Did you know that 90% of the information processed by your brain is visual? 

Design is powerful. It takes only 13 milliseconds for the human brain to process an image, and 80% of people will remember the visuals they see. In today’s generation, audiences demand short, highly-visual content, and coordinating the elements of your design is the best way to tell a rich, compelling story.

Knowing this is one thing, but making it happen is another. As a design novice, watching a graphic artist work can be a mystifying experience. How do they know which colors to use? Why do those fonts look so good together? How are these images evoking such an emotional response?

DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS
While there are no right or wrong answers in design, there are fundamental principles that can transform one person’s coloring page into another person’s masterpiece. In our latest white paper, we offer seven design guidelines (emphasis, contrast, balance, proportion, white space, movement, and unity) and give fabulous examples of foundational principles like these:

Emphasis: The principle of emphasis demands you ask one question: what is the first piece of information I need people to know? Like building without a blueprint, starting your publication without a clear idea of your message structure will bring a muddy result.

Proportion: Proportion helps you group your design in sections, like consolidating elements by size, amount, or numbers. Whether it’s columns in a magazine, sidebars on a poster, or pull quotes in a newsletter, proportion communicates importance and helps the brain decode information.

White Space: White space (or negative, empty space) is the only element that specifically deals with what you don’t add to a design. Like one diamond set on a stone, white spaces give designs room to breathe and make mediocre images seem more luxurious.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE LASTING IMPRESSIONS
While there is no right or wrong method of design, principles like emphasis, contrast, and balance keep visuals stable and cohesive while allowing for movement, unity, and excitement. 

Want your first impression to be your best impression? Through the planning, design, and review process, we’re here to help. Whether you’re creating a template or need start-to-finish graphic design, we’re ready to consult, create, and help you bring your best ideas to life.

Dive in today! To read the white paper in its entirety, visit our White Paper section.