Professional graphic design principles for digital and print media. Use when creating visual designs, choosing color palettes, typography, layouts, or providing design feedback.

Graphic Design Comprehensive guide for creating professional visual designs across digital and print media. Design Fundamentals The 7 Principles of Design Principle Definition Application Balance Visual equilibrium Symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial Contrast Difference between elements Size, color, shape, texture Emphasis Focal point creation Hierarchy guides the eye Movement Visual flow direction Leading lines, repetition Pattern Repetition of elements Creates rhythm and unity Rhythm Visual tempo Regular, flowing, progressive Unity Cohesive whole Consistent style throughout Color Theory Color Models Model Use Case Components RGB Digital screens Red, Green, Blue (0 255) CMYK Print media Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black HSL Design tools Hue, Saturation, Lightness Hex Web/CSS RRGGBB format Color Harmonies Color Psychology Color Associations Use For Red Energy, urgency, passion CTAs, sales, warnings Blue Trust, calm, professional Corporate, tech, finance Green Growth, nature, health Eco, wellness, money Yellow Optimism, attention, warmth Highlights, caution Purple Luxury, creativity, wisdom Premium, creative Orange Enthusiasm, confidence CTAs, youth brands Black Sophistication, power Luxury, editorial White Clean, minimal, pure Modern, healthcare Accessible Color Contrast Typography Type Classification Category Characteristics Use Cases Serif Decorative strokes Print, editorial, formal Sans serif Clean, no strokes Digital, modern, UI Slab Serif Bold, blocky serifs Headlines, branding Script Handwritten feel Invitations, logos Display Decorative, unique Headlines only Monospace Fixed width Code, technical Type Hierarchy Typography Rules 1. Limit fonts : 2 3 maximum per project 2. Contrast pairing : Serif + Sans serif works well 3. Line height : 1.4 1.6 for body text 4. Line length : 45 75 characters optimal 5. Letter spacing : Increase for all caps text 6. Alignment : Left align body text (easier to read) Font Pairing Examples Layout & Composition Grid Systems Spacing System (8pt Grid) Rule of Thirds Visual Hierarchy Techniques 1. Size : Larger = more important 2. Color : Bright/saturated draws attention 3. Contrast : High contrast = focal point 4. Whitespace : Isolation creates emphasis 5. Position : Top left (F pattern) or center 6. Typography : Bold, different font, caps File Formats Raster (Pixel Based) Format Best For Notes JPG/JPEG Photos, gradients Lossy, no transparency PNG Graphics, transparency Lossless, larger files GIF Simple animations 256 colors max WebP Web images Best compression, modern AVIF Web images Newest, best quality/size Vector (Math Based) Format Best For Notes SVG Web graphics, icons Scalable, animatable AI Adobe Illustrator Native format EPS Print, legacy Universal vector PDF Print, documents Preserves vectors Export Guidelines Design Tools Industry Standard Tool Best For Platform Figma UI/UX, collaboration Web, Desktop Adobe Photoshop Photo editing, raster Desktop Adobe Illustrator Vector graphics Desktop Sketch UI design macOS only Affinity Designer Vector (Illustrator alt) Desktop Canva Quick designs Web Free Alternatives Tool Replaces Platform GIMP Photoshop Desktop Inkscape Illustrator Desktop Photopea Photoshop Web Vectr Illustrator Web Design Systems Component Structure Naming Conventions Print Design Specifics Standard Print Sizes Print Checklist [ ] CMYK color mode [ ] 300 DPI resolution minimum [ ] Bleed area included (0.125") [ ] Safe zone for text (0.25" from trim) [ ] Fonts outlined or embedded [ ] Rich black for large areas: C60 M40 Y40 K100 Best Practices DO: Start with sketches/wireframes Use consistent spacing system Test designs at actual size Get feedback early and often Design for accessibility first Use real content when possible Create style guides/design systems DON'T: Use more than 3 fonts Rely on color alone for meaning Ignore whitespace Stretch or distort images Use low resolution images Center align long paragraphs Forget mobile/responsive design Design Review Checklist [ ] Visual hierarchy clear [ ] Color contrast passes WCAG [ ] Typography readable at all sizes [ ] Consistent spacing throughout [ ] Alignment precise (use grids) [ ] Images high quality and appropriate [ ] Brand consistency maintained [ ] Responsive/adaptive design considered

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