Design Principles

The proximity principle: elements that are close spatially are perceived to belong together. Use this to your advantage. Things that are close together will appear

A subtle and often overlooked design principle is texture. Derived from the Latin word meaning “to weave,” texture arises from interwoven or layered parts.

Rhythm establishes consistency in your design. Repeating elements operate like the bass line in a good tune. Rhythm can create movement through a multi-page publication

You know how important balance is in life. Balance is also a fundamental design principle.

What if a movie had no climax? A news article had no headline? A song had no refrain?

One of the most basic design principles is unity. Unity brings diverse elements into a cohesive whole. The image above is unified by color and

Lines can be delicate or aggressive, directional or meandering, representational or abstract. Lines do much more than delineate a shape. They have rhythm. They have

Let’s talk about white space—or more accurately, negative space, because it doesn’t have to be white.

The most obvious sign of professional design is the use of alignment. Invisible axes give structure to a page.

One fundamental design principle is hierarchy. A design should have one dominant feature. One thing that catches the attention of your audience. Subordinate to that

What do all of the most memorable and beloved designs have in common? It’s not just innovation, creativity, or simplicity alone. Whatever it is can’t