Distinguishing Graphic Designs Thru Effective Application of Design Elements and Fundamentals
Graphic designing, as many have already found out, is no longer a daunting task. After all, there are now tutorials and graphic software like the Adobe Photoshop, CorelDraw and Gimp that enable aspiring graphic artists to create designs, even with a minimum of skill and artistic capability. It is now just a question of whether the design created can achieve the desired impact and deliver its purpose as a visual communications medium.
In fact graphic designs are everywhere, from as trivial as a candy wrapper to as common and massive as billboards, signage, t-shirts, coffee mugs and a host of other commercial, cultural and social usages.
Determining their effectiveness is gauged by their ability to influence consumers into buying a product, or in providing information needed, as well as in drawing positive attention to itself as an excellent creative work.
That being said, graphic artwork can take on a distinction of being an effective tool for communicating a specific message. In order to attain that level, designing a visual material requires efficient presentation of the basic elements of art, and proper execution of the fundamentals of graphic design.
Basic Elements of Art and How They are Best Presented
Basic elements of art or design are the lines, shapes and forms used to create artistic compositions, serving as the very foundations of a graphic design. Such elements take on different characteristics like color, form (flat, 2D or 3D), and texture (smooth, rough, hard or smooth), which are means of adding depth, realism or interests to a graphic work.
Efficient use of basic elements means factoring in tone and balance in their presentation. That way the main concept or message conveyed by a visual project is immediately perceived and more importantly, understood.
In order to achieve efficiency in the use of the basic elements of art, there must be proper application and execution of the fundamentals of graphic design.
Fundamentals of Graphic Design and their Significance
The fundamentals of graphic design pertain to the methods applied, in order to make the basic elements and characteristics of an artistic concept, work effectively together.
Fundamentals may pertain to the tone set by lines to suggest moods, such as, but not limited to active, passive, dramatic, stable, unstable and noble.
Color theory is also fundamental to graphic design, as it explains the art and science of color usage, in termsĀ of combinations, mixes, matches and contrasts. An in-depth understanding of color theory therefore, enables a designer to create visual art that has great potential to achieve its purpose.
Typeface is another graphic design fundamental; being the main carrier of the message. Presented by way of letters,numbers, symbols and punctuation marks, there are no hard rules to follow in the use of typeface; but only adherence to the principle of choosing one that makes the most sensible impact.
Balance as a fundamental aspect of a visual design is often the most influential, because its application in a layout can either emphasize or obscure the focal object of a graphic design.