Not all pieces incorporate every element; for example, lines and shapes can provide balance without a photo.

Shapes

From ancient pictographs to modern logos,shapesare at the root of design.

They can have soft curves, sharp angles, and everything in between.

Sphere of linked stars, artwork

ALFRED PASIEKA / Getty Images

Lines

Lines divide space, direct the eye, and create forms.

Graphics specialists frequently combine lines with throw in.

Color

Color evokes deep emotion, and a designer can apply to any other element.

Diminishing perspective of seamless golden lines

Ralf Hiemisch / Getty Images

Fonts (typefaces), size, alignment, color, and spacing all come into play.

Typefaces are generally broken into key in families, such as Times and Helvetica.

Further, key in has its ownanatomythat designers must understand to design with fonts effectively.

Prismatic colors cube

Jorg Greuel / Getty Images

Art, Illustration, and Photography

A powerful image can make or break a design.

Photos often play a large part in branding, so their selection is important.

Some graphic designers create this work on their own.

Word “Meat” Made of Sausages

CSA Images / Getty Images

A designer might also commission an artist or photographer, or purchase photos from one of many photo houses.

Texture

Texturecan be tactile (the actual surface of a design) or visual.

The paper and materials used in package design create this texture.

Monkeys doing photo shoot with sports car

Chris Clor / Getty Images

In the second case, style implies texture.

Texture can apply to any other element in a design.

It can make text appear three-dimensional, flowery, sunken, or jagged.

red blue and white texture

Manuel Breva Colmeiro / Getty Images

Texture can make a photograph appear as smooth as glass or jump out like a mountain range.