The eight principles of design that every designer should know: Alignment. It's critical to ensure that the elements of any design are aligned. Balance refers to the arrangement of the work of art in a way that does not allow one element to dominate another. Large areas are not left blank without an equally full area to balance the piece.
Work can be asymmetrical and remain balanced. Unity refers to how well an element works with the remaining elements. A painting of a freshwater fish tank would appear divided if it included elements seen in a saltwater fish tank. Contrast refers to the use of conflicting elements or colors while remaining harmonious and unified when the work of art is viewed as a whole.
Variety refers to the different types of elements used in a piece, for example, small and large elements, as well as black and white elements. The path that the eye follows when it sees a work of art or the elements of a work that create movement. An obvious example would be the lines that appear around Charlie Brown when he kicks the ball only for Lucy to push him away. Harmony in a design refers to the use of similar or consistent elements, for example, the white font that is used together with a photo of a humpback whale, which has touches of white on its tail.
Rhythm is more easily noticed when it incorporates patterns, but the general definition is the repetition of elements or the use of lines to give the impression of energy or activity. Design elements are the basic units of any visual design that form its structure and transmit visual messages.
