Graphic Design Portfolio-Builder: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator Projects

Elements of Design

Every design we've looked at so far exhibits a skill in handling four elements: imagery, color, typography, and composition. Now we'll explore some basic principles for each area.

The Role of Imagery

The use of imagery—photographic images or illustrations—is the most direct way to communicate to a wide audience. There's a scientific reason for this: Our mind processes any kind of picture—a shape, a representation, even an outline of a figure—much more quickly than it does a word or sentence.

There's a commercial reason, too. Design must speak to a wide audience and speak quickly. This is partly because we are inundated with visual messages—we see graphic design everywhere. How much time do you devote to scanning a magazine ...