Introduction

Principles of Design

Introduction
Simplicity
Harmony
Balance
Movement
Contrast
Rule of Thirds

Practice 1


	What is Visual Design?	"Design is thinking made visual. It is a communication of concept and ideas. On the web, success is often measured by how quickly and effectively you communicate your ideas to the user. It is a method of building visual information and balancing communication between images and words." - Anil P. Chacko School of Informatics State University of New York at Buffalo Image courtesy of Gimp Savvy

	Overview	The following pages will provide brief information on five Visual Design Principles: Simplicity Harmony Balance Movement Contrast These principles should be considered when putting together a work of Visual Design. While the incorporation of text is vital to clear communication of an idea, think of Visual Design as a means of communication in and of itself. In addition to thinking of visual design as art, think of visual design as problem-solving communication measures applied with design concepts and execution. Good Visual Design will answer the following questions. What information does this visual design need to communicate to the viewer? What feeling or emotion is this visual design intended to evoke in a viewer? What are the best principles to employ to gain the appropriate response from the viewer?
	Is the tail wagging the dog?	Never become so engrossed with a Visual Design that the graphics become the ends and not the means. The goal is communication or the evocation of a feeling. Visual design is the servant and not the master of content.
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