A Detailed Study of the Elements of Visual Design

Elements are the building blocks of a graphic design.

Study the PDF below (for academic use only)

DOT: The smallest unit of a design/image/art. It is the visual element upon which all others are constructed.

LINE: A line is two connected lines. It could also be called as a dot in motion. Lines are an essential element of any design. It is the noticeable starting place for most artistic creation. Eyes tend to follow lines in an image. Through lines we can lead viewers’ eyes in a particular direction. Kinds of lines: Vertical lines | Horizontal lines | Diagonal lines | Zigzag lines | Curved lines | Actual and implied lines.

Elements of Design

SHAPE: A shape is a closed area. A shape is a two dimensional object that stands out from the background because of a defined or implied boundary.

FORM: A form is a shape that has depth along with its height, width.

SPACE: Space refers to the area that a shape or form occupies. It also refers to the background against which we see the shape or form. Space can be defined as positive and negative. The positive space of a design is the filled space in the design—often it is the shapes that make up the design. The negative space enhances the positive space.

COLOUR: Colour is a quality of an object which is caused due to the light being reflected or emitted by the object. A colour scheme communicates the message behind the design on both visual and psychological levels.

TEXTURE: Texture is the way a surface feels, or the way it's perceived to feel. It has the power to attract or detract a viewer's eyes. There are two types of textures: tactile and visual. Tactile textures are three-dimensional and can be felt. Visual textures are illusions of texture created.

FONTS: Font refers to the specific style of a typeface. Arial Black is a font of the Arial typeface/font family. Minion Pro Italic is a font belonging to the Minion typeface/font family.

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