DESIGN

Principles of

Creating and Understanding Principles of Design

Sean Kim | Period 3

Balance:

The manner in which the elements of an

artwork, such as the lines, shapes,
colors, and textures, are arranged.
Proximity:

The perception of different elements as

one group due to their close location.
Depends on where objects are placed in relation
to one another.
Alignment:

The placement of elements in an artwork

in a manner in which they line up. Helps with both
grouping and the creation of order in
the artwork.
Repetition:

The repeated placement of one object,

form, or figure.
Contrast:

The arrangement of elements with

opposite qualities (such as color, texture, and shapes) in
order to create visual interest, excitement, and
drama.
White Space:

The unmarked space in a design that is found

between and within its elements. White space assists
the design in overall legibility, sets the tone, and
directs the focus of the viewer.
Bleed:

The margins of an image that are to be left

blank. The blank margins are usually trimmed off after
printing. The below design extends into the bleed margins of the
paper.
Focal Point:

The dominant element in a design that has

relative emphasis over other elements. The dominance can be
established through differences in size, shape, color,
texture, and others.
Symmetry:

A mirrored design in which the image is

identical on either side of a central axis. Symmetry
can occur in any orientation as long as the image is mirrored.
Symmetry creates good shape relationship.
Asymmetry:

The lack of symmetry. Not inherently related

to balance; however, a form of balance known as informal
balance can be achieved without relying on symmetrical
images.
Proportion:

The relationship between the size and scale of

elements in a design. Size is the actual largeness of an object,
while scale is an objects largeness in relation to others.
Objects of the same size can appear different due to scale.
Serif:

A small line attached to the end of a stroke or symbol

in typography. In print, serifed fonts are considered
easier to read than others.

Serif
Sans Serif:

A letterform that does not have extending lines at

the end of strokes (serifs). Also known as grotesque,
gothic, or antique font.

Sans Serif
Non-Bleed:

A design that does not extend into the bleed

margins. This ensures that, when printed, every part of the design
desired shows up on the paper. The extra white margins can be
trimmed off afterwards.
Rule of Thirds:

The aligment of an image according to 2

lines each along the vertical and horizontal axes. This divides
the image into 9 sections. This helps produce
balance and a more natural image.