The Elements of Design

Have you ever wondered what makes a composition, work of art, advertisement, or even a piece of graphic design harmonious? I can honestly say I have never taken the time to ponder this question until this week. Various design elements including balance, weight, scale, direction, positive and negative space, and repetition can all play a major part in making any piece of design pleasing to the eye in an interesting and unique way.

I found this week that I am a very symmetrical person. Not in my appearance or demeanor, but in the way I look at and create compositions. I found it increasingly difficult to create an asymmetrical. Every time I tried, it either turned out symmetrical or just a mumbled, jumbled bunch of shapes on a page; no balance at all. In order to rid me of my asymmetrical lacking, I looked up inspiration on the internet. One example of asymmetrical design and explanation really struck me. It explained and viewed how to create asymmetrical balance in a way that made sense to me. If you are having asymmetrical woes, follow the link above and you will steadily move toward recovery.

What is Graphic Design?!

Do you know what graphic design actually consists of? On my search of this question, I did what any normal college student would: looked it up on Google. I, therefore, came up with this definition from aigi.org: "Graphic design is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas".

This definition is nice, but I wanted to dig deeper. What does graphic design really entail?! One thing is for certain: Graphic Design is around humanity almost 24/7. Think about it: From the wrapper around the Sobe Lifewater Juice I am currently drinking to the SELF magazine cover sitting on my desk, each was created by a graphic designer with a specific look, feeling, and vibe in mind. Each was made uniquely to communicate a specific message to its consumers and its audience. With this in mind, it is my opinion that graphic design is a thoughtful, creative process used to communicate a unique and pleasing message to consumers or a specific market. If graphic designers failed to complete the process, daily items we consume would be ordinary and bland. Therefore, next time you pick up any household item, such as a piece of gum or a box of band aids, think about the specific and unique graphic design of that product and what message and feel it is trying to communicate to you the consumer.