We continue the series with the latest article focusing on design principles as part of the Shabaqo Academy. Design principles help to better understand design elements and how they work together to create engaging visuals. Today, we are looking at the Proportion principle.
In a few articles, we have already discussed the main elements of design and explained its purpose with a variety of examples. So stay tuned and follow the rest of the series on design principles here.
What is Shabaqo Academy?
Shabaqo Academy is a growing platform of free educational resources for everyone interested in the fields of domains, web hosting, web design and development, graphic design, and marketing (both digital and traditional, including social media and branding). With Shabaqo Academy we intend to provide resources for everyone who wants to learn more and all for free.
Design principles: Proportion
What is Proportion?
Of all the design principles, the proportion is probably the easiest to understand and implement. It’s about the size and weight of elements in relation to each other and portraits what’s important and what‘s not. Elements which appear larger and heavier are more important than smaller and lighter elements.
Proportion is also the most important design principle that help to create a harmonious and balanced design. When designing, it’s important to consider the proportion of elements in terms of size and weight to ensure that the design is aesthetically pleasing and effectively communicates its intended message.
Why do we use proportion?
When you see an out-of-proportion object, it’s more likely to catch your attention!
For example, the proportion in size would look something like this:
For example, the proportion in weight would look something like this:
How to achieve proportion in your design?
The difference can be made with:
- Height, width, and depth of elements
- Relationship between elements
- The size of one element compared to the size of another
- The size of one area in relation to the size of another
One way to achieve proportion in design is to use the rule of thirds, where elements are divided into thirds and placed on one of the lines or intersections to create balance. Another way is to use grids, which can be used as a structure for your design and help ensure that the proportions of elements are in line with each other.
It’s also important to consider the relationship between different elements in your design. For example, if you have a large image, it may be necessary to increase the size of the text to make it readable and ensure that the elements are in proportion.
In conclusion, the proportion design principle is essential for creating visually appealing designs that effectively communicate their intended message. By considering the size and weight of elements in relation to each other, designers can achieve a harmonious and balanced design that draws the viewer’s attention to the most important elements.
Key things to remember about proportion
- Proportion is a design principle that deals with the size and weight of elements in a design.
- It helps to create a harmonious and balanced design by establishing relationships between elements in terms of size and weight.
- The rule of thirds and grids can be used to achieve proportion in a design.
- The size of elements in a design can be adjusted to ensure they are in proportion with each other.
- The relationship between elements such as text and images also plays a role in achieving proportion.
- Proportion is important for creating visually appealing designs that effectively communicate their intended message.