4 graphic design rules that should always be followed

balance and alignment

All elements placed on a page have their own visual weight. Weight can come in the form of size, color, or texture. Nobody would put all the furniture in the corner of a room. Similarly, designers shouldn’t cram all the heavy elements into one area of ​​their composition. When there is no balance, the public will feel that the eye is playing a trick on them.

Symmetrical design can create balance by placing items of equal weight on both sides of a center line. Asymmetrical design makes use of opposing weights (for example, contrasting one huge item against many smaller items) to create an uneven composition that still has balance.

Symmetrical designs are pleasing to the eye but can be boring at times. Asymmetrical designs tend to be bolder and are capable of bringing visual interest and movement to a composition.

Contrast

When a design “pops” it means there is contrast. It seems to come off the page and stick to the viewer’s memory. Contrast in a web design creates the difference and space between the elements. The background of a page should be different from the colors of the elements so that they can work together in harmony and make it more readable.

When planning to work with type, it’s very important to understand contrast, as this just shows that the type is balanced in size and weight. If everything is in bold, the audience will not be able to figure out what is most essential.

Most of the designs that are really strong and effective are those that only use one or two typefaces. This is because designers can achieve effective contrast by using two strong fonts or simply one strong typeface that has different weights. If more fonts are added, the purpose of the design will seem confusing.

Repetition

If designers only use 2 strong typefaces or 3 dominant colors, they will have to repeat a number of things, which is fine. It is often said that repetition unifies and strengthens a design. When only part of the band’s poster appears in blue italics and sans-serif, it can be considered an error. On the other hand, when 3 things on the poster have blue italic sans-serif, a pattern has been created and the layout can be controlled.

Repetition is not only important in a printed product. Today, packaging design relies heavily on beautiful illustrated patterns. Therefore, those who are planning to start a business know that they need a strong logo to display on their website, which is also seen on business cards and social media, among others. Brand identity also requires repetition.

Proportion

Proportion is the size and visual weight of the elements in a composition and the way they relate to each other. It is better to approach the design section by section than as a whole.

Grouping items that are related can emphasize their importance even if they are smaller in size. This could be a space at the bottom of the poster to include ticket information, or a sidebar on the site to use as a search bar. When all design elements are properly sized and carefully placed, they can achieve proportion. When designers become adept at contrast, balance alignment, proportion will emerge organically.