Learn the basic principles of design (Definitions + examples).
Designing a beautiful artwork isn’t just about what you draw or paint. It is also about how you organise the elements and guide the viewer’s eyes across the canvas. That’s where the principles of design come in.
These basic design principles help you bring all your artistic elements together in a way that feels balanced, engaging, and emotionally powerful. When you understand and apply these principles, you can create artwork that doesn’t just look good, but also feels meaningful.
In this post, I am going to break down the 7 principles of design definitions, show you real examples from art history, and give you practical tips to try in your own work.
Principles of Design #1: Balance
Let’s start with balance, because without it, your artwork can feel unstable or incomplete. Think of a seesaw: if one side is heavier, it tips. The same idea applies to your compositions. Balance is all about distributing visual weight so your piece feels stable and grounded.
Artists have used balance in different ways depending on their era and message. Classical artists, like da Vinci, used symmetry to create calm and order. In contrast, modern artists like Picasso embraced asymmetry to create energy and tension.
Examples in Art:
- The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci: This masterpiece uses symmetry to focus our attention on the central figure of Jesus.
- Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso: Picasso uses asymmetry and fragmented forms to challenge traditional notions of balance and create a sense of movement.
The Last Supper
Credits: Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Try This:
- Create two drawings—one symmetrical and one asymmetrical. Notice how the different types of balance affect the mood of each piece.
- Use a mirror to check your artwork’s balance. Flip your composition and see if it still feels balanced from a different perspective.
Principles of Design #2: Emphasis
Emphasis is about directing attention to the most important part of your artwork. It is like putting a spotlight on your main character or focal point.
Throughout time, artists have used different techniques to highlight emphasis. Caravaggio used dramatic lighting (chiaroscuro), while Warhol used bold colours and repetition to make pop culture icons stand out.
Examples in Art:
- The Calling of St Matthew by Caravaggio: Caravaggio uses light to draw our eyes to St Matthew in the dark room.
- Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol: Warhol’s use of bright colours and repeated images makes Marilyn Monroe’s face pop out at us.
The Calling of Saint Matthew
Credits: Caravaggio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Try This:
- Choose a subject and make it stand out with contrasting colours, lighting, or size.
- Use leading lines, like roads, arms, or shadows, to guide the viewer’s eye to your focal point.
Principles of Design #3: Contrast
Contrast is what makes things pop. It is the difference between light and dark, big and small, rough and smooth. It brings visual interest and energy to your work.
Baroque artists leaned into contrast to create dramatic, emotional scenes. In photography, legends like Ansel Adams used light vs dark to elevate nature’s beauty.
Examples in Art:
- Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi: The stark contrast between light and dark adds to the drama of this intense scene.
- Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico by Ansel Adams: Adams uses the contrast between the dark foreground and the bright moon to create a stunning photograph.
Try This:
- Experiment with high contrast in a black and white drawing. Notice how it changes the feel of your composition.
- Use contrasting textures to add depth and interest to your artwork. Pair smooth and rough surfaces to create visual excitement.
Principles of Design #4: Movement
Movement leads the viewer’s eye across your artwork. It makes your piece feel alive, even if nothing in it is actually moving.
Different periods have shown movement in different ways. Futurists captured movement through repeated lines and motion blur. Impressionists, like Monet, used expressive brushstrokes to mimic natural movement..
Examples in Art:
- Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash by Giacomo Balla: Balla’s use of repeated shapes shows the rapid movement of the dog’s legs.
- Water Lilies by Claude Monet: Monet’s brushstrokes create a sense of gentle movement across the surface of the water.
Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash
Credits: Giacomo Balla, Albright–Knox Art Gallery, via Wikipedia
Practical Tips and Exercises:
- Practice sketching quick movements (jumping, running, spinning) with flowing lines.
- Use curved shapes and repeating elements to lead the eye through your composition.
Principles of Design #5: Pattern
A pattern is created through the repetition of lines, shapes, colours, or textures. It adds rhythm, harmony, and structure to your design.
Patterns have been used in art for centuries. Islamic art, for example, is known for its intricate geometric patterns. Art Deco also embraced pattern, using bold and repeating designs.
Examples in Art:
- The Great Mosque of Córdoba: The repeating arches create a sense of unity and order.
- Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow by Piet Mondrian: Mondrian’s use of repeating lines and colours creates a balanced and harmonious composition.
Try This:
- Create your own repeating pattern using simple shapes. Change colours or size to experiment with impact.
- Balance busy patterns with empty space so they don’t overpower your composition.
Principles of Design #6: Rhythm
Rhythm is like pattern with flow. It is the repeated use of elements, like shapes or colours, that guide the eye and create a visual beat.
Different art movements have used rhythm in various ways. For example, surrealists like Dalí used rhythm to create dreamlike scenes. Kandinsky took inspiration from music, building visual compositions that “played” across the canvas.
Examples in Art:
- The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí: The repeating, melting clocks create a surreal rhythm that pulls you into the dreamlike scene.
- Composition VIII by Wassily Kandinsky: Kandinsky’s use of repeating shapes and lines creates a musical rhythm.
The Persistence of Memory
Credits: Salvador Dalí, Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, via Wikipedia
Try This:
- Sketch a rhythm-based drawing with repeated shapes or marks.
- Try using similar shapes spaced evenly to create flow, then break the rhythm to add interest.
Principles of Design #7: Unity
Unity is the feeling that everything in your artwork belongs together. It ties together all the basic principles of design into a cohesive whole.
Artists have sought unity in different ways. For instance, Renaissance artists used perspective and proportion to build unified, harmonious scenes. Modern artists like Matisse found unity in colour and form.
Examples in Art:
- The School of Athens by Raphael: The use of perspective and balanced composition creates a unified scene.
- The Dance by Henri Matisse: Matisse’s use of colour and form creates a sense of unity and joy.
The School of Athens
Credits: Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, Public Domain, via Wikimedia
Try This:
- Create a mini-series of artworks using the same colour palette or theme.
- Stick to a limited colour palette in one piece to make sure all elements feel connected.
Principles of Design Posters and Printables
Want to keep the 7 principles of design top of mind while creating? Grab these downloadable resources:
These will help you remember the basic principles of design and use them confidently in your own work.
The 7 principles of design in art aren’t rules; they are creative tools. They help you make work that feels intentional, expressive, and impactful. Start small. Play around. See how these principles can bring your art to life.
This article covers the 7 Principles of Design Definitions & Examples.
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