Introduction to graphics design

Essential TO G R A P H I C S D ES I G N V1

What is it?

Graphic design are defined as a rules and considerations of design applied to the visual medium, for communication by the use of visual objects that may include words, lights, graphs and shapes to pass information to the viewer.

Graphic design can be used for advertising, or just for entertainment intended for the mind. From clarification or expansion of information via visual aids to the arousal of emotional and aesthetic feelings in an artistic way.

It may be a contributor to many other forms of art and craft, for example the elaboration of typefaces used in print and media, the order and flow of presentation of a cartoon, to the creation of road signs or even emoji. Graphic design considerations influence all visual aspects of our technological society and is an intrinsic part the shared human culture.

Principles O F G R A P HI C S D ES I G N

Proximity Proximity means grouping elements together so that you guide the viewer/reader to different parts of the message. Closeness or distance of individual design elements. Close proximity indicates a connection.

The principle of proximity is simply the process of ensuring related design elements are placed together. Any unrelated items, should be spaced apart. Close proximity indicates that items are connected or have a relationship to each other and become one visual unit which helps to organise or give structure to a layout.

Alignment Alignment is the act of keeping design objects in line - not only vertically or horizontally, but across any linear plane. Alignment can also be done respectively, i.e. one design element is positioned with respect to another element within the same frame.

To ensure your accuracy you may use Ruler (ctrl+r) as provided in all adobe Product

Repetition Like the use of repetitious hooks in a song, repeating elements in a graphic design can be visually appealing.

In design, repetition creates visual consistency in page designs, such as using the same style of headlines, the same style of initial capitals, or repeating the same basic layout from one page to another.

Excessive repetition (monotony) may lead to boredom and uninteresting compositions. If one cannot avoid excessive repetitions for any reason, do not forget to add some visual breaks and white spaces where eyes can rest for a while.

Contrast Contrast is an important principle of design because it lets you draw out the most important elements of a design and add emphasis. Contrast happens when two design elements are in opposition to each other, like black and white, thick and thin, modern and traditional, etc.

Contrast is what helps guide the viewer’s eyes to the most important parts of your design and helps organize the information in an easily digestible manner. Another way to describe contrast, is to say “a small object next to a large object will look smaller�.

As contrast in size diminishes, monotony is approached.

White space The space and how it is used is crucially important in design.

Lately the “white space” (also called negative space) became used widely because it allows the human eye to read easier. “white space”, it does not mean precisely space filled with white, but every area of the design which is only filled with the background color.

Even if I said the color is maybe the most important element of a design, the space is definitely present in the top, because it is also very easy to notice by the untrained eye. It can turn a design to your advantage and get the best out of your layout.

Introduction TO G R A P H I C S D E S I G N

Typography Typography is a Style or appearance of text the art of working with text. One of the most important skills you can learn as a designer is how to choose type. This is because text is one of the primary ways designers can communicate with users. Typography can make or break a design.

In typography, a typeface (also known as font family) is a set of one or more fonts each composed of glyphs that share common design features.

i. Serif Serif fonts have little strokes called serifs attached to the main part of the letter. Because of their classic look, they’re a good choice for more traditional projects. They’re also common in print publications, like magazines and newspapers.

ii. Sans serif Sans serif fonts don’t have that extra stroke—hence the name, which is French for without serif. This style is considered more clean and modern than serif fonts. Also, it tends to be easier to read on computer screens, including smartphones and tablets.

iii. Display Display fonts come in many different styles, like script, blackletter, all caps, and just plain fancy.

In a way, fonts have their own language. They all have something to say beyond the words on the page. They can come across as casual or neutral, exotic or graphic. That’s why it’s important to think about your message, then choose a font that fits.

Fonts to avoid If you find yourself tempted by them, think twice and consider using something else. There are many fonts with a similar look and feel that are less likely to detract from your message.

When deciding which fonts to use, less is more. It’s best to limit yourself to one or two per project. If you need more contrast, try repeating one of your fonts in a different size, weight, or style. This trick is practically foolproof for creating interesting combinations that work.

Color Color is a significant part of design and should be considered carefully each time you start a new design. Colors are largely responsible for dictating the mood of a design — each color has something a little different to say. Green tends to make people think of non-profits or the environment, while red causes stormy emotions like anger, blue is more calming and passive, and yellow creates a sensation of happiness.

You don’t need to study color theory to get it right—Spark Post suggests color combinations based on the image you begin with.

Color Palette

Palette can refer to a range of colors, and your preference of flavors in food is your palate. The meaning of the word palette has extended beyond actual colors to include figurative colors. A musician can use a palette of tones and melody.

Click Here for more color palettes

Composition In many ways, layout and composition are the building blocks of design. They give your work structure and make it easier to navigate, from the margins on the sides to the content in between Why is composition so important? In short, it’s the way your content is arranged. It doesn’t matter if you’re working with text, images, or elements in a graphic; without a thoughtful, well-composed layout, your work would basically fall apart.

Additional TO G R A P H I C S D E S I G N

Golden Ratio There’s a common mathematical ratio found in nature that can be used to create pleasing, natural looking compositions in your design work. We call it the Golden Ratio.

Intent What is the intention of your artwork? In graphics design intention is divided into two major category printing and interactive i.e. social network (instagram, twitter, facebook) and website in which the information is retrieved through digital device including computer, smart TV and Smartphone.

i.printing Commercial printing presses print with CMYK ink, called process printing, instead of RGB light, and therefore produce a different range of color. CMYK refers to the primary colors of pigment: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black.

When selecting colors for your print project, we recommend using CMYK color mode. it is physically impossible for the printing press to exactly reproduce colors as we see them on our monitors.

Lastly consider the resolution of your document, In advance program understand the resolution for each intent. For printing purpose the program set the resolution to 300pixels/centimeter or 762pixels/Inch as a default.

ii.Interactive Scanners, digital cameras and computer monitors use red, green and blue (RGB) light to display color. Certain RGB colors that you can see on your monitor or camera (in particular, bright vibrant colors) simply cannot be replicated with standard CMYK inks.

The default resolution for interactive document program set to 72pixels/Centimeter or 28.346pixels/Inch.

Mockup

The way of presenting the structure of information, visualize the content and demonstrate the basic functionalities in a static way of an art.

Mockup In manufacturing and design, a mockup, or mock-up, is a scale or full-size model of a design or device, used for teaching, demonstration, design evaluation, promotion, and other purposes. A mockup is a prototype if it provides at least part of the functionality of a system and enables testing of a design.

It is known that customer know nothing about graphics design, the only thing he need is product from designer. For better presentation of the product mockup is advised to get a clear picture of the real thing.

Conclusion These are the basic elements a beginner graphic designer should know about. Having this knowledge will allow you to think more user-focused and design with a better style.