Design Basics
You will be…
- Designing the cover of the yearbook
- Making promotional posters
- Making yearbook pages
It is now time to learn some design basics
that will help you with these three tasks!
What is Design?
In general, it is a plan or drawing
produced to show the look or function
something. GRAPHIC DESIGN is the
process of visual communication through
the use of fonts, space, images, and color.
Elements vs. Principles
We’re going to talk about ELEMENTS of
design and PRINCIPLES of design.
Elements Principles
Line, shape, color,
value, texture, size, and
space.
These are the materials
you build designs with.
Contrast, repetition,
alignment, and
proximity.
These are rules that help
you organize and place
the materials.
Elements of Design: Line
Lines can be used for a wide range of purposes: stressing
a word or phrase, connecting content to one another,
creating patterns, dividing up space, and much more.
Options:
Straight
Curved
Horizontal
Vertical
Thick
Thin
Dotted
Broken
Lines can create a sense of
movement or direction in your
design.
Elements of Design: Shape
Put lines together to create height and width, and you have
a shape. Shapes can be used to create patterns, organize
and divide space, and draw the viewer’s attention.
Options:
Geometric (triangles,
circles, squares, etc.)
Natural (plants,
animals, people, etc.)
Abstract (icons,
freeform graphic
representations)
Elements of Design: Color
Color is used to generate emotions, create unity, make
something stand out, and generally create visual interest.
Options:
Warm vs. Cool
Bright vs. Muted
Primary vs. Secondary
Neutral Colors
Complementary Colors + +
Elements of Design: Value
Value is how light or dark an area looks. Use value to create
depth and light, to lead the eye, or to emphasize.
A gradient helps us
visualize value: Any color has a range of value.
Elements of Design: Texture
Texture refers to what the surface of an object looks and
feels like. In graphic design, you can mimic the look of
different textures to add depth, contrast, and visual interest.
Options:
Wood
Cement
Glitter
Fabric
Paint
Glass
Metal
Paper
Elements of Design: Size
Size is how small or large something is. Interesting
choices regarding size can attract attention or define the
importance of an element in the design.
Elements of Design: Space
Space is the area around or between elements of the
design. It can be used to separate or group information.
Used effectively it can lead the eye through a design.
Options:
Positive Space:
the space the
subject takes up.
Negative Space:
the space
surrounding the
subject.
We just saw
elements of design:
the materials!
Next we will look at
principles of design:
the rules!
TEXT
Principles of Design: Contrast
Separate elements in a design should stand apart from one
another. Think of contrast as a noticeable difference
between elements. You can achieve contrast using different
colors, textures, and sizes next to each other.
Color contrast
Value contrast
Texture contrast
Size contrast
BAD
GOOD
Principles of Design: ContrastFaux-pas!
When an element
of your design (like
text) should be
clearly visible to
the viewer, make
sure to create high
contrast!
Principles of Design: Repetition
Repeating elements helps to create patterns. When you
repeat the use of any design element, it also creates
cohesiveness. For example, if you use a blue border on one
image, using blue borders on the other images creates unity.
Principles of Design: RepetitionFaux-pas!
No
repeating
fonts,
no
repeating
colors,
no
repeating
shapes!
Principles of Design:
Alignment
Alignment means that objects in the design are
visually connected so that nothing feels out of place
or disconnected. Objects “line up” with each other
when they are supposed to.
The elements on this page are not in alignment.
Principles of Design: Alignment
The elements on this page are now better aligned!
Alignment means that objects in the design are visually
connected so that nothing feels out of place or
disconnected. Objects “line up” with each other when
they are supposed to.
Principles of Design: AlignmentFaux-pas!
Margins are all different sizes.
None of the objects are “lined up.”
Principles of Design: Proximity
Proximity is how close or far away objects are from each
other. If two elements are related, they should be placed in
close proximity to each other. Doing so increases viewer
comprehension of the design.
Imagine how strange it would
look if you put distance between
and image and its label…
My Dog
Principles of Design: Proximity
Proximity is how close or far away objects are from each
other. If two elements are related, they should be placed in
close proximity to each other. Doing so increases viewer
comprehension of the design.
Imagine how strange it would
look if you put distance between
and image and its label…
My Dog
Principles of Design: Proximity
Group related things together.
What order are
you supposed
to read this text
in? Group
related text
together.
Faux-pas!

Introduction to Design (Yearbook Class)

  • 1.
    Design Basics You willbe… - Designing the cover of the yearbook - Making promotional posters - Making yearbook pages It is now time to learn some design basics that will help you with these three tasks!
  • 2.
    What is Design? Ingeneral, it is a plan or drawing produced to show the look or function something. GRAPHIC DESIGN is the process of visual communication through the use of fonts, space, images, and color.
  • 3.
    Elements vs. Principles We’regoing to talk about ELEMENTS of design and PRINCIPLES of design. Elements Principles Line, shape, color, value, texture, size, and space. These are the materials you build designs with. Contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity. These are rules that help you organize and place the materials.
  • 4.
    Elements of Design:Line Lines can be used for a wide range of purposes: stressing a word or phrase, connecting content to one another, creating patterns, dividing up space, and much more. Options: Straight Curved Horizontal Vertical Thick Thin Dotted Broken Lines can create a sense of movement or direction in your design.
  • 5.
    Elements of Design:Shape Put lines together to create height and width, and you have a shape. Shapes can be used to create patterns, organize and divide space, and draw the viewer’s attention. Options: Geometric (triangles, circles, squares, etc.) Natural (plants, animals, people, etc.) Abstract (icons, freeform graphic representations)
  • 6.
    Elements of Design:Color Color is used to generate emotions, create unity, make something stand out, and generally create visual interest. Options: Warm vs. Cool Bright vs. Muted Primary vs. Secondary Neutral Colors Complementary Colors + +
  • 7.
    Elements of Design:Value Value is how light or dark an area looks. Use value to create depth and light, to lead the eye, or to emphasize. A gradient helps us visualize value: Any color has a range of value.
  • 8.
    Elements of Design:Texture Texture refers to what the surface of an object looks and feels like. In graphic design, you can mimic the look of different textures to add depth, contrast, and visual interest. Options: Wood Cement Glitter Fabric Paint Glass Metal Paper
  • 9.
    Elements of Design:Size Size is how small or large something is. Interesting choices regarding size can attract attention or define the importance of an element in the design.
  • 10.
    Elements of Design:Space Space is the area around or between elements of the design. It can be used to separate or group information. Used effectively it can lead the eye through a design. Options: Positive Space: the space the subject takes up. Negative Space: the space surrounding the subject.
  • 11.
    We just saw elementsof design: the materials! Next we will look at principles of design: the rules! TEXT
  • 12.
    Principles of Design:Contrast Separate elements in a design should stand apart from one another. Think of contrast as a noticeable difference between elements. You can achieve contrast using different colors, textures, and sizes next to each other. Color contrast Value contrast Texture contrast Size contrast BAD GOOD
  • 13.
    Principles of Design:ContrastFaux-pas! When an element of your design (like text) should be clearly visible to the viewer, make sure to create high contrast!
  • 14.
    Principles of Design:Repetition Repeating elements helps to create patterns. When you repeat the use of any design element, it also creates cohesiveness. For example, if you use a blue border on one image, using blue borders on the other images creates unity.
  • 15.
    Principles of Design:RepetitionFaux-pas! No repeating fonts, no repeating colors, no repeating shapes!
  • 16.
    Principles of Design: Alignment Alignmentmeans that objects in the design are visually connected so that nothing feels out of place or disconnected. Objects “line up” with each other when they are supposed to. The elements on this page are not in alignment.
  • 17.
    Principles of Design:Alignment The elements on this page are now better aligned! Alignment means that objects in the design are visually connected so that nothing feels out of place or disconnected. Objects “line up” with each other when they are supposed to.
  • 18.
    Principles of Design:AlignmentFaux-pas! Margins are all different sizes. None of the objects are “lined up.”
  • 19.
    Principles of Design:Proximity Proximity is how close or far away objects are from each other. If two elements are related, they should be placed in close proximity to each other. Doing so increases viewer comprehension of the design. Imagine how strange it would look if you put distance between and image and its label… My Dog
  • 20.
    Principles of Design:Proximity Proximity is how close or far away objects are from each other. If two elements are related, they should be placed in close proximity to each other. Doing so increases viewer comprehension of the design. Imagine how strange it would look if you put distance between and image and its label… My Dog
  • 21.
    Principles of Design:Proximity Group related things together. What order are you supposed to read this text in? Group related text together. Faux-pas!