, hierarchy, and more. found in everything from layout, to
typesetting, to art.
MOVEMENT PATTERN

C H E AT S H E E T L I C E N S E D U N D E R C C BY - N C - S A COPYRIGHT © 2 0 2 4 E XPLORE RS DESIGN ALL RIGHTS RESE RVE D

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