The Principles of Design

Laura Keung
Last updated Aug 25, 2022
https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/the-principles-of-design--cms-33962

Have you ever wondered what goes into the creation of a successful design piece? Here are
some visual tools that can help you structure your design compositions.
In this article, we'll talk about the principles of design and their importance. This set of visu-
al tools can help you create an organized structure to deliver a clear message. These principles are
also applied in art and different design sub-disciplines. Along with definitions, we'll show you a few
examples of the principles of design that will help you better understand their meaning.

What Are the Principles of Design?

The principles of design are a set of rules that designers can follow when creating a
composition to create visually pleasing work. The purpose of these rules is to deliver a message
in the most organized and functional way.
Now that you know the principles of design definition, here's a list of the main design princi-
ples: Balance, Unity, Contrast, Emphasis, Repetition, Pattern, Rhythm, Movement, Propor-
tion, Harmony, Variety
While we’ve all seen our fair share of experimental pieces out there, it's important to know
the significance of the fundamentals. Every design piece has a structure below the surface that holds
up the design and makes it visually interesting and balanced. Once designers understand the usage
of the principles, they’ll understand better how to break these rules.
In my previous article, The Basic Elements of Design, I talked about the elements that create
everything we perceive. With a solid understanding of those elements, you’ll be able to learn more
about the principles of design.
Principles of Design: Balance

Any element placed on a page carries a visual weight. It can range from form to size, color,
and texture. In order to make a design feel stable or have balance, the elements need to have a
certain scale.
For instance, in a symmetrical design, the elements on the right side have the same visual
weight as the elements on the left side. Symmetrical designs are easier to balance but can also come
across as boring. Asymmetrical designs have different sides but equal visual weight. Being able to
achieve balance in asymmetry can result in a visually interesting design that has movement.
Lack of balance would make your design feel heavy on one side and empty on the opposite.
If you're wondering about principles of design balance examples, you’ll know your design lacks ba-
lance when it feels as if it’s falling off to one side.
Principles of Design: Unity

Unity in the principles of design is the harmony produced by all the elements in a de-
sign piece. For instance, using similar colors that match and integrate elements organically makes it
appear as if they belong together and are not just put on a page.
You can achieve unity by making clear relationships between visual elements. You can find
unity wherever you find clear organization and order, and the elements of the page won’t be figh-
ting for attention. Instead, they’ll work together to make the message stronger. Too much unity can
result in a sterile design with a lack of personality. That’s when you can start incorporating other
elements to add movement.
Lack of unity would make your design feel cluttered and confusing. Viewers will be attrac-
ted to the wrong element of the design and won't get a clear message. A good rule of thumb is to
place an element in your design only if it enhances the message. Ask yourself what the element is
adding to the composition.

Principles of Design: Contrast

Contrast refers to the level of difference between design elements in order to create vi-
sual hierarchies. The variation makes certain elements stand out more than others. You can apply
contrast by using colors, textures, sizes, and shapes.
In a layout, contrast is applied to create hierarchy between the font sizes. Larger text tends to
be read before any smaller text. Contrast is important when it comes to pairing fonts. For instance,
in the example below, we have a font duo that includes a script font and a sans serif font. The script
font adds movement to the static sans serif.
Contrast can create a focal point to certain elements that can draw the viewer’s eyes. Con-
trast can also be used to create balance and harmony by making sure items are distributed nicely on
a page. Lack of contrast can make a design look dull, and viewers can overlook the important mes-
sage. Contrast is important especially when designing accessible documents. For instance, black ty-
pe on a white background will be easier to read than black on a brown background.
Principles of Design: Emphasis

Emphasis is a strategy to get the viewer’s attention to a specific design element. This
can be in any form: a button, a website, or an image. The purpose is to create something that
will stand out from the rest of the page. You can use different elements to highlight a specific part
of your design, like lines, color, positive/negative relationships, and many more. As long as you can
create contrast, either with elements or color, you’ll be creating emphasis.
Lines create direction on a page by pointing to specific elements that help the viewer’s
eyes know where to go.
Shapes can also draw attention. Using a group of similar shapes and breaking the group
with a different shape will create tension and draw the eyes.
Color can create an emphasis in any design. Buttons on a website tend to contrast with
the background to create a sense of urgency and attention.
Texture can be seen in materials to enhance tactile features. For instance, a business card
can have an emboss or relief on a logo to emphasize it. Digitally, texture can be applied
as a drop shadow on a button to appear three-dimensional.
Space is also an option to emphasize certain elements in your design. Enough white spa-
ce around an object can prioritize the focus on a single element. For instance, Apple has a
clean and direct idea of emphasizing products.
Principles of Design: Repetition
 Using repeated elements on a layout can be pleasing to the viewer. Repetition is repea-
ting a single element through the design. We can call a grid a repetition of lines because it creates
a certain consistency. In layout design, repetition is shown through the folio placement to help vie-
wers find their way in a book or magazine. The same folio placement creates continuity in the repe-
tition.
In a website, repetition is seen on the menu placement, which gives the viewers a constant
placement that can make them feel comfortable and familiar. Repetition can also be achieved by re-
peating elements in a design like a logo or a tagline in a brand development project. Below, the re-
petition of waves gives a feeling that the page is endless. That's why in the principles of design, re-
petition is relevant.

Principles of Design: Pattern

In principles of design, pattern is the repetition of more than one design element. While
repetition focuses on a single element being repeated, pattern refers to multiple elements re-
peated throughout a design (e.g. wallpapers and backgrounds).
A seamless pattern is a repeated set of elements that flows without a flaw to create a unit.
You can see seamless patterns predominantly in interior design when using tiles. The use of patterns
can enhance the viewer's experience and the look of a final design.
In the example below, the pattern repeats itself from edge to edge without any disruptions.
The pattern is composed of multiple elements with varying sizes and depths.

Principles of Design: Rhythm

Rhythm, a principle of design, has more complexity than the previous principles of re-
petition and pattern. Repetition and pattern are applied to the same element throughout a design.
Rhythm is the visual tempo of a combination of elements when used repeatedly, and with va-
riation, it gives the feeling of organized movement.
Rhythm in the principles of design is usually hidden in works of art and is not as obvious as
the design principles of repetition and pattern. In the example below, the diagonal lines aren't arran-
ged in a specific pattern. Instead, there's a repetition of the elements with variations.

Principles of Design: Movement

Movement in the principles of design refers to the path the viewer’s eye takes through
a composition. In an image, every element can affect how the eyes move. Important elements will
lead to secondary elements and so on. Movement in a composition creates interest and dyna-
mism that keeps the viewer engaged.
Movement can be created with rhythm when using a variation of an element repeatedly.
Using curved lines and diagonal lines creates more movement compared to straight lines. Use lines
to trace the path to the focal point. Color can help enhance the feeling of movement, juxtaposing
high and low key colors to create energy. A literal way of showing movement is by using an image
that includes motion, like a dancer or hair in the wind. Some artists use illusions like optical art, in
which the repetition and contrast make our brains want to organize the information.
In the example below, movement is created by the slightly curved lines and the overlapping
colors. Both effects enhance the movement because the lines are unstable and the gradient blurs the
lines instead of being static.

Principles of Design: Proportion

Proportion in the principles of design is the sense of unity created when all the ele-
ments in a composition relate well with each other. Proportion is mostly about scale and size
when two elements are compared. For instance, in art and drawing, proportion is important for the
elements to look realistic. Proportion as a principle of design doesn’t necessarily refer to the size of
one element but to the relationship of two or more elements.
In layout hierarchy, the proportion of the headline compared to the photo caption needs to be
larger as the headline is the most important element. Smaller elements have less importance. When
you achieve a good sense of proportion in a composition, it can add harmony and balance.
Principles of Design: Harmony

Harmony as a principle of design is the sense of cohesiveness between the elements in a

composition. The elements shouldn’t be exactly the same or completely different but related in so-
me way. Color palettes or similar textures can create a sense of unity between different components.
Using similarly shaped items will create harmony because they will seem related.
Not enough or too much harmony can make a design dull; there needs to be some kind of va-
riety for it to be visually interesting.

Principles of Design: Variety

Variety in the principles of design is about creating visual interest that will keep vie-
wers engaged with your design. Holding their attention and guiding them through the compo-
sition will create a powerful user experience.
Variety adds something interesting to the composition to create contrast and tension. For ins-
tance, mixing organic shapes with geometric shapes adds variety. This concept should reinforce the
message you are trying to communicate in your design—otherwise, it can look pointless.
That's It!
The elements and principles of art and design are the foundation for creating a composition.
The use of these principles can give structure and help you understand how other design pieces and
artworks are built. It can help you determine whether a composition will be successful or determine
the missing piece of the puzzle.
The use of these principles will help you design with purpose by giving function to every
single element in a composition. Communicating a clear message isn't only about the message but
how we carry it to deliver it cleanly and clearly.
When you look at a design composition from now on, think of these principles and how they
are being applied. You'll be able to decode the most intricate designs and understand what's working
and what's not.