GRAPHIC DESIGN
Graphic design principles are baked into creation
"(Nature) doesn’t use words, but it still communicates. Powerfully. It declares, proclaims, reveals and speaks to the ends of the earth - because there isn’t one tiny corner of this planet that isn’t filled up and overflowing with God’s creative wonders."
The first ever piece of design, the creation of the world, communicates with us. It tells us something of who God is. God, the great designer, communicates with us through his creation. And so it follows that we should be able to learn something about communication by looking at his example.
J R R Tolkien once described us as being “sub-creators”. We can never create something out of nothing – we take what God has already made and reshape it into our own sub creations.
When we design, we’re working within the confines of God’s created world. We take elements that he has already made and rework them in our own designs. And we can find all of the principles of graphic design within God’s created world. We can then take these principles and apply them in our own graphic design work. So let’s use that very first piece of design to inspire us and train us for our own designs.
Contrast
When God separated the light from the darkness, we see contrast.
We see it in the stripes of a zebra, a bright moon in the night sky, the changing seasons. In creation there are contrasting colours, shapes, sizes, textures.
Contrast is the difference between things. These differences are what enable us to see and recognise objects in the world around us. Without contrast, everything is the same. In graphic design, contrast is what helps us to pick out shapes, letters and other elements. It enables us to make text that’s legible or shapes that catch your eye.
Hierarchy
When God set mankind to rule over the animals, we see hierarchy.
We see it in the food chain, we see it in communities. Hierarchy is the ranking of things. From most important to least important. From most powerful to least powerful. From most authority to least authority.
It helps categorise and identify things. Without hierarchy, there’s chaos. In graphic design, hierarchy is what helps us direct the viewer’s attention to the most important place. It protects against competing elements and overwhelming amounts of information.
Space
When God separated the waters by an expanse we see space.
We see it in wide open fields and vast deserts, the depths of the sea and the heights of the skies. Space is the distance between things. This space gives room to breathe and allows us to see things clearly. Without space, everything is cramped together and impossible to differentiate.
In graphic design, space is the gaps between design elements. It allows the elements to breathe and helps direct attention.
Structure
When the waters were gathered to one place and dry ground was formed in another, we see structure.
We see it in the symmetries of a snowflake and the structure of a skeleton. There are different areas or sections of creation where different things belong – such as land and sky and sea. Structure and order is an essential part of the created world around us.
In graphic design, structure helps us create a composition that makes sense visually so that elements don’t appear to be randomly floating in space. Good structure also helps ensure your composition is balanced.
Unity
And when God said that all that he had made was very good, we see unity.
We see it in the way all things are held together. In the way creation points beyond itself to someone greater.
In graphic design, unity is the extent to which the elements in a design correspond with each other. It’s what makes things feel like they’re coming together, like they match. If a design is unified, it will feel as if all elements of the design are working together to achieve a common purpose.
Baked into creation are the 5 most important graphic design principles. If you want to learn more about these graphic design principles, and how they can help you improve your church graphic design, let me encourage you to check out The Church Graphic Design Training Programme. This programme will help you understand key graphic design principles and helps you apply them to your church context.
Learn to design beautiful graphics for your church
Beautiful design for your church’s beautiful message.
Master timeless design principles, grow in your understanding of the role of design in your church and be equipped to apply it all to your church setting.
£300
- 16 detailed video lessons
- Church-specific practice project briefs
- Access for 1 year
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