CREATING A GOOD DESIGN

Anytime I heard the word “Design”, what comes to my mind is graphics and creativity. However, when it comes to design, I get confused. I usually struggle with the things to combine to create a good design.

So, I will be sharing the few points I learned in the visual communication class on creating a good design in this post.

What makes a good design in communication?

Is it the combination of colours used? Or the images or the text? These and a few others were the questions you should ask in order to create a good design.

Graphic design is adding of images, text and technology in different dimensions to pass across a message.

Thus, understanding the building blocks (Elements) and being able to put them together(Principle) is what is needed for creating a good design.

DESIGN AND ART

Design is different from art because art is not necessarily passing a particular message. In fact, art usually has different meanings to different people.

Furthermore, design has a direction, which is to pass a message. Anyone that sees the design must be able to understand the intended message correctly.

THREE BASICS OF GOOD DESIGN

1. Keep it simple: Put only the important information on the page so that viewers get the message immediately.
2. Be consistent: Keep your colours, fonts, and arrangements consistent from page to page
3. Add contrast: Contrast draws viewers’ attention to what is important in the design. You can use hierarchy with colour and font size.

ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

These refer to the tools required, and instructions to follow for a good design. In other words, as a designer, using the elements of design according to the principles brings about a meaningful design.

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

Elements are like building blocks of your design. These are the tools a designer uses to craft and bring meaning to an idea.

They include Lines, colour, shape, texture, framing and type.

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Principles are how to effectively use the elements to create a good design.

1. Balance: This refers to the stability of your design. The arrangement of your text and image must balance on the canvass. So, make good use of the space available without overloading.

There are 2 types of balance:

• Symmetrical: This is when all the weight on the canvass is equally distributed. In other words, one half of the canvass mirrors the other.

• Asymmetrical: The weight of the text and image are not evenly distributed. That is, you may have images on one side and text on the other side.

2 . Proximity: It creates a relationship between the elements. Thus, the elements should be near to create unity.

3. Alignment: This allows us to create order and organization. It creates a visual connection between the elements.

4. Repetition: It creates unity between pages of your design by repeating some elements.

5. Contrast: Contrast allows you to emphasise or highlight the key elements in your design

6. Space: Leave some space around the edges to allow the eyes of the viewers to rest.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Know your audience: It is also important to know your audience. The focus of the design is to pass a message to a set of audiences. Therefore, for the message to achieve its purpose, the knowledge of the audience is important.

Be clear about your message: Your design should present the message in a clear, attractive and informative way. So, avoid loading the design with too much information that might cause confusion.

Set the right tone: You can use font, colour, and texture to set the tone or mood of the design.

Creativity: Imagination plays a vital role in design. This is creating something new and valuable using your imagination.

In summary, creating a good design is not magic, it requires the mastery of the elements and principles. The best way to master these elements is to experiment continuously.

Therefore, keep experimenting.

Thank you.