7 Elements of Design: A Comprehensive Guide

The seven elements of design are the building blocks of any creative work. They are line, color, value, shape, shape, space and texture. These elements are essential for any type of design, from posters and billboards to brochures and packaging. A balance of these elements is vital for every plan.The seven elements are the basis of good design and date back centuries.

The line creates division and hierarchy within a design and can help direct the reader's attention to a specific information or a chosen focal point. A shape is formed when a two-dimensional line encloses an area. The shapes are usually geometric, such as circles, triangles and squares, but they can also be organic, such as plants and animals. Simple forms are easier to understand than complicated ones.Sometimes referred to as “flow”, direction defines how the eye moves around the page or over a particular design.

Our eyes flow naturally from the top left of a page to the bottom right, and the most effective designs often take advantage of this natural flow. Different directions can also inspire different reactions from your readers. For example, a design that directs the reader's eye horizontally may suggest calm and stability, while the vertical direction may suggest balance and formality.Texture refers to the surface quality of a shape. It can be tactile or purely visual.

The texture creates a more dynamic and visually interesting experience, and can also add depth to your designs. Learn more about using textures in your graphic designs. The texture of felt is subtle and is commonly used for brochures and printed covers. Not to be confused with translucent vellum paper, vellum textured paper looks soft but has a fine texture.

Linen textured paper mimics the look and feel of linen fabric. Commonly used for a number of paper projects including wedding stationery, personal and business correspondence, and homemade greeting cards.Color can have a significant impact on the look, feel and readability of your design. The choice of color can also influence how the reader perceives your design when creating a particular mood or sensation. Read our introduction to color theory to learn more.

The value refers to the lightness or darkness, also known as “tone”, of a color. Low key values are mostly dark, while high key values are bright or faded.The seven basic elements of graphic design are line, shape, color, texture, type, space and image. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Master these basics and you'll take your graphic design portfolio to the next level.What are the 7 elements of design and art? The 7 elements of the design are Point, Line, Shape, Space, Shape, Color and Texture.

The elements of art are like atoms, since both serve as building blocks to create something. You know that atoms combine and form other things.Sometimes they casually form a simple molecule, such as when hydrogen and oxygen form water (H2O). If hydrogen and oxygen take a more aggressive career path and provide carbon as co-workers, together they could form something more complex, such as a sucrose molecule (C12H22O1). For example, a sculptor, by default, has to have shape and space in a sculpture, because these elements are three-dimensional.They can also be made to appear in two-dimensional works by using perspective and shading.

Texture is another element, such as shape or space, that can be real (running your fingers over an oriental rug or holding an unglazed pot), created (think of van Gogh's lumpy, pasted canvases) or implied (through clever use of shading). Color is often the main goal for people who learn and think visually.The elements of art are fun and useful. Remember the line, shape, shape, space, texture, value and color. Knowing these elements will allow you to analyze, appreciate, write and talk about art, as well as being helpful if you create art yourself.You can create flow within your design by organizing your elements in a way that naturally encourages the view of your readers to travel in the desired direction.

You can use design elements in any shape or design that requires text, images and ideas to express something unique.But the design goes beyond these principles: designers must also take into account the elements of the design. It can give a design space to breathe, increase its visual impact, balance the heaviest visual elements and emphasize images or messages that viewers should remember.These elements are the building blocks of any design, and what you choose to do with them is up to you and how you choose to employ design principles. Understanding these elements will allow you to use them effectively in your creative work.It will provide you with enormous benefits for your artistic development and continuous personal improvement. The 7 elements of the design are designed to help you balance the interior scheme so that the final look is aesthetically pleasing and functional.It highlights important elements and makes it easier for the viewer to capture the main message of your digital design.

Design elements are the basic units of a work of art or design.While easily overlooked, negative space is an important design element that provides organization and clarity to a composition. There are fundamental design principles that work in conjunction with specific elements of visual design.Negative space refers to the area surrounding the design elements that forms an interesting way to enhance the design. White space gives design elements breathing space and helps to improve the visual hierarchy.

Gloria Foulke
Gloria Foulke

Wannabe twitter lover. Freelance social media maven. Friendly twitter nerd. Hipster-friendly zombie advocate. Avid zombie practitioner. Amateur baconaholic.