What Are the Elements of Design?

Think of the elements of design as the ingredients you need for a recipe.
These basic components are essential in art and design and how you can
visually construct pieces. Each element is a crucial part of a visual message,
and the combination of these has an impact on how the design is perceived.
You can use these elements alone or in combination with each other,
depending on what you're looking to achieve.

The main elements are:

 Line
 Color
 Shape
 Form
 Value
 Space
 Texture

A solid understanding of these concepts gives you the ability to understand

your design pieces and others you come across. You’ll be able to dissect a
design piece and see the behind-the-scenes process. Let’s take a closer look
at each element to have a better understanding of how they work and how
use them.
Elements of Design:

Line
Lines are the most basic elements of design. They come in all shapes, sizes,
and colors. Once you start noticing them, you’ll see grids all around you. Lines
have direction; they can be visible or invisible and can help direct the eye to a
specific spot. The thickness of a line can also communicate certain cues. Bold
and thick lines can draw attention, while thin lines are the opposite. Grids are
made of multiple lines and lend structure to a page. Lines can be used to
create demarcation on a specific section of a design. Depending on the form
of the line, you can convey different moods. A simple line can carry so much
—for instance, a squiggly line is perceived as young and fun compared to a
straight line.

Lines don't necessarily have to be solid. Dashed and dotted lines can also be
used and have a friendlier feel than a solid line. Straight lines usually come
across as a steady and static element. On the other hand, curved lines are
dynamic and give energy to your design.
Elements of Design: Shape

A shape is the result of enclosed lines to form a boundary. Shapes are two-
dimensional and can be described as geometric, organic, and abstract.

 Geometric shapes have structure and are often mathematical and

precise (squares, circles, triangles). You’ll notice that the Swiss graphic
design movement from the 1950s used mostly geometric shapes in their
designs. Shapes can add emphasis to a layout.
 Organic shapes lack well-defined edges and often feel natural and
smooth. Shapes add emphasis to a layout.
 Abstract shapes are a minimalist representation of reality. For
instance, a stick figure of a person is an abstract shape. Logos are
mostly represented by abstract figures to show the type of business.
The icon pack below is a great example of abstract shapes conveying
real-life objects and situations.

Transport Icons Pack

We are surrounded by shapes that we may not think about much; we usually
think of shapes as the main geometric structures. For designers, shape is one
of the most important elements when it comes to branding development.
These figures are at the root of logos and illustrations.

Elements of Design: Form (Positive

Space)

On a page, form is the positive element over the space, the negative element.
A dot, line, or shape is a form when placed on a page. Unfortunately, form and
shape are mostly used interchangeably. A form can be either two-dimensional
or three-dimensional. Many also believe that form is a shape that acquires
three-dimensional values, but the correct term is volume.

Form and shape are mutually dependent because changing one would affect
the other. The spatial relationship between form and space can create tension
and add 3D qualities to your design. Form and space will lend the design lots
of visual activity that can help keep viewers engaged. To create a 3D effect in
your design, you can add shadows, stack multiple elements, or play with
color.
Elements of Design: Space (Negative
Space)

Space is the area that surrounds a shape; it creates a form within the space.
Think of it as music: space is the silence between the notes of a song. If all
the notes were played together, that would turn into noise.

If you look at a design piece, the negative space is the area that is not
occupied by any elements. In essence, it is the background color that you are
able to see. For instance, abundant negative space in a layout results in an
open, airy, and light background. The lack of negative space can result in a
cluttered design. Visually speaking, a layout needs space to achieve a level of
clarity within the design. Negative space is a very important element to
consider as you are designing a piece.

Elements of Design: Color

We can apply color to any of the elements we mentioned before this
point. Colors create moods and can say something different depending on the
connotations associated with it. Color can create an emphasis on specific
areas of your design layout.

This element contains multiple characteristics:

 Hue is the name of a color in its purest form. For instance, cyan,
magenta, and green are pure colors.
 Shade is the addition of black to a hue in order to make a darker
version.
 Tint is the addition of white to a color to make a lighter version.
 Tone is the addition of grey to make a color muted.
 Saturation refers to the purity of a color. A specific color is most intense
when it is not mixed with white or black.

In design, there are two color systems, RGB and CMYK. RGB is a system
dedicated to digital design. This additive system stands for red, green, and
blue. The colours are produced by adding primary colours together to create
various combinations. This mode should be used for designs that will only be
used on a screen.

If you want to output your design as a printed piece, you need to use the
CMYK system. This subtractive system stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and
black (key). CMYK reduces the light that would be reflected on a white
background to create color. It is extremely important to start a file using the
right color system. Converting colors between the systems can result in muted
and inaccurate colors.
Elements of Design: Value

Value refers to the degree of lightness and darkness of a specific hue. Yellow
has a higher value than purple because it is closer to white. Value changes
create contrast on a page. The reason you can read this text is that the black
content contrasts with the white background.

In design, use different tonal values to create emphasis in your design. Create
the illusion of movement by overlapping multiple elements with different
values. Value is also important in photography. You’ll notice that high-value
images have a light and airy feel to them, while dark value images feel heavy
and dramatic.

Value also defines the spatial relationship between elements. If color values
are close between the elements and space, then the design will look flat. If
there is a strong contrast between the elements, then the form will be
extremely noticeable. The example below features multiple colors with
multiple values, which helps add a sense of depth to the design.

Elements of Design: Texture

Texture adds a tactile appearance to a design layout. Imagine how a design
piece would feel if you touched it. The goal of texture is to add depth to a 2D
surface. Texture can be applied graphically through patterns, either digitally
created or an image mimicking the desired pattern. Below is an example of an
abstract geometric pattern made up of basic geometric elements.

Abstract Geometric Patterns

To achieve an authentic vintage feel, you may try a rough effect as a
background or a natural pattern like the wood pattern below. Highly texturized
patterns like this can translate the feel of wood grains visually. Textures can
also be physical—for example, laser cutters give you the ability to stack
multiple shapes and intensify a tactile response.

Add real tactile texture to your design by embossing a texture to paper. This
way, you have the chance to create a memorable piece that will certainly
stand out from the crowd. Stylistically, it is not ideal to blend multiple textures
in a design (unless necessary) as it can be overwhelming for the viewer.
 Wood Grain Textures
In graphic design, texture can also refer to the elements placed on a page.
Multiple layers of text placed on top of each other can lend a unique texture
that can’t be mimicked by anything organic.

Different textures give off a different vibration—try thinking of different

materials if you work with physical shapes. For instance, try using soft
surfaces like felt for children’s books. Art book designs are the most forgiving
for thinking outside the box.

That's It!

These building blocks are essential to understand in order to create a

successful design piece. Not only that—as a professional working designer,
you’ll need to know how to describe design pieces for client presentations and
higher-ups. Training your eyes can help you grow as a designer and achieve
a higher level of design sensibility. Sometimes even the most seasoned
designers need a little refresher to remember these concepts.

Now that we have a good understanding of the basic elements of design, it's
time to head over to the principles of design. There, we’ll explain concepts you
can apply to the elements in a design layout. These concepts are essential to
making your design piece work effectively.