DESIGN THEORY

Design theory is a system of ideas that explains how and why designs function. It provides designers with an understanding of the elements and principles of visual communication, as well as how they can be applied to solve problems through design thinking. There are also scientific theories of design, creativity, innovation, methods, modeling, pedagogy, and management that can be included in the theory of design. 

Using design theory allows for design exploration and creates value for clients and causes. The process of designing and imagining a product's fabrication is called design. Everything around us is created with design in mind. The television and the chair. Everything needs to be designed, not just the tangible things but also the virtual ones like motion graphics, company logos, and even the comic books you read. Everything has a design. According to Sir George Cox, "design can be defined as creativity applied to a particular goal." Every design process begins with the identification and analysis of a problem or demand, and it continues until the optimal solution is discovered. Real needs must be met in order to provide goods that consumers need or desire.

The design principles should be used in every design project . Each principle is an essential part of a design, but how they work together is the most critical thing to consider when trying to communicate a message to a specific audience . The basic principles of design are alignment , balance , contrast , emphasis , hierarchy , proportion , repetition , rhythm , unity. 

Alignment - it refers to the arrangement of visual components in a composition such that they coincide. In design, alignment is used to collect and arrange elements, establish structure, balance, and linkages between elements, and produce a distinct clear result.

Balance - The placement of design elements inside a composition and their interactions with one another and the composition as a whole are referred to as balance. Balance comes in two forms: symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Contrast - Contrast is the placement of opposing components in a composition to elicit excitement, drama, and visual intrigue.

Emphasis - Dominance, sometimes referred to as emphasis, is the aspect of a piece that sticks out the most or seems most like you. Dominance can be divided into three stages: subordinate, sub-dominant, and dominating. 

Hierarchy - The use of visual cues to suggest priority in an arrangement or presentation is known as hierarchy. Its functions include adding emphasis, direction, structure, and visual organization, as well as making information easier for viewers to traverse and understand.

Proportion - The proportional visual size and weight of specific graphical elements within a design composition is indicated by their proportion, often known as scale. It can be applied to a composition to show a difference in scale or to convey a sense of distance. A designer’s various components become more balanced and harmonious when there is a good proportion added.

Repetition - Repetition is the act of repeating the same or similar design elements and making them come together as a cohesive whole.

Rhythm - When elements in a design are repeated or alternated to produce a sense of movement, continuity, and visual flow, this is referred to as rhythm. Similar to musical rhythm, visual rhythm creates a pattern that leads the eye of the observer through the composition, resulting in a harmonious and coherent whole.

Unity - The key to unity is achieving harmony in your designs. Playing with repetition, proximity, and alignment, as well as balancing positive and negative space, are all part of it. Harmonious colors, shapes, and textures are all used.

Design theory is composed of seven main elements: dots, shapes, spaces, textures, forms, lines, and values.

Line - the element of line plays a fundamental role in creating visual compositions. Lines are versatile elements that can convey different emotions, guide the viewer’s eye, and define the overall structure of a design.

Space - The region around and/or separating design elements or objects is referred to as space. The area surrounding and in between an image's subject is known as negative space in art.

Form - it has three dimensions: height, width, and depth. Form can be utilized in a composition to visually enhance volume, define space, and produce contrast. Additional visual components like line, contour, and tone are used to represent form. Form and the shape part of design are really comparable. The distinction is that, in artwork with three dimensions as opposed to two as in forms, the term "form" is employed.

Shape - A shape is a two- or three-dimensional object that stands out from the space next to it because of a defined or implied boundary. A shape can live in different areas in space, and have other elements like line, color, texture, or movement. Like forms, shapes come in two different types: geometric and organic.

Typography - Typography is the art of arranging letters and text in a way that makes the copy legible, clear, and visually appealing to the reader.  

The elements of design refer to the basic building blocks of any composition. The principles of design refer to how the elements are used, like the symmetrical and asymmetrical balance, pattern, emphasis, movement, and proportion. The principles of design are a set of cardinal rules and techniques for composing the various elements of design.

Functionality “Design is a fun word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works.” Steve Jobs. In design, functionality describes the useful features of an environment or a product. It consists of every component needed to make a design functional, effective, and efficient in addressing user needs. This is a reference to a design's operational element. It concerns the degree to which the system, application, or product fulfills its intended function. Efficiency, efficacy, and usability are often used metrics to assess a design's usefulness. For a digital application, these would include things like responsiveness, load times, navigation flow, and general usability. 

In conclusion, the design process involves the interconnected and mutually influential elements of design theory, aesthetics, and usefulness, all of which combine to produce meaningful, practical, and visually striking designs.