Principles of Design

People could hardly imagine the internet’s technology. If you are destined to be an I.T. person, you will dare to plunge in the virtual world of bytes, cable, code, database, server, soft to hardware, and networking which are all ruled by geeks. Others won’t even bother to study the basics of computer as long as they enjoy their Facebook account and getting updates from their family and friends. While there are those who are born in a techie generation and that computers are part of their living. Though they might not pursue a hard core programming skills but their faith is strong that computers can solve problems in a click.

Did technology totally abandon the traditional of “old school” means of learning? Will you find all what you are searching for as long as there’s a library of websites to provide you millions of reference. One specific example is web design. We all know that you have to know how to use graphic design software like Photoshop, Flash and Dreamweaver. And what if you learned all of these softwares, will it promise you to and create an excellent website? Perhaps something is lacking. Even if web design is the most high tech among other types of graphic design like typography, drawing, print design, etc., it can never run away from their dogma, the Principles of  Design. Creating a website is similar with that of book development. You need writers and artists to do the content for you. The difference between a website and a book is that the latter don’t need a developer to code each pages. Both of them need reliable content and appropriate graphic design.

It will always make a difference if a web designer has a proper orientation with the Principles of Design. More than the technical skills the web designer acquired, he possesses the strategy on how to present his website just by the way it looks. The Principles of Design includes balance, contrast, variety, harmony, and action.

Balance
Balance creates equilibrium and provides visual weight to the design. Balance has two types, symmetrical and asymmetrical.  The design has symmetrical balance when all the elements are aligned at center. When the elements of the design are distributed on the space, it is said to be asymmetrical.

Contrast
Contrast when applied to design, can add more vigor. Contrast is incorporated on color, shape, position, and size. Contrast among design enables to emphasize on the important content.

Harmony
Just like humans, the absence of harmony will lead to turbulent design. Poor layout, bad color schemes and inappropriate logos will surely dissolve the interest of your viewers. It is important to make a plan for your website before you start coding and designing.

Variety
You can make your design more interesting and entertaining if you have variety of format and content. It prevents dullness and can make your viewers more interested in your website.

Action
A design behaves according to its layout. Having an organized design enables your readers to follow the sequence of content and makes it easier for readers to search what they want to see.