Graphic Design Principles

1. Elements of Design? type, text, graphics, backgrounds, etc.
2. What is the Optical Center? the place where a viewer's eye spends most of its time—is slightly above the geometric center.
3. What is alignment?Alignment is the placement of text and graphics so they line up on the page. Learn how to use alignment and view examples of different types of alignment used in page layout.
4. What is Balance? Visual balance comes from arranging elements on the page so that no one section is heavier than the other.
5.What is consistency? consistent use of type and graphics styles within a document shows a reader where to go and helps them navigate your designs and layouts
6. What is contrast? In design, big and small elements, black and white text, squares and circles, can all create contrast.
7. What is gestalt? It's the perception of a composition as a whole.
8. What is the golden rectangle? the golden rectangle or golden section is a visually pleasing geometric shape with specific proportions.
9. What is proximity? keeping like items together and creating unity by how close or far apart elements are from each other.
10. What is Use Similar Colors to Denote Relationships? When similar (but not identical) colors are used, the suggestion is one of relationship, with the degree of color similitude denoting the strength of the relationship.
11. what is Halftone?   the array of tiny dots that make up a newspaper photograph.
12.Never Rely on Color Alone- Color coding should be limited to the emphasis of visual information conveyed by other means.
13.Consider Perceptual Disabilities- it is important to vary as many primary colors as possible.
14.Be Aware of the Social Connotations of Colors- Colors carry a strong emotional weight for most people, due to the social connotations that are often associated with them.
15.Develop Color Design Under User Conditions- Many factors affect the perception of color, and these effects are generally not uniform across the spectrum
16.Consider Readability- A common misconception about type is that "Sans Serif is hard to read."
17.Use Italics Sparingly- Letters printed in italic typefaces, in any medium, are crowded more closely together than their associated roman versions
18.Use Typefaces Consistently- Different typefaces have different visual characteristics
19. Shape of Type Affects Cognition- The shape of words, sentences, paragraphs and pages affects cognition as much as the choice of typeface.
20.Create a Rhythm- Repetitions of similar or varying graphic elements can create a visual rhythm that a reader will understand as a sense of organization and unity.