BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GRAPHICS AND LAYOUT

The principles of graphic design go hand in hand with the elements of design and should be used as a blueprint when working on a project. They provide the foundations on which good design is built and should be considered when undertaking every project, no matter what your experience. In this article, we look at hierarchy and emphasis.

1. Balance

- The principle of design that places elements on the printed page or website so that text and graphic elements are evenly distributed. In layouts with an even balance, the graphics don't overpower the text, and the page doesn't seem to tilt to one side or the other.

With this invitation the designer has created an asymmetric layout which has given an informal feeling to the piece. As a result, the balance of the layout is well suited to the topic of camping as this activity would be considered relaxing and informal. Therefore, when comparing the two invitations, it is is evident that balance can play a major factor in the ‘feel’ of the design. Other points of interest with this layout is how each of the elements have been counterbalanced against each other. For example, a large area of white/negative space has been used at the top of the layout to counterbalance the objects at the bottom. Furthermore, the rectangle and type in the top left corner helps to counterbalance the piece of bread in the lower right corner.

2. Infographic

-Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. They can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system's ability to see patterns and trends.

3. Proximity

Proximity The principle of proximity is about moving things closer or farther apart to achieve a more organized look. The principle says that related items 

In this magazine example, I wanted to showcase how images should be grouped together when working on a page layout. Many beginner designers will spread the images throughout the text; however, this only interrupts the flow of reading. Again, use the principle of proximity to group and separate both images and text.

4. Alignment

-The whole point of the alignment principle is that nothing in your slide design should look as if it were placed there randomly. Every element is connected visually via an invisible line. Where repetition is more concerned with elements across a deck of slides, alignment is about obtaining unity among elements of a single slide.

So as you can see in the above example. We can say that:

Alignment: Alignment means to arrange similar or other elements of design in the dimension of top, bottom, center, left or right to make design visually appealing. See above example image to understand it.

Distribution: Distribution means to giving or maintaing same distance between to similar or different elements of any design to make graphic layout clean and decent.See above example image to understand it.

5. Repetition

-The principle of repetition simply means the reusing of the same or similar elements throughout your design. Repetition of certain design elements in a slide or among a deck of slides will bring a clear sense of unity, consistency, and cohesiveness. Where contrast is about showing differences, repetition is about subtly using elements to make sure the design is viewed as being part of a larger whole.

Line has been used to add repetition in this example. It is then repeated across all the design pieces to tie them together.

6. Contrast

-The simple concept behind contrast is to ensure that every element within a design does not look the same. In essence you should have a number of elements that look vastly different to the others within a design.

In this example, both colour and shape have been used to create contrast. The dark blue and black on yellow is a high contrast palette. Also, the circular shape behind the model’s head is in contrast to the magazine shape and the other rectangular forms on the page.

7. Hierarchy and Emphasis

Just as a deck of cards has a hierarchy from the Ace down to the Joker, so should every design. A designers job is to communicate a message in a clear and concise manner. Creating an order of importance amongst the elements will go a long way in a achieving this. Therefore, it is essential that time is taken to ensure a clear hierarchy is developed.

A good hierarchy is clearly evident in this recipe spread. A large photo of the dish is used as the focal point and the secondary message is the second largest shape on the page which is the recipe name. Colour and size has then been used to organise the remaining content in a clear, concise and well structured manner.

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Basic Elements of Design

Creating beautiful design is about more than inspiration or a great idea, it’s about understanding the fundamentals of the subject. Although it’s possible to spend years studying the nuances of design and the many varying takes on how to be successful at it, there are a handful, or two, of basic elements that every designer should know before beginning any project.

1. Line

-The first and most basic element of design is that of the line. In drawing, a line is the stroke of the pen or pencil but in graphic design, it’s any two connected points. Lines are useful for dividing space and drawing the eye to a specific location. For example, think about how a magazine uses lines to separate content, headlines and side panels.

2. Color

-It is one of the most obvious elements of design, for both the user and the designer. It can stand alone, as a background, or be applied to other elements, like lines, shapes, textures or typography. Color creates a mood within the piece and tells a story about the brand. Every color says something different, and combinations can alter that impression further.

3. Shape

-Shapes, geometric or organic, add interest. Shapes are defined by boundaries, such as a lines or color, and they are often used to emphasize a portion of the page. Everything is ultimately a shape, so you must always think in terms of how the various elements of your design are creating shapes, and how those shapes are interacting.

4. Space

-Negative space is one of the most commonly underutilized and misunderstood aspects of designing for the page. The parts of the site that are left blank, whether that’s white or some other color, help to create an overall image. Use negative space to create shapes as you would any other element. Check out this article if you're interested in learning more about frequently used design terms like negative space.

5. Scale (Size)

-Playing with the scale and size of your objects, shapes, type and other elements add interest and emphasis. How boring would a symmetrical website with all similarly sized ingredients be? Very. But the amount of variation will depend heavily on the content within. Subtle differences suit professional content, while bold ones prefer creative enterprises.

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The Difference between Piktochart, Photoscrap, and Photo bucket

1. Piktochart

-Piktochart is a web-based infographic application which allows users without intensive experience as graphic designers to easily create professional-grade infographics using themed templates.

2. Photoscrap

-PhotoScape is a graphics editing program, developed by MOOII Tech, Korea. The basic concept of PhotoScape is 'easy and fun', allowing users to easily edit photographs taken from their digital cameras or even mobile phones.

3. Photo bucket

-Photobucket is an American image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community dedicated to preserving and sharing the entire photo and video lifecycle.

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Sources:

https://creativemarket.com/blog/10-basic-elements-of-design

http://www.slideshare.net/joypamor/basic-principles-of-graphics-and-layout

http://www.edgee.net/the-principles-of-graphic-design-how-to-use-balance-effectively/

http://www.edgee.net/the-principles-of-graphic-design-how-to-use-contrast-effectively/

http://www.edgee.net/the-principles-of-graphic-design-how-to-use-hierarchy-and-emphasis-effectively/

http://www.edgee.net/the-principles-of-graphic-design-how-to-use-repetition-effectively/

http://www.edgee.net/the-principles-of-graphic-design-how-to-use-proximity-effectively/

http://blog.digitaltutors.com/understanding-design-jargon-design-principles/