Dive into the world of design with our crash course, 'Mastering Design Essentials.' This PowerPoint presentation unveils key practices in colour, typography, and layout, guiding you through practical tips for design sizes and highlighting common pitfalls to avoid. Explore principles of good design and engage in visual comparisons of bad versus good designs. Cap off the crash course by applying insights to hands-on design exercises. Elevate your design skills and learn to create visually compelling content while steering clear of common design traps.
2. INTRODUCTION
In today's discussion, we'll delve into key
design concepts such as color, typography,
and layout. We'll touch on practical aspects
like design sizes, particularly for platforms like
Instagram. Following that, we'll highlight
common bad habits among designers, explore
the principles that underpin good design, and
compare examples of bad versus good designs.
To conclude, we'll apply these insights by
working on some design exercises.
4. COLOUR
is a powerful and emotive tool in design.
It goes beyond aesthetics, influencing
emotions, perceptions, and
communication. Understanding the
psychology of colours helps designers
convey specific messages.
Warm colours like red evoke passion and
energy, while cool colours like blue
suggest calmness and trust. The right
colour palette enhances visual appeal and
reinforces the intended mood or message
of the design.
5. TYPOGRAPHY
plays a pivotal role in visual communication.
It involves the art and technique of arranging
type to make written language legible and
visually appealing.
Fonts convey a brand's personality – from
the classic and formal to the modern and
casual. The choice of typeface, font size, and
spacing impacts readability and the overall
visual impact of a design. Effective
typography ensures that the audience can
absorb information effortlessly.
6. LAYOUT
Layout is the structural foundation of a
design, determining the arrangement of
elements on a page. A well-crafted layout
guides the viewer's eye, creating a visual
hierarchy that prioritises information.
Balance, proximity, and contrast are key
principles in layout design. Achieving
harmony between text, images, and white
space enhances readability and overall
aesthetics. A thoughtful layout contributes
to a seamless and engaging visual narrative.
7. HIERARCHY
refers to the arrangement of elements to
establish a visual order. It guides the viewer's
attention by prioritizing certain elements
over others.
This is achieved through variations in size,
color, contrast, and placement. A clear
hierarchy ensures that important information
is prominent, creating a structured and easily
digestible design.
8. BALANCE
is the distribution of visual weight in a
design. Achieving balance ensures that no
single element dominates the composition,
creating a harmonious and pleasing layout.
There are two types of balance: symmetrical,
where elements are evenly distributed, and
asymmetrical, where visual weight is
balanced through careful consideration of
each element's size, color, and position. A
well-balanced design contributes to its
overall visual appeal and effectiveness.
9. LAYOUT
is the structural arrangement of design
elements. A well-crafted layout guides the
viewer's eye, creating visual hierarchy and
balance. Effective layouts enhance
readability and contribute to a cohesive
visual narrative.
10. EXAMPLE
Design encompasses key elements such as
colour, typography, and layout. Colour is a
powerful communicator, influencing
emotions and messages.
Typography involves arranging type to
enhance readability and convey brand
personality. Layout, the structural
foundation, guides the viewer's eye
through visual hierarchy and balance.
11. Ensuring your designs fit seamlessly into these spaces is
essential for grabbing attention and engagements.
PRACTICALDESIGNSIZES
12. CANVASSIZE
Canvas size refers to the dimensions of
the digital workspace where a design is
created.
It varies based on the project's purpose –
print designs have specific dimensions
(e.g., A4), social media graphics follow
platform guidelines (e.g., Instagram posts
at 1080 x 1080 pixels), website designs
consider screen resolutions, and digital
art may vary based on the artist's
preferences.
Choosing the right canvas size is crucial
for creating visually effective and
appropriately formatted designs.
Instagram
sizes
Size Dimension
Profile Picture
Square images
images
Stories
110 × 110 px
1080 × 1080 px
1080 × 1350 px
1080 × 1920 px
26. You're to redesign a flyer for a
fictional transport company.
The company offers eco-friendly
transportation services and
emphasizes reliability and
sustainability.
DESIGNCHALLENGE
REVAMPATRANSPORTCOMPANYFLYER
Colour: Choose a colour palette that aligns with
eco-friendliness and conveys reliability.
Typography: Experiment with fonts that balance
professionalism and approachability. Clearly
present key information such as services, contact
details, and benefits.
Layout: Design the flyer layout to guide the
reader's eye seamlessly through the information,
creating a visually appealing and easy-to-
understand composition
Participants can submit their
redesigned transport company
flyers digitally or as a printable
PDF to aybuhabi@gmail.com
TASK KEYPOINTSTOCONSIDER SUBMISSION
Colour
Typography:
Layout: