The graphic part of graphic design is made up of visual elements, the building blocks of design. Through the harness of artistic expression we choose these visual elements and arrange them on a surface in a layout to convey an idea. The basic visual elements that combine to create graphic design include the following: line, color, shape, texture, space, form and typography. Whatever work you produce be it for a magazine, a poster, a website or advertisement, these visual elements will play a part in your design.
One of the most basic visual elements of design is the line and it should not be underestimated.
One of the most basic visual elements of design is the line and it should not be underestimated.
Line
One
of the most basic visual elements of design is the line and it should not be
underestimated. As simple as lines are they can be quite versatile and can be
used as crucial elements of design. Lines can be straight, curved, thick, solid
or dashed.
Lines can be used to add structure to a
composition, to frame information and to divide
information.
Used considerately, lines can add elegance to a composition, add
hierarchy and to draw the eye to a specific point. With type, lines can be used to emphasize and put stress on a
word, a phrase or paragraph. Lines can be used to decorate, illustrate and
represent information in info-graphics. If we think about magazines, newspapers and maps, one of the most
common visual elements is the line as it works very well to structure
information.
Here are some simple horizontal lines. We have some strokes in various sizes and below some alternatives. A line can be made of more than a single stroke, it can be made with many individual strokes and even dots.
In this first example, line plays a role of building infographics. This is a simple tree diagram made of lines in different shades. If we zoom into the visual icons they are also lines as illustrations. So, overall a simple visual with another line below as an anchor point for the associated information.
Next is an example in typography. Here lines are
used to divide and draw emphasis to a particular word.
Next
is an example where lines are used to create a border. In this example there
are two stroke lines that create this border a thick and a thin border. The type of stroke
lines you use in a relationship to other elements can define the look and feel
of your composition. In this case we have a boutique feel. Notice we also have
a line that elegantly divides the type.
In this example lines are used to predominantly
structure a composition but at the same time decorate. This is a simple chapter
index page where we have a large dark line running vertically down the page and
smaller lines running horizontally across the page. The horizontal lines are
passing through the vertical and inverting in color as they do so creating a
loose grid for the type element to exist. You can see where the lines are
defining and positioning the type elements.
Next is an example where lines can be used for
structure and decoration in a minimal elegant way. Here lines make up the board
elements that frame a quote and a line is drawn vertically aligned left
creating a base to carry the paragraph next to it. The lines though in black and white
could also be used to add a bit of color onto the page as well as structure.
Next is a general example of how lines can
divide information. Newspapers can be very complex and busy media platforms
with a lot of information being presented at any time. Here we see how lines
play a role to divide and decorate information. At the top we have lines to separate that section from the article scetion below. In this section we also have
small lines, details used to decorate. A line does not necessarily have to be a
solid stroke but can also be created by contrast of color or shape on a page.
In the article we have a big picture which even though there isn’t any stroke
applied to it, the solid color fill of the image creates a line around it.
Below this we have the main body of text in which we have an infographic made
with lines and other lines that break information out such as diagrams, quotes
and footers.
The last example shows lines creating
decoration, texture and structure on a page. In this example, there are various
types of lines being used. First, we can see the physical line used to create
decoration with various stroke effects applied. In this instance the lines also
create another white line through the middle of the page as negative space.
Here we have three columns of type where the third column is breaking alignment
to fit in the space creating an interesting and dynamic layout.
So, there are lots of ways a line can be used in design. These are just a few examples. So, when looking a graphic design be sure to observe how lines has been considered and used as a design element.
So, there are lots of ways a line can be used in design. These are just a few examples. So, when looking a graphic design be sure to observe how lines has been considered and used as a design element.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
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