Geometry of Design by Kimberly Elam is a practical guide to understanding the fundamentals of design through geometric shapes and principles. Through this book, Elam offers a comprehensive look at the building blocks that create successful design work, teaching readers how to be more inspired, imaginative, and mindful of composition.
Elam begins the book with an introduction to the “Geometry of Design," the concept and philosophy behind her approach. She explains how geometry is a valuable tool in describing the visual relationships, structures, and relationships among elements that form the foundation of successful design. She encourages her readers, particularly graphic and web designers, to consider how shapes such as triangle, hexagon, and circle interact with each other in order to increase the visual appeal of their work, making it more effective.
Elam then dives into the more practical aspects of design. She explains the concept of visual hierarchy, which she defines as the arrangement of elements relative to their importance in a design. For example, if the goal of the design is to communicate a message, then the most important elements of that message, such as a headline or call-to-action, should be larger and more prominent than the less important elements, such as body text or a sidebar. Elam illustrates that designation of importance with a variety of simple, real-world examples, such as newspaper and magazine layouts, making the concepts easy to understand and apply.
Next, Elam focuses on the more technical aspects of design utilizing geometry. She explains various shapes and patterns, such as grids, and offers advice for organizing complex designs for readability and overall visual appeal. For example, she encourages readers to craft layouts that make use of the “rule of thirds” which is the idea of breaking down a design into three parts, both horizontally and vertically. She then explains how to project energy within a design and balances elements along both the vertical and horizontal axis.
Elam then covers the basics of color theory and applies various color schemes to her guidance about visual hierarchy and layers. She explains how color can be used to draw attention to specific elements and create a sense of cohesion throughout a layout. She also includes an introduction to typography, and offers advice for selecting and arranging fonts.
The book ends with a look at how to achieve balance, rhythm, and harmony in a design. Elam gives readers ways to practice their design work and puts it all together with real-world projects. She explains how to translate principles of design into real-world problem solving—such as creating a website layout or designing a brochure—providing a valuable resource to any designer.
Overall, Geometry of Design by Kimberly Elam is a comprehensive look into design principles and concepts. Through simple examples, Elam illustrates how simple shapes and principles can create successful designs. Numerous designers—" experienced and novice alike—can benefit from the techniques and strategies found in Elam’s work.
