Design principles
Quick abstract compositions on A4 sheets of six boxes. Sheet 1 covers balance, contrast and hierarchy; sheet 2 covers emphasis, movement and unity; sheet 3 (eight boxes) covers pattern, rhythm, variety and proportion; sheet 4 covers white space, repetition and alignment. Read the brief, look at the example ideas, print the sheet, then work fast and bold with coloured pencils or markers.
Every principle, and where to find it
Courses list 7 to 13 principles of design, and the "11 principles" differ from one source to the next. This page covers all of the commonly listed ones, so whichever list your course uses is here.
- BalanceSheet 1 · boxes 1–2
- ContrastSheet 1 · boxes 3–4
- HierarchySheet 1 · boxes 5–6
- EmphasisSheet 2 · boxes 1–2
- MovementSheet 2 · boxes 3–4
- UnitySheet 2 · boxes 5–6
- PatternSheet 3 · boxes 1–2
- RhythmSheet 3 · boxes 3–4
- VarietySheet 3 · boxes 5–6
- Proportion & scaleSheet 3 · boxes 7–8
- White (negative) spaceSheet 4 · boxes 1–2
- RepetitionSheet 4 · boxes 3–4
- AlignmentSheet 4 · boxes 5–6
The brief
Use the A4 sheet with six rectangles to make quick compositions with coloured pencils or markers.
- Show symmetrical balance.
- Show asymmetrical balance.
- Show contrast with size (big vs small).
- Show contrast with colour or shape.
- Create a hierarchy using size (at least 3 levels).
- Create a hierarchy using colour or placement (at least 3 levels).
- Make one element stand out using colour.
- Make one element stand out using placement.
- The eye follows a line or path.
- The eye follows a sequence of shapes.
- Unity through repetition using colour.
- Unity through repetition using shape.
- A regular pattern (a motif on a grid).
- An irregular or organic pattern.
- Regular or alternating rhythm.
- Progressive or flowing rhythm.
- Variety of elements.
- Variety within a theme.
- Harmonious proportion.
- Exaggerated proportion.
- Negative space as a shape.
- Generous white space.
- Repetition of shape.
- Repetition of line or mark.
- Edge alignment.
- Centre or grid alignment.
Guidelines
- 1Keep it abstractShapes, lines and colours only: no objects, faces or scenes.
- 2One principle per boxEach box should show its principle so clearly that someone could name it without the label.
- 3Work fast and boldBig shapes, flat solid colour, confident edges. Decide, draw, move on.
Working method
Speed helps here: a short time limit stops you adding extra ideas that blur the principle.
- Pick a small paletteThree or four markers or pencils plus black. Include one strong warm, one strong cool and one pale colour, so you can make contrast and hierarchy when you need them.
- Decide the one idea (30 seconds)Say it in a sentence before you draw, e.g. "one huge red circle, three tiny ones".
- Big shapes firstPlace the dominant shape first and let things touch or leave the frame. Small, timid shapes floating in the middle rarely read clearly.
- Fill flat and solidPress hard and fill evenly. No shading or texture: it adds information that competes with the principle.
- Check and labelStep back, squint, and ask the check question for that box (on each example card below). Fix the one thing that's unclear, then stop.
Box timer
Example ideas
One way to show each principle. Press New idea for another version. Use these to understand what each box needs, then make your own rather than copying.
- Two ideas in one boxIf the size contrast box also has wild colour contrast, it's no longer clear which one you're showing. Keep other properties uniform.
- Weak differencesA circle slightly bigger than another isn't contrast. Make differences extreme.
- Only two levelsA hierarchy needs at least three: a dominant element, a secondary group, and the rest.
- Nearly symmetricalSymmetry has to be exact enough to read as a mirror. Asymmetry has to be clearly different on each side.
- Drifting into picturesA circle and a line quickly become a sun and a horizon. Keep shapes abstract.
- Unbalanced "asymmetry"Asymmetrical isn't the same as lopsided. If it looks like it would tip over, add weight to the light side.
Print the sheet
A4 portrait with six rectangles, labelled and grouped. Choose sheet 1 (balance, contrast, hierarchy), sheet 2 (emphasis, movement, unity) sheet 3 (pattern, rhythm, variety, proportion, with eight boxes) or sheet 4 (white space, repetition, alignment). The example version prints the current ideas from above as a reference copy.