Graphic Design Principles

1.Balance: Symmetrical, radial, formal, and informal ways of arranging elements on a page to achieve visual balance is the focus of this class.
2. Proximity: Learn how to arrange elements on the page through proximity -- keeping like items together and creating unity by how close or far apart elements are from each other.
3. Alignment: While centered text has its place it is often the mark of a novice designer. Learn how to align text and graphics to create more interesting, dynamic, or appropriate layouts.
4. Repetition/ Consistency: While centered text has its place it is often the mark of a novice designer. Learn how to align text and graphics to create more interesting, dynamic, or appropriate layouts.
5. Contrast: Big vs. small, black vs. white. Contrast occurs when two elements are different. The greater the difference the greater the contrast. The key to working with contrast is to make sure the differences are obvious. Four common methods of creating contrast are by using differences in size, value, color, and type.
6. White Space: The art of nothing is another description for this principle. White space is the absence of text and graphics.
7. Dominance and Priority: The priority of elements within a design can make the difference between a good user experience and a bad one. Without some kind of priority or dominance among elements in a design, it’s difficult for the user to figure out what they’re supposed to do. Dominance of one element over another gives us a sense of what’s important and what’s not.
8. Proportion: Proportion is the scale of elements in relation to one another. Proportion has a strong effect on the dominance of elements, with larger elements having a stronger visual impact than smaller ones, all other things being equal.
9. Rhythm and Flow: The rhythm of a page directs the visitor from one element to the next.
10. Emphasis: Making a specific element stand out or draw attention to the eye. Emphasis can be achieved in graphic design by placing elements on the page in positions where the eye is naturally drawn, by using other principles such as contrast, repetition, or movement.
11. Gestalt: Sometimes considered a distinct principle of design, gestalt is the concept that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." When viewing designs, humans apply this principle unconsciously by seeing connections and relationships among and between the elements in the design.
12. Harmony: As with music, graphical elements can be said to be working in harmony - the individual parts come together as visually compelling and a meaningful whole. Disharmony can also be used just as it is in musical compositions: to enhance the emotional complexity, to challenge the viewer, and to give a contrast within the overall composition.
13. Movement: Movement is creating an instability, making motion to blur the image. Movement can be achieved by using graphic elements that direct the eye in a certain direction such as arrows that point the way overtly or a series of lines or dots that get progressively larger or smaller, creating a more subtle sense of movement.
14. Unity: Unity creates a feeling of wholeness. Unity is usually achieved when the parts complement each other in a way where they have something in common.
15. Golden Ratio/ Phi/ Rectangle: Found in nature as well as the work of man, the golden rectangle or golden section is a visually pleasing geometric shape with specific proportions. The measurement of 1.61803398874989..., known as the Golden Mean or Phi, a sequence of numbers known as the

Fibonacci Series, and the Golden Rectangle are all mathematically connected. However, for the layperson the primary ratio of interest is 3:5 or 5:3 -- the Golden Proportion.16. Variety: a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category.
17. Layout: When you place text and graphics on a screen, you can’t assume that the learner automatically understands what it means.  Your job is to create relationships and guide the learner’s understanding. 
18. Color Theory: This is the quality of the colors used and their relationship between one another.
19. Perspective: A technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface.
20. Economy: If you can remove an element within a design and that design still works, then you’ve practiced economy in design. Don’t offer more than is needed, but be sure to include all that is needed to create an intelligent and economical design.