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.
2nd key element: Hierarchy
Hierarchy is the control of visual information in an arrangement or presentation to imply importance. Hierarchy influences the order in which the human eye perceives what it sees. In Design we use hierarchy to: add structure, create visual organisation, create direction, add emphasis and help a viewer navigate and digest information easily.
Hierarchy is typically created by contrast between visual elements in a composition. Typically visual elements with highest contrast are noticed first.

Information and Hierarchy
Hierarchy in Scale
Hierarchy in Colour
Hierarchy in Depth
Types of Text Hierarchy
Examples Showcase