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GRAPHIC DESIGN LESSONS

 

Composition Techniques for Graphic Design
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8
Example 9
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2
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5
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9

light bulb logo
EXAMPLE 7

 

CHARACTERISATION

light bulb 1

The combination of our bulb and smiley face symbols gives the image a cheerful personality.

 

light bulb 2

This variation on the theme adds some humour to the idea with a light bulb hairdo that could be used to suggest a product range of colored bulbs.

 

OVERLAPPING IMAGES

light bulb 3

Simply overlapping our light bulb image not only creates a harmonious visual effect with its use of transparent colors but also says something about the nature of the object.

 

THE SPARK OF INSPIRATION

lightbox design 1

The technique of overlapping images can provide that spark of inspiration needed to generate an idea. Two of our images were overlapped and framed by a hexagon whose shape suggested the outline of a box. This inspired the development of a logo for a graphic design company called 'Lightbox Design' (a lightbox is a tracing frame used by graphic designers).

 

DEVELOPING THE IDEA

lightbox design 2

Once you get the basic idea for a design, you need to refine and develop it to maximise its communication and impact. To this end, a grey backdrop was added to increase the brightness of the image while the jagged 'Matisse' font was used to echo the sharp points of the spark.

 

REFINING THE IDEA

lightbox design 3

Graduated tone was then used to generate the form of the bulb and to suggest the glow of light. The outlines of the lightbox and light bulb were changed from black to white to brighten their images, while the outline of the font was substituted by a drop shadow to lighten its weight.

 

ARRIVING AT A SOLUTION

lightbox design 4

Finally, color was applied to the design making the backdrop redundant. Two tones of blue were used to represent the transparency of glass (a material common to both the light bulb and the light box) while a counterchange of red and yellow (fire colors) was used to illuminate the spark of inspiration. The colors of the typography were borrowed from the image to unify the design.

 

LESSON PLAN

Developing Creative Ideas for Graphic Design

A graphic design is a creative arrangement of image and type that communicates a visual concept with a clarity and economy of means. There are tried and trusted techniques that you can use to increase your creativity in the search for a solution to any graphic design.

In this lesson we use the symbols below to demonstrate a range of composition techniques that will help you to create and develop ideas for your graphics. Click on each symbol to see how it is developed into a creative idea for a graphic design.

Once you have studied our examples you can find other symbols in our Graphic Design Resources that you may print and use to create your own graphic ideas.

 

Composition Techniques for Graphic Design
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8
Example 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
 

 

 
     
 
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