the fundamentals of design
are the basis of every visual medium
from fine art
to modern web design even small details
like the fonts that make up most
compositions
what do these examples have in common
some very basic elements
including line shape form
texture and balance they might not seem
like much on their own
but together they're part of almost
everything we see and create
the fundamentals can be intimidating
especially if you don't consider
yourself an artist
however there's a lot they can teach you
about working with different assets and
creating simple visuals from scratch
let's start at the beginning with one of
the most basic elements of all
the line a line is a shape that connects
two
or more points it can be fat or
thin wavy or jagged
every possibility gives the line a
slightly different feel
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lines appear frequently in design for
example in drawings and illustrations
and graphic elements like textures and
patterns
they're also common in text compositions
where they can add emphasis
divide or organize content
or even guide the viewer's eye
when working with lines pay attention to
things like weight
color texture and style
these subtle qualities can have a big
impact on the way your design is
perceived
look for places where lines are hiding
in plain sight for example in text
even here experimenting with different
line qualities can give you very
different results
a shape is any two-dimensional area with
a recognizable boundary
this includes circles squares triangles
and so on shapes fall into two distinct
categories
geometric or regular and organic where
the shapes are more free form
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shapes are a vital part of communicating
ideas visually
they give images heft and make them
recognizable
we understand street signs symbols and
even abstract art
largely because of shapes shapes have a
surprising number of uses in everyday
design
they can help you organize or separate
content
create simple illustrations or just add
interest to your work
shapes are important because they're the
foundation of so many things
learn to look for them in other designs
and soon you'll start seeing them
everywhere
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when a shape becomes 3d we call it a
form
forms can be three-dimensional and exist
in the real world
or they can be implied using techniques
like light
shadow and perspective to create the
illusion of depth
in two-dimensional design form makes
realism possible
without it a bouncing rubber ball is
just a circle
a 3d building is just a series of
rectangles
even flat designs use subtle techniques
to hint at form and depth
in everyday compositions the purpose of
form is the same but on a smaller scale
for example a simple shadow can create
the illusion of layers
or give an object a sense of place
basic forms can bring a touch of realism
to your work a powerful tool
when used in moderation
texture is the physical quality of a
surface
like form it can be three-dimensional
something you can see
and touch or it can be implied
suggesting that it would have texture
if it existed in real life in design
texture adds depth and tactility to
otherwise flat images
objects can appear smooth rough hard
or soft depending on the elements at
play
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for beginners textures make great
background images and can add a lot of
interest to your work
look closely and you may find texture in
unexpected places
like distressed fonts and smooth glossy
icons
just be careful not to go overboard too
much texture in a single design
can quickly become overwhelming
balance is the equal distribution of
visual weight
in other words how much any one thing
attracts the viewer's eye
balance can be affected by many things
including color
size number and negative space
mastering balance can be tricky for
beginners because it does take some
intuition
luckily the design world is full of
examples that can help you understand
its different iterations
symmetrical designs are the same or
similar on both sides of an axis
they feel balanced because each side is
effectively the same
if not identical asymmetrical designs
are different
but the weight is still evenly
distributed the composition is balanced
because it calls attention to the right
things
many people use a strategy called the
rule of thirds
this imagines your work area divided
into a 3x3 grid
the focal point of the image is placed
on or near one of these lines
creating visual balance with the rest of
the space
we find this type of composition
appealing because according to studies
the human eye naturally follows this
path when scanning a design
the fundamentals of design are all about
the bigger picture
in other words learning to appreciate
the many small details that make up
every composition
this insight can be applied to almost
any type of project
whether you're creating your own
graphics or just looking for simple ways
to enhance your work
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thanks for joining us for the
fundamentals of design
check out the rest of our design topics
including color typography
and more
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