Visual Design Principles

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Anonymous contributor
Published Oct 28, 2023
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Visual design principles are guidelines for creating visual designs that are effective, cohesive, and appealing. Common principles include hierarchy, contrast, balance, scale, dominance, unity, and Gestalt.

  • Hierarchy relates to the order that a person processes visual information. An interface with a clear hierarchy helps the user prioritize information and systematically view elements on the page. By contrast, a lack of hierarchy creates confusion, as it’s unclear what to focus on.
  • Contrast is used to make elements stand out. Adjusting properties like color, texture, shape, size, and placement can visually distinguish some objects from others on a page.
  • Balance is achieved when elements appear to be equally distributed on a page. Balance can be created even if elements on a page aren’t perfectly symmetrical.
  • Scale is used to convey the proportional relationship between objects. Using scale strategically helps users understand how objects in a design relate to each other.
  • Dominance is used to make one object the focal point of a page or section. Dominance can be incorporated by making one element stand out based on size, shape, color, or other properties.
  • Unity is achieved when all elements work together as a cohesive whole. In products that follow the unity principle, all elements and layouts feel like they belong together.
  • Gestalt relates to how the brain processes visual information. When initially viewing a digital interface, a person perceives the overall design rather than isolating individual elements. The brain naturally categorizes and organizes visual information to make sense of it.

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