Graphic Design Basics: Getting Started
Graphic design combines images, text and ideas to create art that captures a viewer’s attention to communicate a specific message. The elements of design are the building blocks of any project whereas the principles of design are rules that help define and regulate how those elements interact with one another, with their context, and with their audience. The seven basic elements of graphic design are:
- Lines: Invisible lines found in the grids of print designs act as guides, offering projects more structure and direction while visible lines with weight and form can be used to communicate a variety of messages and moods.
- Shapes: Shapes are best understood as areas, forms or figures contained by a boundary or closed outline. Certain sets of shapes can convey stability, dependability, and organization while others communicate chaos, creation and fun.
- Color: Color can be a useful tool for communicating a mood or provoking an emotional response from your viewer. It’s important to learn your audience’s color associations and to take advantage of or avoid them, depending on the goals of your project
- Texture: Designers visually convey texture by using illusions to suggest how their work might feel if viewers could touch it. Mastering texture is an important part of making designs look polished and professional.
- Type: It’s important to make sure the type you use is legible and appropriate for your subject. Type affects the overall mood of a design: if you can’t settle on one font or size, there may be room for you to incorporate more than one but as a general rule, don’t exceed three in a given project.
- Image: Images are perhaps the most impactful visual tools of communication. When incorporating images into your work, it is vital to find a picture that tells the right story and maximizes visual interest.