Elements of Visual Design

Here are 9 important elements of visual design. These serve as the fundamentals and building blocks of art and design.

1. Dot
• A dot is the simplest element of design.
• It marks a position in space.
• It is also the meeting point of two coordinates in 2-dimension or three coordinates in 3-dimension.
2. Line
• You can form a line when you connect two or more dots.
• It can be fat, thin, wavy, or jagged.
• It can be a geometric, uniform-width line.
• It can be an organic, non-uniform width line.
3. Shape
• A shape is a 2-dimensional area with a known boundary.
• When you connect three or more dots, you can form a shape.
• Shapes are the building blocks of graphic design. They are the figures and forms used to create logos, illustrations, and other elements that appear in a graphic design.
• Types of shapes:
• Geometric: Shapes like circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles.
• Organic: Shapes that resemble natural objects/shapes found in nature - such as a leaf, a flower, etc.
• Abstract: Shapes that are free form like bubbles, spirals, etc.
4. Color
• Colors are used to differentiate parts and add emphasis/depth to design elements.
• Three main characteristics of colors:
• Hue (red, green, blue)
• Value (how light or dark)
• Saturation (how bright or dull)
5. Texture
• In the physical world, the texture is the quality of the surface of an object.
• Types of textures:
• Tactile Textures: Textures that you can feel and see (such as the texture of your phone case).
• Implied Textures: Textures that you can only see (such as texture on your phone screen wallpaper). 
6. Typography
• Typography is both an art and a technique of arranging letters to make written language easy to read/understand and to make it appealing when displayed.
• Typography sets a mood or implies an emotion. When done well, it helps in recognizing a brand.
7. Form
• A form is an object that is 3-dimensional and has width, height, and depth.
• It can be used to define space, create contrast, and visually add volume to a composition.
• Types of forms:
• Geometric
• Organic
8. Grid
• Grids serve as the foundation or framework where a design is made.
• It allows a designer to organize various design elements on a page. 
9. Layout
• A layout is the arrangement of visual elements in a design.
• It looks like a visual draft that indicates where each element will be placed.
• It is typically constructed within a grid.
• The layout has active and passive areas depending on the way the eye scans it.