Principles of Design

Rhythm: A design principle characterized by a regular recurrence of features or elements.

Proportion: Defined as the relationship of the parts to one another or to the whole, whereas scale refers to the size of a thing in relation or comparison to other things.

Balance: The arrangement of objects that creates a physical or visual equilibrium. Balance can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Emphasis: A design principle that gives importance to an area or object to make it stand out and hold the interest of the viewer.

Variety: A design principle that is used to express differences in objects or spaces to counteract monotony or sameness.

Unity: A design principle that produces a harmonious relationship among all the parts of an object or space.

Repetition: A design principle characterized by a regular recurrence of features or elements.

Scale: The relative size of an object as related to a familiar standard, i.e., the human body.