# principles & elements of two-dimensional design --- _Using this to organize thoughts and resources on the Principles and Elements of Design that we use in the 2D Design class. Worth building this out in public on the website so the content is live as I add new things._ Explainer about the Principles & Elements of design. ## principles The conceptual rules that help guide how elements are used to create a visual composition. - [[unity|Unity]] is how all the visual elements fit together into a whole. - [[emphasis|Emphasis]] is how individual elements stand out from the group. - [[balance|Balance]] is how elements are distributed across the composition. - [[rhythm|Rhythm]] is used to build repetition to direct the viewer's eye. - [[scale|Scale & Proportion]] are the relative size relationships between elements in a composition. ## elements The building block elements that are used to build a composition. - [[line]] - [[shape]] - [[space]] - [[value]] - [[color basics|color]] - [[texture]] --- Visual design principles are a broad and vague term. Need to define purpose for this project and how it differs from conceptual design principles. This [design principles website](https://principles.design/) has tons of examples of conceptual principles. There's also [design principles ftw](https://www.designprinciplesftw.com/). > [!note]- Learn more.. > - [Principles of Art by Art In Context](https://artincontext.org/principles-of-art/) > - [Elements of Art by Art in Context](https://artincontext.org/elements-of-art/) --- > [!note]- notes > - do i follow the existing 102 flow or build something else? how do i organize the overall list? > - search through my design books to see what other concepts and groupings i can find > - link to typography content > - show application examples in print, screen, animated, interactive --- ### more concepts to include 1. Hierarchy 2. Balance 3. Alignment and Grid 4. Emphasis 5. Proportion and Scale 6. Movement 7. Negative Space 8. Contrast 9. Repetition and Pattern 10. Variety 11. Unity and Harmony 12. Rhythm 13. Simplicity vs Complexity 14. Framing 15. [Rule of Thirds](https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-the-rule-of-thirds/) ### Gestalt There are eight essential Gestalt principles: 1. Similarity 2. Continuation 3. Closure (also known as Reification) 4. Proximity (also known as Emergence) 5. Figure/Ground (also known as Multi-stability) 6. Symmetry and order 7. Common fate 8. Common region --- tags: #design #concepts home: [[2d principles and elements]]