The best way to get started understanding design principles is to take our free 12-lesson e-course: “Design Principles for the Scrapbook Page.” Lessons will be delivered to your inbox every two or three days.

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If you want to make a scrapbook page that tells your story well–that tells it in a way that grabs the viewer and conveys what this story really means–strive to accomplish the folowing: capture the viewer’s attention, control the eye’s movement, convey information, and evoke emotion.

And just how can you do this? Of course with your photos, element choices and journaling — but also with an understanding of basic design elements and principles as you put them all together.

Elements of Design

Design elements are the basic building blocks of visual design and include:

• Space, • Line, • Shape, • Size, • Pattern, • Texture, • Value, • Color

Begin to understand design elements with this basic overview.

Design principles

Design principles are the rules for putting the basic blocks together well and include:

• Emphasis, Dominance, • Contrast, • Balance, • Alignment, • Flow, Movement, • Repetitions, Rhythm

Begin to understand design principles with this basic overview.

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