Good Design – How to Define It

There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that even the most experienced of designers will find it hard to define what actually is a good design. In simple words design can be defined as the intricate balance between aesthetic sensibilities and theory. Every design can be considered as a piece of art built using the principles and elements of design. They can be considered as the building blocks that lay the foundation for a designing work. The principles relate to what is being done with the design elements whereas the application of the principles determines how successfully a design can be created.

Elements of Design

• Color

Color refers to particular hues which consist of three properties – value, intensity and chroma. Color helps with proper organization of a design as well as emphasizes on creating a hierarchy.

• Line

Line actually helps to define an outline or shape. It can be thin and thick and assists with the creation of texture. Lines can be of different types like horizontal, vertical, actual, implied, contour and diagonal.

• Shape

It is 2D line with no thickness or form. Shapes can be divided into two categories – organic and geometric.

• Texture

Texture is related to surface quality of the shape. It can be defined as the degree of smoothness or roughness in objects.

• Size

The variation in proportion of shapes, lines or objects can be defined as shape.

• Value

Also known as tone, value is the degree of darkness or lightness of a color.

• Direction

Every line has a direction – oblique, vertical or horizontal. Oblique defines action and movement, vertical defines alertness, formality and feeling of balance and horizontal suggests tranquility, stability and calmness.

Before moving on to the principles of design, the importance of space in a design definitely needs to be discussed. Generally referred to as ‘whitespace’, the space in a design holds critical importance as it helps to connect as well as separate the elements in a design. By shaping and controlling the space within a design, it is possible to create motion, direction and rhythm. The primary purpose of whitespace within a design is to:

• Improve legibility
• Create hierarchy and emphasis
• Create element grouping

Whitespace is a vital part of every design as it provides a place for the eye to rest helping the viewer to absorb the message that is being communicated with the design. Whitespace cannot be referred to as a space where the designer forgot to put the elements instead, it can be thought of as a necessary ‘empty space’ that allows viewers to get a good look at the design without causing any distractions.

Principles of Design

The principles play a huge role in creating an aesthetic placement by combining the elements of design to create a good piece of design.

• Gradation

Gradation of direction and size helps to produce a linear perspective. Gradation helps to add movement and interest to a shape.

• Balance

The visual equality in form, shape, color, value, etc. is what balance is all about. It can either be evenly-balanced or symmetrical or unevenly-balanced and asymmetrical. Balance within a composition can be created by forms, shapes, textures, colors, values, objects, etc.

• Contrast

The proximity of opposing elements for example, opposite colors within the color wheel like red and green, violet and yellow, etc. is what contrast refers to. Contrast should be located close to center of interest as too much scattering of contrast can affect the unity of the design.

• Repetition

Repetition without change can quickly get monotonous however when it is combined with variation, it can lead to an interesting piece of art work. Repetition helps to provide motion to a design.

• Dominance

A design can be made interesting with dominance which counteracts monotony and confusion. It can be used to emphasize on one or more design elements.

• Harmony

Creating visually satisfying effect by combining related, similar elements is the main purpose of harmony.

A good design instantly creates a visual impact. The essence of every ‘good design’ is that it gets easily absorbed by the human mind which also indicates that it can be learned quite easily. The careful planning and organization of elements using the design principles helps to create a design that commands attention and holds interest. The entire composition of a designing work is what actually matters towards creating a good design. Starting from proper arrangements of the elements to create a pleasing movement and rhythm to focusing on a center of interest, everything is concerned with how a designer composes a designing concept.

A good design is basically a combination of various qualities that helps it to serve the purpose in the best manner possible. It is crucial to observe whether the design does justice to the message it is meant to deliver in the most efficient and easy manner. The idea of good design is totally a subjective matter but, through efficient use of the design principles along with the elements, it is possible to create designs that can fulfill every requirement without leading to confusion or frustration.