Gareth David Studio

Graphic design is not simply about making things look good. In Graphic Design there are principles of Design that can be considered. These principles are what typically separate good design from bad design. These principles all have a relationship between each other and appear in every well designed piece of work you see. A good grasp of Design Theory or mean there is always substance behind your work. The key principles of Design are: Contrast, Hierarchy, Alignment, Balance, proximity, Repetition, Simplicity and Function. Whatever work you produce, be it for a magazine, a poster, a website or an advertisement, the principles of design should be considered. A good designer will keep these principles and guidelines in their toolkit and will consciously use them to develop their ideas.
1st key element: Contrast
Contrast occurs when two or more visual elements in a composition are different. In Design we use contrast to generate impact, highlight importance, create exciting graphics and create visual interest and dynamics.

Context and Contrast
Visual Elements and Contrast
Contrast in Shape
Contrast in Colour
Contrast in Scale
Contrast in Layout
Contrast in Type
Contrast in Alignment