The Five Design Principles

These five principles are fundamental to all visual design — web, print, and any visual medium. Mastering them will dramatically improve your ability to create professional, polished interfaces.

Overview

1. Proximity — Relationships through spacing
2. Alignment — Order through structure
3. Repetition — Consistency through patterns
4. Contrast — Focus through differences
5. Balance — Weight distribution

Why These Principles Matter

"Every decision a developer makes affects the user experience of the website or application."

These principles help you:

• Create visual hierarchy
• Guide users' attention
• Reduce cognitive load
• Build trust through consistency
• Make content scannable and accessible

Key Takeaway

• The layout is the most critical piece of a website’s design. It is quite literally the foundation for the remaining pieces that will eventually be added to the website.
• Design is learnable — it's not about being "creative," it's about applying fundamental principles systematically.

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