DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS
OVERVIEW
Space
Color
Balance
Typography
Hierarchy
Texture
Lines & Shapes
Image
Space
The best designs aren’t the ones that try to fit every design element on the block into a single composition. They utilize open space to bring attention to the elements that actually matter.
RESOURCES FOR SPACE
Videos
Balance
Proper balance and alignment are core principles of design. Discover how they work and how to use them in concert with other design elements.
RESOURCES FOR BALANCE
Videos
Hierarchy
Hierarchy is how you present the elements on your design (whether it’s a brochure, a website or a business card). This directs viewers to where they should focus their attention.
RESOURCES FOR HIERARCHY
Videos
Books
Book recommendations are still needed for this section.
Lines & Shapes
Lines and shapes form the foundation of your designs, and how you use them can completely transform how a design looks and feels.
RESOURCES FOR LINES & SHAPES
Blogs
Making Lines and Shapes Work for You in Great Design
The 5 rules of design composition and layout
The Psychology of Lines and Shapes in Web Design
5 Simple Tips for Using Lines and Arrows in Graphic Design
Videos
Color
The colors you choose for your designs are crucial not
only to your overall aesthetic, but to how well your
designs connect with your audience (which ultimately drives results).
RESOURCES FOR COLOR
Videos
Books
Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color
Color Design Workbook: New, Revised Edition: A Real World Guide to Using Color in Graphic Design
Color Code. Branding & Identity (Graphic Design Elements)
Design Elements, Color Fundamentals: A Graphic Style Manual for Understanding How Color Affects Design
Typography
Typography covers everything from font selection to font layout. Not only does it communicate your core message, but it also communicates a lot about who you are and what you’re about.
RESOURCES FOR TYPOGRAPHY
Videos
The Elements of Typographic Style: Version 4.0: 20th Anniversary Edition
The Visual History of Type: A visual survey of 320 typefaces
Vintage Type and Graphics: An Eclectic Collection of Typography, Ornament, Letterheads, and Trademarks from 1896 to 1936
Texture
Texture is a one way to add depth and dimension to your designs, which makes them more visually engaging.
RESOURCES FOR TEXTURE
Using Texture in Graphic Design
The role of textures in contemporary graphic design
Videos
Image
Whether graphic designers use photographs or illustrations, they rely on images to grab the audience’s attention and express specific messages. An image works on multiple levels at the same time, by providing context for a designer’s communication, adding necessary drama or action, and creating an overall mood.
