The 6 Basic Principles of Graphic Design

The visual weight of objects, texture, colors, and space is evenly distributed on the screen. 

The distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space.

If the design was a scale, these elements should be balanced to make a design feel stable.

There are two basic types of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetrical designs layout elements of equal weight on either side of an imaginary center line. Asymmetrical balance uses elements of differing weights, often laid out in relation to a line that is not centered within the overall design. Radial Balance, the elements are arranged around a central point and may be similar.

An area in the design that may appear different in size, texture, shape, or color to attract the viewer's attention. Emphasis is a strategy that aims to draw the viewer’s attention to a specific design element. That could be to an area of content, to an image, to a link, or to a button, etc.

Visual elements guide the viewer’s eyes around the screen. Movement is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the work of art, often to focal areas. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges, shape, and color within the work of art. 

These are the repeating visual element on an image or layout to create unity in the layout or image. Rhythm is achieved when visual elements create a sense of organized movement.  

Visual elements create a sense of unity where they relate well with one another. It is a comparison of sizes, shapes, and quantities. For example, the relationship between the vertical and horizontal measurements of a wall hanging may be pleasing because the unequal lengths produce an interesting contrast.

This uses several design elements to draw a viewer’s attention. Variety is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s attention and to guide the viewer’s eye through and around a work of art. Variety can show contrast. Variety can be found in nature or made. It is about varying elements and objects in your image, to avoid making them boring and can also be varying your angles, exposure, composition, etc., to get a few different looks to the same image.