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Principles of Design

The document outlines the principles of design, which guide how to effectively arrange elements in a page layout to enhance communication and aesthetics. Key principles include balance, proximity/unity, alignment, repetition/consistency, contrast, and white space, each contributing to the overall effectiveness of a design. Additionally, it mentions that other principles like harmony, flow, and hierarchy may also be considered in design practices.

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nagpalnonu22
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1 views

Principles of Design

The document outlines the principles of design, which guide how to effectively arrange elements in a page layout to enhance communication and aesthetics. Key principles include balance, proximity/unity, alignment, repetition/consistency, contrast, and white space, each contributing to the overall effectiveness of a design. Additionally, it mentions that other principles like harmony, flow, and hierarchy may also be considered in design practices.

Uploaded by

nagpalnonu22
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Principles of Design

The principles of design suggest how a designer can best arrange the
various components of a page layout to connect to the overall design
and to one another.

All the principles of design, also known as principles of


composition, apply to any piece you create. How you apply those
principles determines how effective your design is in conveying the
desired message and how attractive it appears. There is seldom only
one correct way to apply each principle but check your document to
see how well you applied each of these six principles of design.

Balance
Visual balance comes from arranging elements on the page so that no
one section is heavier than the other. At times, a designer may
intentionally throw elements out of balance to create tension or a
certain mood. Are your page elements all over the place or does each
portion of the page balance out the rest? If the page is out of balance,
it should be done purposely and with a specific intention in mind

.
Proximity / Unity

Do your designs have unity?

In design, proximity or closeness creates a bond between elements on


a page. How close together or far apart elements are placed suggests
a relationship (or lack of) between otherwise disparate parts. Unity is
also achieved by using a third element to connect distant parts. Are
title elements together? Is contact information all in one place? Do
frames and boxes tie together or are they separate related elements in
your document?
Alignment

Is your layout in alignment with your goals?

Alignment brings order to chaos. How you align type and


graphics on a page and in relation to each other can
make your layout easier or more difficult to read, foster
familiarity, or bring excitement to a stale design. Have
you used a grid? Is there a common alignment—top,
bottom, left, right or centered—between blocks of text
and graphics on the page? The text alignment should aid
readability. If certain elements are out of alignment, it
should be done purposefully with a specific design goal
in mind.

Repetition / Consistency

Repeating design elements and consistent use of type


and graphics styles within a document shows readers
where to go and helps them navigate your designs and
layouts safely. Ensure that your document utilizes the
principles of repetition, consistency and unity in page
design. Do page numbers appear in the same location
from page to page? Are major and minor headlines
consistent in size, style and placement? Have you used a
consistent graphic or illustration style throughout?

Contrast

In design, big and small elements, black and white


text, squares and circles, can all create contrast in
design. Contrast helps different design
elements stand out. Is there enough contrast
between the text size and color and background
color and pattern to keep text readable? If
everything is the same size even when some
elements are more important than others, the
design lacks contrast.

White Space

Designs that try to cram too much text and graphics onto the page are
uncomfortable and may be impossible to read. White space gives your
design breathing room. Do you have enough space between columns
of text? Does text run into frames or graphics? Do you have a
generous margin? You can also have too much white space if items
float on the page without any anchor.
ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLES OF
DESIGN
In addition to or in place of some of these principles of design, other
designers and instructors may include principles such as harmony,
flow or hierarchy. Some principles may be combined or go by other
names such as grouping (proximity) or emphasis (use of various other
principles to create a focal point). These are different ways of
expressing the same basic page layout practices.

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