Every website, app, or digital product is made up of various elements with a distinct visual appearance. These elements include fonts, lines, shapes, colors, and more. Think of them as the building blocks of a website. Visual design principles give these building blocks meaning by defining a particular structure.

These principles are invaluable tools for UX designers aiming to optimize user experiences. It's a well-known fact that most people judge a book by its cover. When a user visits your website for the first time, they make an unconscious decision about whether they like what they see within seconds. Most users can't explain why they like a design; they just do. This is where UX and UI designers come in - they understand the "why" through their knowledge of visual design principles and their effective implementation.

With rapidly emerging trends, it's crucial to stay grounded and remember the fundamentals of visual design. Trends come and go, so you don't always need to follow or fully understand them. However, the fundamentals of visual design are timeless. Let's not forget them and ensure we get them right!

First up is scale. It might seem logical to make the most important elements the largest and the less important ones smaller. The bigger an element is, the quicker it catches the user’s attention. But what if everything is important? Well, if everything is important, then nothing is. Having everything the same size means nothing stands out, leaving your user confused. Be careful not to overdo it! Stick to using three different sizes to ensure your point comes across clearly without overwhelming your audience.

Another key visual design principle is contrast. Contrast is perfect for indicating that different elements belong to different categories. This helps your users instantly understand which elements are related because the contrast creates a clear distinction between them.

There are many ways to incorporate contrast into your website, with color contrast being a prime example. For instance, you could have a black-and-white website with occasional pops of red to indicate significance. This way, you don't need to worry as much about the placement of the red elements, as the contrast itself will draw attention to them.

You've probably seen those viral videos where someone cuts a cake perfectly, arranges items into perfect shapes, or creates some oddly satisfying moments. It just feels so good to watch! In UX design, achieving balance is like that. Balance means distributing elements equally on both sides of the screen, creating a harmonious and organized look.

Balance keeps your design simple and neat, showing that your website or digital product is well thought out. This encourages trust in your brand. When your website is easy to navigate and feels just right, you've nailed the balance principle.

The Gestalt principle, established by Gestalt psychologists in the 20th century, is based on the idea that people perceive scattered elements as a unified whole rather than individually. The human brain organizes images into cohesive structures it can understand.

In UX design, the Gestalt principle helps determine where to place various elements, especially after applying the principles of scale and contrast. It guides you in arranging elements so that users perceive a harmonious, organized layout that makes sense at a glance.

Last but not least is visual hierarchy. This principle ties together all the others by guiding the user's eye and establishing the order of importance on a page. Visual hierarchy ensures that users first see the most significant elements, then the medium ones, and finally the smallest.

For instance, with scale, the largest element grabs attention first. With contrast, the brightest color stands out and draws the eye. The Gestalt principle uses spacing to direct the user's gaze.

To check if your visual hierarchy is effective, observe whether users know exactly where to look first and how to navigate your site. If they don’t, your visual hierarchy might need more work. A good rule of thumb is to use a maximum of three different font sizes, typefaces, and colors to maintain clarity and focus.

Still wondering why it's crucial to follow visual design principles? Here’s the deal:

• Boost Usability: These principles make your website easy to navigate and use. A well-organized site means users can find what they need effortlessly.
• Delight Your Users: Good design makes users happy, and happy users enjoy their experience more. They’re even willing to overlook minor technical issues because they feel good using your site.
• Strengthen Your Brand: Following visual design principles enhances your brand’s strength, seriousness, and reliability. A polished design builds trust and credibility with your audience.

In short, these principles ensure your website is user-friendly, engaging, and trustworthy.