by Melanie Aves

Created on: October 22, 2010

 What are the principles of graphic design?

The principles of graphic design apply to all forms of design, from fine art to architecture to interior design to landscape design to industrial design to the decorative arts.  Design is the process of arranging design elements into a pleasing whole.  The design arrangement always involves a series of decisions for the designer.  Here are the principles a designer will consider in making the decisions.

1.)    Unity – The elements of design are linked together into a pleasing whole using line, shape, color and texture.  The eye will perceive a wholeness, where all of the parts are related to each other, and nothing can be added or subtracted.

2.)    Variety –Variety within a work creates interest and avoids monotony.  Variety is achieved with line, shape, size, color and texture. 

3.)    Balance–The property of balance is important to the success of a design because it provides a pleasing relationship between the elements of line, shape, size, color and texture.  Placement of these various elements within the whole creates balance.

4.)    Rhythm–A successful design guides the viewer’s eye around the entire piece through the use of repetition leading to movement.  Lines, shapes, colors or textures repeat to engage the viewer and maintain interest. 

5.)    Center of interest or focal point–A designer chooses the dominant place in a design, and emphasizes it with strength and contrast of line, shape, color, size or texture.

The discriminating eye of an artist or designer is experienced in facing the myriad of decisions to be made in the creative process.  A painter moves beyond mere representation of a subject to deal with the abstract elements of line, shape, space, light, color and texture.   For some artists the subject itself becomes irrelevant to the expressive qualities of these elements.  An architect or interior designer uses the design principles to create a pleasing space.  An industrial designer combines the visual principles with functional capabilities to arrive at an original design solution.

Although the principles of good design are abstract concepts, all artists and designers use them to create their work, sometimes deliberately, and sometimes unconsciously.  Successful creations in all fields of art and design exhibit these principles.   Viewers respond to the skillful use of these principles, sometimes deliberately and sometimes unconsciously.  Using the principles of design as reference points can enhance both the creative process and the response to it.

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