Saturday, May 4, 2024

The meaning of shapes in design

graphic design shapes

Along with the other elements of design, shapes allow designers to convey characteristics and emotions in a nonverbal way. Conversely, failing to understand the meanings of shapes can result in unintended or mixed messages. To make sure your shapes are speaking a language your viewers will understand, we’re going to walk you through how to use the meaning of shapes in design.

Circles

They also use illustrations, photography, and computer software to make their work stand out. Some common software used by designers includes Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Illustrator, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, and InDesign. TypeEd is an educational program that helps designers implement better typography quickly and efficiently.

The meaning of organic shapes

For example, a designer may use descending diagonal lines on a movie poster to heighten excitement and convey action. Thick vertical lines on each side of a magazine page may frame content while also giving the spread a formal, polished look. Short, choppy lines scattered around a sale flyer can energize the page and give it a lively, vibrant feel.

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Graphic Design (Major).

Posted: Sat, 15 Sep 2018 01:13:02 GMT [source]

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Triangles point outward and feel energetic; they imply direction, action, and tension. By leveraging these associations, designers can add layers of meaning to their work. For instance, using circles in a logo design for a global organization can emphasize the idea of worldwide unity. Most importantly, shape psychology works best when it is subliminal. People don’t usually look at shapes and consciously think of words like “stable” or “dynamic.” It is more about the unspoken feeling that shapes create.

Glendale Community College offers excellent graphic design classes that are worth the short drive. Certstaffix offers great individual and professional development classes. Graphic designers can pick up skills in InDesign or Photoshop and can attend class in person or online. Studybear is a platform for students on which you can either give tutoring or take lessons as a student. The users of the platform will appreciate the easy handling, I guess.

The Best Los Angeles Graphic Design Classes

Like individual words, shapes also represent distinct ideas, and people interpret them without even knowing it. When we see circles, squares, triangles, etc., they elicit predictable reactions in our subconscious. While most people aren’t consciously aware of what these images mean, they feel it all the same; and that’s why some logos feel one way or another.

graphic design shapes

Consider which shapes seem to be the most prominent or repetitive and why. Curved and rounded corners are a practical graphic design tactic for finding the perfect balance between the serious properties of rectangles and the playful properties of circles. Upward-facing triangles are structurally sound (like rectangles) and therefore symbolize stability and trust. But because the point draws the eye upward, they also represent growth and success, and tend to signify leadership or even domination.

Spotify is a music streaming service that allows you to connect with people worldwide through songs which the circle and arching lines mean. The color green represents the mix of Spotify wanting to grow and show its creativity while looking fresh and modern. Shapes speak a particular language through representation and symbolism. Your first impression will depend on how you combine the various styles, typography, and color palette. And the typical shape of both is a rectangle with square buttons for your keyboard.

Templo shapes Arabic letterforms into optimistic logo for Free Syria's Disappeared - It's Nice That

Templo shapes Arabic letterforms into optimistic logo for Free Syria's Disappeared.

Posted: Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If you need a constant and reliable source, Creatopy offers you 20 categories of different icons that will help you organize your visual communication. Usually, we tend to use yellow stars to get people’s attention, but there are also stars with blue ribbons, which represent getting first place in a contest. Probably the most crucial aspect of an arrow is its function of showing direction. Thanks to this, the viewer will know where to look in your graphic and what to read first. Arrows are pretty versatile, and they can be used in lots of different situations to send specific information. When you make them bold, they can send a more powerful message or, if they are thin, they work great for a bullet list.

Every single shape has a specific effect on how a viewer perceives the entire composition. If it consists mostly of flowy, funky, asymmetric shapes, it’s more likely to be viewed as quirky, playful, and creative than, say, the one that is made up of triangles and squares. By picking the right shapes, designers can set the mood and evoke some very specific emotions in their viewers. When dealing with squares, rectangles, and triangles, the sharpness of the angles also communicates its own meaning. Considering the main rule of optics that the eye follows lines, pointier angles create more eye movement, which translates into a more energetic visual.

Even without context for this character design by Dyron Simene, what do the use of triangular points tell you about this character? It is one thing to know what shapes mean on their own, but using and combining them in a design composition is no easy task. As abstract shapes typically rely on symbolism or references based around external knowledge, their meaning can vary widely depending on the specific shape and context. For example, in some cultures a cross can represent the four seasons, and in others it is a religious symbolic reference to crucifixion. In the Fotor online design tool, you have the options for either designing off of premade templates or creating your own unique shapes. Alternatively, you can maximize the effect of a single shape by repeating it.

In California, and especially in Los Angeles, no occasion is too small for some eye-popping, quirky design — from its proudly decorated donut shops to its sleek gas stations. But graphic design is more than about making things look pretty (though that’s nice too) — it can influence what we pay attention to and how we absorb information. Artists in California have long been aware of the persuasive powers of design, using bright colors, playful typefaces, and bold shapes to push forward their ideas. Abstract, geometric shapes and Kandinsky inspired design are the main, hero image of the webpage above the fold. Plants contain both leaves and berries or seeds in the form of circles. The colors reflect the different seasons of the year, which indicates that the plant is perennial.

Before deciding which one to choose, you’ll need to understand your design’s purpose and the message you want to convey. They can work as a standalone design if you need to send a direct message. Otherwise, they work as an accessory, for various visual marketing materials such as presentations, infographics, or social media visuals. Lastly, ensure you’re careful with similar elements from your design.

So keep at it, refer to these principles as you work, and before you know it, your design’s true potential will start to take shape. To get an even greater handle on how to make a logo, read our complete logo design guide. Here, a professional designer teaches you the basics of logo design and also runs through how to create a logo yourself step by step.

While the triangle can be seen as masculine, circles are considered a more feminine shape. Wavy lines, for the most part, are comforting, friendly, and cozy. Depending on the regularity of the line and the size of the bumps, they can be quirky and playful, calming and delicate, or intimidating and alarming. Unless you are going for stark minimalism, your design will contain multiple elements and this will obligate you to work with several different shapes at once.

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