In this post, I want to tell you about design elements that can help guide the viewer through a visual. They do this by relying on the use of hierarchy and visual interest.
Those elements are lines and shapes.
Lines
Lines, or rules, are a great tool to define a clear hierarchy of content and also structure on your visual. Lines can also work as a physical boundary between pieces of information and separate them. Lines can be used horizontally, vertically or diagonally – often in the same visual to add extra dimensions.
They can add visual interest and even texture. Typically, the thicker a line gets, the more importance it has on the page. This means that a thicker line attached to a piece of information brings attention to it.
Shapes
If we look at a shape in a design, our first impulse is to figure out what it is. Does it represent something? Does it have meaning? Shapes have the power to communicate ideas that go beyond the words on your composition. They help the viewer fill in gaps and come up with their own conclusions as to what the shape is saying.
When we see the same shape repeated multiple times, we feel a sense of familiarity. Shapes also evoke a feeling. If the shape is more rounded, it has more of a softness. The feeling is more calm and stable. On the other hand, if the shape is sharp and angular, this can evoke feelings of assertiveness and agility. Strong rectangular shapes suggest stability and authority. Knowing what feeling you want your work to evoke will help identify what shapes to use.
Whether you choose to use a simple shape in your composition, or even an implied one, remember, it has to have meaning. If a shape on your page has no meaning, it can lead to confusion, which you should avoid.
The goal of graphic design is to communicate an idea as clearly as possible. Rules and shapes can make it easier to parse that information and understand how content is related. Discovering which shapes work best to communicate your message and where lines can be used is a good place to start your layout.
Lowfi Design 