Graphic Design made simple (G101) #Lesson 2

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Hello dear friends...or should I use the word student? Lols... I won't be wrong you know, smiles.
Welcome once again to our beginner's graphic design class.

I want to believe we got value from the last class, trust me this lesson is also loaded with a lot of stuffs you would find interesting. If you missed the last lesson,just relax, you would find the link just below this post.
Let's get started.

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• Introduction

• Principles of Graphic Design

• Terminologies in Graphics Design

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Introduction

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Yea! Welcome once again so in today lesson we would be looking at what I call the principles of graphic design. Almost everything in life, if not all has principles guiding it. The purpose of these principles is to the end that maximum result is achieved when followed thoroughly.

It make things very easy and very comprehensive such that the result gotten when following can be reproduced any day anytime.
Graphic design also has principles guiding it. Those beautiful design you see all around are product of these principles.

I also deemed it fit to add to today's lesson relevant terminologies in graphic design because they will keep reoccurring as we move on in this class. It is then expedient we get familiar with these terms before we delve fully into the deep of this program.

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Principles of Graphic Design

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Let's look into the principles I have highlighted in this section and kindly take note of the graphic representation of each of these principles. What you see there is only used to communicate the points. By the time we start design proper, you will see how all these will play out perfectly.

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• Contrast

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The principle of contrast is used to create visual interest by highlighting the difference between your design elements. I.e the colour of the background for your design should be different from the element so that they can sync or harmonize.

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• Balance

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This is another principle a graphic designer should also adopt. The goal of his principle is equality in the positioning and arrangement of element in a design work. Arrangements are done systematically (symmetrically & asymmetrically).

Inability to arrange appropriately will give viewers a lopsided view. A balance scale just as seen above give us a clear picture of what the principle of balance is.

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• Emphasis

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This principle of emphasis is just as the name implies literarily. It focuses on highlighting or giving special attention to a particular element via size, contrast, colour etc. In the graphical representation above,you can see that the white stands out both in colour and size.

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• Scale/Proportion

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Scale can be referred to as the relative size of different elements or objects in a design when compared. What it does in a graphic design is to create visual hierachy among the elements such that viewers eyes can be guided on what to look at and in what order. This help to reveal element in order of importance.The principle also helps to break down design into portions.

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• Repetition

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This principle helps to unify your design in the sense that relevant elements used in a design are repeated consistently. Take for example the use of bullet point to itemize point in a write up. Using bullet points and asterisks at the same time to itemize a point would break this rule.

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• Movement/Rhythm.

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This is the use of recurring elements in such a way that the eyes of the viewers are directed to the focal or important areas. There are about 5 types of rhythm. They are random, regular, alternating, progressive and flowing.

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• Unity/Harmony.

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This principle is used to arrange element in a design work in such a way that all part or piece of element used still makes a whole regardless of the number or size of the element.

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• Hierarchy

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Hierarchy is a basic principle in design and it talks about how
Types (your text) are priotised. The aim of typography is to create some kind of coordination and direction in design in the sense that it direct your eyes to what should be seen first before the other.

You must have seen this in most article and designs. Emphasis is given to certain element of text in a design work using biggers font size or bold fonts such that you see them first before seeing others. By heirarchy, you get the message in a design in order of importance.

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Terminologies in Graphic Design

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Having discussed the relevant principles in graphic design, we would be looking at terminologies in this section.

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• Typography

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Typography can be referred to as the style and manner of presenting types (text/word). I can also say its
art of arranging your types, in such a way that makes it readable, clear or legible, attractive and appealing to those who see it. Let me prepare you upfront, as a graphic designer you will have to interacts with types everyday of your life.

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• Alignment

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Yea! This alignment is not different from the knowledge you already have about it. The only thing is we are trying to relate it with graphic design. Alignment talk about the way different elements are arranged in a in a design work. This also includes the type/fonts. Alignment goes a long way in making your design look presentable and balanced.

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• Body Copy

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This is the information you want to pass across especially when you have alot of information in your design work. This is not really the heading or title, it is the other vital message which the heading or the title talks about. Although for effective communication in graphic design, avoid too many information. That is why a website is created. Learn from big brands.Their designs are always straight to the point.

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• Character

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This are simply letters, numbers, punctuation mark or symbol that makes up your design work.

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• CMYK

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I would have love to discuss this when we get to colours as a subject but then I think it's cool I say few things here.
Each letter in C-M-Y-K stands for the following colours, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black). This colour mode is used by graphic designer when the design work is to be printed while RGB a brother-like colour model is used when printing is not involed. RGB are for displays.

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• RGB

RGB is a colour model just like cymk. The letter also denotes colours just like the other. The R is for Red, the G for Green and the B for blue. This is the colour model you use when your design work is not to be printed. You use this colour mode when you only want to use it for displays or when you want to design a digital app . The colours model is nice in that is glows brighter even when combined.

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• Gradient

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Gradients or colour gradients as it's fondly called can be defined as a gradual and smooth transition from one colour to the other. For example you can see a deep blue fading slowly into a sky blue or red into an orange and so on. Gradients can be in liner, axial or radial form.

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• Grid

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This can be defined as some horizontal and vertical line which serves as guide for accuracy and structure in design. If you're new to design, you will need to follow grid so as the allow to place your characters, elements , picures, text or what where is should be in all accuracy. In a nutshell it give your design structure.

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• Hex

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Hex is a word that denotes the number "6". Well if you're familiar with mathematics, this should not be strange. Just like we have octagon, pentagon, decagon and the like, we also have hex-agon.

Hex is a six digit code used in naming or representing colours in graphic design. We have different types of colours which are beyond the primary colours we have and we can only identify and distinguise them them using Hex.

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• Icon

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Icon is not a new word, it a common word and it also has a place in graphic design. Icons are image that are used to represent actions,thought or object in a graphic work. Example are as seen below.

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You can see an example of icon above. In graphic design,we try as much to minimize too much text by Introducing all of these. As a graphics designer, you only need to ensure that your icon is communicating in clear terms.

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• Pixel

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You must have heard of pixel if you're familiar with designs before now. The word "Pixel" is coined form two word, 'picture' and 'element'. It is referred to the smallest unit of colour on a computer. Generally all images are made up of several pixel coming together to make up the image, each indeed look small but very important and relevant.

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• Stock Photo/Images

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Graphic design also uses images in passing it messages. For example, you want to create a design for students learning, you will need an image of students portraying the idea. Images speaks volumes when it comes to design. Stock photos are licensed image that cut across every sphere of life but you can look out for free images online using sites like unsplash, pixabay, and the like...

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• Raster

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Raster are also known as bitmap images which are made up a certain numbers of pixels. One notable disadvantage of rasters is that when resized or blown up beyond proportion, it becomes blurry. You must have experienced this before when trying to zoom out an image. The reason is because it a raster image.

• Resolution

Resolution is used to measure how quality an image is not on screen or on print. It's is generally generally believe that the higher the resolution, the better he quality of the image. That's why we hear things like high resolution and low resolution. It is measure in dimensions I.e 1080×760, you must have seen something like this before.

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• Thumbnail

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Thumbnail in graphic design can be likened to a rough sketch or a skeletal work which gives you the mental picture of what you hope to achieve with your design. It helps determine the layout of a design

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As a beginner, you would need this as it gives you direction and reduces the confusion. One of the headache a designer goes through is what kind of design he should do for a project. He has to conceive an idea and pen it down before working on it using a graphic tool.

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So at this point I think it expedient I wrap it up here, trust me there are hundreds of terminologies in graphic design but I won't like to bore you with all of that, I only tried to highlight few relevant ones. If you would love to take this up as a pro then you will need to give yourself wholly to this.

Now am about to do something I do not naturally do and that is tagging, am always careful about it but it seem I've got no choice here than to mention some amazing users who have asked to be tagged when lessons are released. They have also shown interest in this class.
It is my pleasure to mention the following users @franyeligonzalez @fonjougiresse
@ruthjoe @xkool24 @sahmie @chukwu10 @badmus-official

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If you missed the previous posts on this beginners class, kindly check them out here.

G101 introduction post	Lesson 1

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Gracias!

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Graphic Instructor
@lhorgic♥️

Cc: @ubongudofot.