What Makes a Good Design?

Every type of design exists to solve problems.

Design is the process of devising a solution that is functionally effective and aesthetically appealing to meet specific objectives or serve particular needs. Both aesthetics and functionality are essential and inseparable aspects of design.

Design Theory

Design theory is a system of ideas that explains how and why design works. It speaks of how different design elements and principles combine to communicate a particular message effectively. 

Design theory involves an understanding of the tangible elements including form, space, proportion, color, scale, texture, structure, composition, line, shape, and volume, and how to arrange them to achieve balance, rhythm, pattern, hierarchy, emphasis, and unity. 

 A design that emphasizes aesthetics at the cost of functionality is ultimately a failed design. Similarly, a purely practical design that pays no heed to aesthetics fails to engage its users. The perfect blend refers to the symphony of form and function, where aesthetics and usability are perfectly harmonious.

Design theory, blended with a purpose or problem to solve, results in effective design solutions. Designers who understand design theory are better equipped to solve design problems efficiently

Design Elements 

Design elements are the building blocks of design. They are like the ingredients you need for a recipe. The combination of these has an impact on how the design is perceived.

1. Dot: Everything starts from a dot. A dot is an intersection of lines and, thus, the most basic element. Dots are the building blocks of everything else. Any other mark we make can be seen as one or more dots in combination. 

2. Line: A line is a basic design element consisting of two connected dots. A line can be vertical, diagonal, horizontal, and even curved. It can be any width, size, shape, position, direction, interval, or density. Lines can be combined together to form shapes.

3. Shape: A shape in the elements of design is the result of enclosed lines to form a boundary. Shapes are two-dimensional and can be described as geometric, organic, and abstract. everything is ultimately a shape.

4. Space: Space refers to the area around, above, below, or behind an object. Space can be negative or positive. Positive space is space that is occupied by a shape or form. Negative space is the area that is not occupied by any elements. 

5. Form: Form is a three-dimensional object with volume of height, width, and depth. When a shape acquires depth and becomes three-dimensional, then it takes on form.

6. Texture: Texture is the way a surface feels or the way it’s perceived to feel. Texture refers to the physical and visual qualities of a surface. The goal of texture is to add depth to a 2D surface.

7. Value: Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. The values of a color are often visualized in a gradient, which displays a series of variations on one hue, arranged from the lightest to the darkest

8. Colour: Color is a visual property of objects that is determined by the wavelengths of light that they reflect. Colors create moods and can say something different depending on the connotations of the chosen color scheme.

9. Typography: It is the style and appearance of printed text and also the art and process of arranging text to make it readable and legible. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point sizes, line lengths, line spacing, letter spacing, and spaces between pairs of letters.

Design Principles 

Design principles serve as guidelines for creating visually appealing and effective designs. These are the building blocks graphic designers and artists use to guide their work, They are  the core principles of art that make up every design. These are the rules that work beneath the surface to make the work stable and balanced.

1. Alignment:  Alignment in design is the strategic arrangement of elements relative to one another or a common baseline, creating order, harmony, and visual appeal. This alignment is crucial for guiding the user’s eye through content, enhancing readability. Alignment helps us create the necessary structure for our information.

2. Balance: The visual weight of a design needs to have balance. Balance can be implied by size, shape, or even contrast. Symmetrical design creates balance through equally weighted elements aligned on either side of a center line. Asymmetrical design uses opposite weights to create a composition that is not even but still has equilibrium.

3. Contrast: The difference between two or more objects in a design is referred to as contrast. The difference in objects could be light and dark, thin and thick, small and large, bright and dull, etc. High contrast can help guide the viewer’s eyes to the most important parts of your design first.

4. Emphasis: Emphasis deals with the impact of an object. This is achieved by manipulating elements (like color, shape, and size) to make specific parts of a design stand out. Adding emphasis to an object creates a focal point, which grabs an audience’s attention. It’s where you want the viewer to look first, but doesn’t overpower the rest of the design.

5. Hierarchy:  hierarchy is a way to visually rank your design elements. it gives extra visual weight to the most important element in the design. It can be accomplished in a variety of ways: using larger or bolder fonts for your typography, placing your most important message physically higher than other pieces of information, or using shapes to frame the central point.

6. Proportion: Proportion is the relationship between two or more elements in a design, particularly the size and scale of them. When things are "proportionate”, it means there’s a coordination between them that makes the design look aesthetically pleasing. Proportion is about finding harmony between two elements.

7. Proximity: Proximity is also helpful in creating organization on a design since similar or related elements should be grouped together to create a relationship between them. Items close together are likely to be perceived as part of the same group — sharing similar functionality or traits.

8. Repetition: Repetition refers to when an element is repeated throughout a design. It could be anything, from using a certain font color to adding a repetitive pattern. repetition unifies and strengthens a design. It also creates a sense of consistency

9. Rhythm: Rhythm refers to the movement within a piece of art that helps the eye travel through the to a point of focus.rhythm is created by repeating lines, shapes, colors, and other elements. This makes a path for our eyes to follow, builds patterns, and imbues the design with a sense of flow. 

10. Unity: Unity only occurs when all the various elements within a design coexist to form a holistic experience pleasing to the eye. When all elements are in agreement, a design is considered unified.

Thus, a design that combines design elements and design principles is what makes a good design.

Citations:

https://alvalyn.com/what-is-design-theory/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/elements-of-design-explained

https://design.tutsplus.com/articles/the-basic-elements-of-design--cms-33922

https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/design

https://uxcel.com/blog/elements-of-design#4.-Color

https://www.invisionapp.com/defined/principles-of-design

https://www.vistaprint.com/hub/principles-of-design#6

https://paperform.co/blog/principles-of-design/