If I put a blank paper in front of you, what will you comprehend with it? Will you be able to delineate what it portrays? Is its blank status summing up anything for you?

Well! Transparently the answer is NO!

This is what happens when it is a piece of DESIGN.

It should be expounded in a precise and effective manner to make it approachable for viewers; otherwise, it is just raw shapes, sizes, and figures.

A brilliantly planned idea can be prototyped in the silhouette of the elements if the basic principles of designs are smartly executed. Did you get the outline here? Technically, design principles are the set of protocols, or the basis of a Design, pivotal to deliver the message effectively.

There are various major principles of Designs involved in making an expressive design. But we have penned down 6 of the necessary ones here.

6 Fundamental Principles of Design

A novice may add different typefaces sketched in various color tones, the background made gradient-ly vibrant, along with adding a video in the middle or whatnot, just to make a uniquely outstanding design. However, it may turn out to be like a sinking ship.

That is why, it is very important to have a thoughtful, devised plan carefully structured, keeping fundamental principles of design upfront. Some of which are as follows:

1. Balance
2. Alignment
3. Contrast
4. Proportion
5. Emphasis/Dominance
6. Repetition

1. Balance

Elements of design such as line, size, shape, space or color, have weight and maintaining it is essential to balance your design.

The large Round shape on the left plain can be balanced with two or three medium-sized Square shapes on the right. This is how Balance works.

It makes certain that each element is perfectly weighted against an area, and is in perfect harmony with the other elements or the whole design.

balance in design

2. Alignment

It is the way of arranging elements on a page with respect to the grids. The proper alignment in your design makes it look organized and well-composed and portrays a visual connection among elements.

Alignment makes it easy for viewers to comprehend a design easily and meaningfully.

alignment in design

3. Contrast

The ‘pop factor’ of a design, Contrast distinguishes one element from another in order to show the harmony between them.

Consider the soundness of a background against the elements to make them readable, one typeface bold and large from another, a clear shape against a blurred one, the color differences, etc.

The contrast between different elements pops each one of them out and makes them unique and accessible. A design requires this fundamental principle to attract attention rather than being simply plain and boring.

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contrast in design

4. Proportion

Consider the following image

ad-agencies

It is created in a well-proportioned way to delineate what’s of significance and what not.

Like, Coca Cola is highlighted, or say advertised, here in bold size and colour and is the biggest in size among other brand names.

If a viewer seeks this image out, the first thing that will catch his/her eyes will be the Coca Cola.

So, we can say that Proportion is the visual size of the elements with respect to one another in composition and differentiates between what matters and whatnot.

5. Emphasis/Dominance

Emphasizing the elements of a design that demands most of the attention or supposed to convey the message is what Emphasis does.

For example, an e-Commerce brand advertising beauty essentials will attract its audience by centering an impressive name tag surrounded by lucrative products with an approachable background, further mentioning the discounts in small, highlighted font to stir up the shopping mood.

dominance in design

So, Emphasis or Dominance is all about communicating the message by arranging the elements as per their hierarchy of visual significance.

6. Repetition

This principle of design is of significance when you want to create consistency and rhythm. However, it may turn out to be monotonous for viewers.

repetition in design

If you want to engage them with your design, it is a best practice to add slight variations in your repetitive pattern to make it more intriguing and interesting.

Summarizing It Up…

These fundamental design principles are behind manipulating or devising the elements of design. Designer(s) can apply more principles of design like proximity, hierarchy, rhythm, movement, patterns, variations, etc. as per the necessity of their project(s).

Thus, when it is about a concept that needs to be projected into a beautiful piece of creativity, these basic sets of rules are what must be followed to make your design leap off the page.

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