“intentional communicative artefacts”
Gregory Currie (2012)

dramatization of meaning in an interesting, evocative, informative way”
Theodore Cheney (2001)

 Lines are used to Highlight information

Long lines can also create a sense of directionality or flow, guiding the viewer's eye along a particular path. In contrast, short lines can create a more abrupt or discontinuous feel.

Curved lines can represent movement in graphics design by creating the illusion of flow, energy, and dynamism. Here are some ways curved lines can be used to represent movement

Directionality: Curved lines can be used to suggest the direction of movement, such as a curving line that suggests a path of motion.

Speed: Curved lines can be used to suggest the speed of movement, such as a highly curved line that suggests fast motion, or a gentle curve that suggests slow motion.

Fluidity: Curved lines can be used to suggest fluidity of movement, such as the curve of a wave or the undulating movement of a dancer.

Momentum: Curved lines can be used to suggest momentum or the buildup of energy, such as the curve of a rollercoaster track or the arc of a swinging pendulum.

Rhythm: Curved lines can be used to create a sense of rhythm or repetition, such as the repeated curves of a sine wave or the flowing curves of a ribbon.

The visual system is specialized to detect edges and contours, which are defined by changes in luminance or color. Lines are essentially long edges, so they are readily detected by the visual system.

The brain processes lines in a hierarchical manner, with low-level neurons detecting basic features like orientation and contrast, and higher-level neurons integrating these features to form more complex representations like curves and shapes.

The perception of lines can be influenced by context and other visual cues. For example, lines that are placed in a particular arrangement can create the illusion of depth, and lines that are spaced a certain distance apart can create the perception of texture or pattern.

Different characteristics of lines, such as color, thickness, and texture, are processed by different neural pathways in the brain. For example, color information is processed in the ventral pathway, while spatial information (such as orientation and position) is processed in the dorsal pathway.

 In a group of 2-3 students, design the following using lines only: happiness, tension, calmness, chaos, and movement.

-> Use curved, upward lines to convey a sense of joy and positivity.

-> Experiment with different thicknesses and lengths to add variety.

-> Arrange the lines in a radiating pattern, suggesting an uplifting energy.

-> Utilize straight, diagonal lines to evoke a feeling of tension or unease.

-> Vary the thickness and length of the lines to create contrast and intensity.

-> Arrange the lines in a way that they appear to intersect or clash, emphasizing the tension.

-> Use smooth, horizontal lines to communicate a sense of calm and tranquility.

-> Keep the line thickness consistent and opt for longer lines to emphasize stability.

-> Space the lines evenly apart, creating a sense of harmony and balance

-> Combine different types of lines (straight, curved, wavy, dotted) to express chaos and disorder.

-> Vary the line properties, including thickness, length, direction, and density, to create visual complexity.

-> Arrange the lines randomly, overlapping and intertwining, to reinforce the feeling of chaos.

-> Use curved, upward lines to convey a sense of joy and positivity.

-> Experiment with different thicknesses and lengths to add variety.

-> Arrange the lines in a radiating pattern, suggesting an uplifting energy.

-> Utilize straight, diagonal lines to evoke a feeling of tension or unease.

-> Vary the thickness and length of the lines to create contrast and intensity.

-> Arrange the lines in a way that they appear to intersect or clash, emphasizing the tension.

use lines to create visual narratives and how to apply the principles of design to convey a story

Line based story telling

use lines to create visual narratives and how to apply the principles of design to convey a story

Once upon a time in a small village, a young boy named Tim had a colorful kite. He loved flying his kite in the open fields during the warm and windy days of spring. One day, as Tim was happily flying his kite, a sudden gust of wind ripped the string from his hands, and the kite soared high into the sky.

As the kite drifted away, Tim chased after it, determined to retrieve his beloved toy. He followed the kite through the village, past the market, and into the nearby forest. In the forest, the kite became entangled in the branches of a tall, old tree. Tim tried his best to reach the kite, but it was too high up.

Just as he was about to give up, a friendly squirrel appeared. With a swift leap, the squirrel climbed the tree and retrieved the kite for Tim. Grateful for the help, Tim thanked the squirrel and promised to visit the forest more often to play with his new friend.

Together, they walked back to the village, with the kite dancing in the wind behind them. From that day on, Tim and the squirrel became the best of friends, and their playful adventures brought joy to the village and the forest alike.

Create a three-panel storyboard focusing on the key moments. Here's a breakdown of each panel

Panel 1: The Village and the Windy Day

wind blowing

houses in the village

ground or grass

Tim holding the kite

Create a three-panel storyboard focusing on the key moments. Here's a breakdown of each panel

Panel 2: The Kite in the Forest

Intertwine the kite in the tree branches

Tree trunks and branches

Tim standing below the tree

A shape can be geometric (like a circle, triangle, or square), or it can be organic (such as leaves, flowers, and animals). Boundaries—including lines and color—ultimately define shapes and can also help emphasize an area of the page

Shapes are used to add taste and substance to a piece of graphic work. They can be used to beautify, they can be symbolic and can be used to form patterns and textures.

shapes that can be drawn using a ruler or compass. Whether simple or complex, these shapes produce a feeling of control or order

shapes that can be drawn by free hand or shapes found in nature. Organic shapes whether simple or complex produce a natural feel.

Shapes play a crucial role in creating a sense of movement in visual communication.  

Movement can help guide the viewer's eye through a design, create a sense of dynamism, and make the content more engaging.

In the following are some ways that shapes are used to form movement in information design

1. Arrows or other pointed shapes can be used to guide the viewer's eye through the design, indicating where they should focus next. Triangles, chevrons, and even organic shapes with clear directional cues can serve this purpose.

Repeating shapes or patterns can create a sense of movement, especially when they gradually change in size, orientation, or color. This can give the illusion of motion, like a series of waves, or create a sense of progression, like a row of dots getting larger as they move across the design

By layering shapes on top of one another, you can create a sense of depth and movement. The viewer's eye will naturally follow the layers from front to back or vice versa, creating a sense of motion

 Use shapes to create a frame or border around the area you want to emphasize. This can be achieved with simple rectangles or more decorative shapes that enclose the focal point, drawing the viewer's attention to it

Align related shapes and elements in a way that naturally leads the viewer's eye to the area of focus. Grouping related elements together and keeping adequate white space around the focal point can also help direct attention

The Principle of Proximity states: Group related items together. Move them physically close to each other so the related items are seen as one cohesive group rather than a bunch of unrelated bits.

Items or groups of information that are not related to each other should not be in close proximity (nearness) to the other elements, which gives the reader an instant visual clue to the organization and content of the page.

In Design as in life, physical closeness implies a relationship.

The number of separate elements implies how many times viewer eye stops

Forms are one of the fundamental elements of design that contribute to the overall composition and aesthetic of a piece of art or design.

They refer to the three-dimensional shapes and structures within a design, encompassing aspects such as volume, space, and mass.

Forms can be both organic (curved, irregular, or fluid) or geometric (regular, angular, or symmetrical).

Understanding and utilizing forms effectively is essential for creating visually engaging and harmonious designs.

Design principles are fundamental guidelines to create visually appealing and effective designs

They apply across various disciplines

The goal of effective design is to communicate a message or idea, guide the viewer's attention, and create a visual experience that is both engaging and memorable

Balance is the distribution of visual weight in a design, creating a sense of equilibrium

The concept of balance, as applied in design, refers to the arrangement of elements within a particular artwork or design. 

Humans have an inherent tendency to perceive order and equilibrium in any visual representation, which is why symmetrical faces and objects often hold greater appeal.

The perceived weight of an individual element in design. To manipulate visual weights you can adjust the size, color, shape and texture of the element. 

The direction in which an individual element shifts the focus or appears to move. To manipulate visual direction, you can alter attributes like structural skeleton or the location of elements

Elements are mirrored on either side of an imaginary central axis, creating a formal and organized appearance.

Elements are distributed unevenly, but still achieve equilibrium through the use of contrasting visual weights, creating a more dynamic and interesting design.

Elements are arranged around a central focal point, radiating outward in a circular patter

The most prevalent form of balance observed in designs is symmetrical balance

By drawing a vertical or horizontal line, one can easily determine that the visual weight of the design is equally distributed on both sides, creating a sense of harmony and ease for the viewer

This type of balance is commonly used in design as it is aesthetically pleasing and provides a sense of stability.

Elements are distributed unevenly, but still achieve equilibrium through the use of contrasting visual weights, creating a more dynamic and interesting design

Even though one side of the design or image will be visually heavier than the other, there is still a strong sense of balance and appeal that can be created with asymmetrical balance.

Elements are arranged around a central focal point, radiating outward in a circular pattern.

Visual elements will radiate from a center point. In other words there are multiple axes in the design and they all meet at one point

Equal visual weight is given to the various elements that are distributed on the sides of these axes. And they are all symmetrically at the same distance from their corresponding axes as well. 

Creating harmony and unity: Radial balance can produce a sense of harmony and unity in designs, as the elements share a common center and relate to one another in a cohesive manner.

Drawing attention to a central point: By arranging elements around a central focal point, radial balance can effectively draw the viewer's attention to that point, which might be a logo, key message, or important piece of information

Balance is the distribution of visual weight in a design, creating a sense of equilibrium

Types of contrast: size (big vs. small), shape (round vs. angular), color (complementary colors), texture (smooth vs. rough), typography (serif vs. sans-serif)

Contrast various elements of the piece to draw a reader’s eye into the page. If two items are not exactly the same, then make them different. Really different.

Contrast not only serves to draw in the eye, but you can use it to organize information, clarify the hierarchy, guide a reader around the page, and provide a focus.

Focal point: By creating a strong contrast between elements, you can draw the viewer's attention to a specific area or focal point in your design. This can be achieved by using contrasting colors, sizes, shapes, or typography.

Hierarchy and organization: Contrast helps to establish a visual hierarchy within a design by distinguishing between different levels of importance. For example, you can use larger, bolder fonts for headlines and smaller, lighter fonts for body text to create a clear hierarchy.

Separation and grouping: Contrast can be used to separate or group design elements, guiding the viewer's eye through the design and improving its overall organization. For example, you can use contrasting colors or lines to divide sections of content or group related elements together.

Conveying meaning and emotions: Contrast can also be used to convey meaning or emotions in your design. For instance, using contrasting colors like black and white can create a sense of drama or sophistication, while using high-contrast shapes or lines can convey a sense of energy or tension.

Emphasis is the technique of making certain elements stand out in a design, drawing the viewer's attention to key information or feature

Size – larger elements carry more weight

Color –  some colors are perceived as weighing more than others. Red seems to be heaviest while yellow seems to be lightest.

Density – Packing more elements into a given space gives more weight to that space

Value – A darker object will have more weight than a lighter object

Whitespace – Positive space weighs more than negative space or whitespace

Dominant: The element on the page that is given the most visual weight

Sub-dominant: The elements on the page that become the middle ground of the composition

Subordinate: The elements on the page that are given the least visual weight

Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of elements within a design, contributing to the overall harmony and visual appeal of the composition

Proportion in the principles of design is the sense of unity created when all the elements in a composition relate well with each other.

Proportion is mostly about scale and size

Proportion is a concept capable of blending art and science

Using proportion in graphic design allows designers to leverage concepts like emphasis and contrast more effectively

Proportion is mostly about scale and size

The Unity Principle of Design states that design elements should be both visually and conceptually harmonious

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