THE 6 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

There are 6 elements that are used in order to have a good design. The six elements are line, shape, size, colour, value (contrast), and texture. Each of these elements is used to create an image that is pleasing to look at as well as to convey a message to the viewers.

I choose this poster as an example to explain further regarding the 6 elements of design.

Lines can be used to emphasize, setting particular information off in busy composition and drawing the eye to a particular area. Lines can be curvy, zigzag, implied, or dotted. 

The designer applied the lines element at the background of the poster in
order to let the viewers feel the retro vibes.

Shapes is an enclosed space defined by lines or in contrast to its surroundings. They can be geometric (square, triangles, etc) or organic (a speech bubble, a blob, etc). Shapes can either enhance an object or move the viewer's eye through and around the design. 

In this poster, banner shapes have been used by the designer to highlight the information that may
encourage the viewers to attend the party.

Playing with sizes of your objects, shapes, type and other elements are very important in making a layout functional, add interest and organized. Large size highlighted the most important information and draws the viewer's attention first. 

The designer used a big font size for "ELECTRO SWING PARTY" in order to tell the viewer's the name of the party. At the bottom of the poster, they applied a smaller font size because it is not a piece of important information for the viewers. 

Colour can be used to bring about a certain emotion in design. And it can also make an object stand out from surrounding objects. Colour has an important role of uses in design.  Even a design set entirely in greyscale needs to be balanced and contrasted appropriately. Learn the basics of colour theory to be sure a composition has the right mood, temperature and tone.

Value is the lightness and darkness of an object. Mood can also be created with value.

In order to stick with the retro theme, the designer chooses only two colours so that the posters did not look cluttered since the background has a pattern and apply value/contrast by lightening the middle part of the background.

Textures are something that we can't feel them on websites and printed pages, but textures from the outside world can be brought into a composition to give it life. It can be used to make an empty space more interesting to look at. Texture can be used to stimulate a specific surface.

An old paper texture has been chosen by the designer for this poster.