Do you want to spruce up your library’s graphic design? Learning and understanding the elements of design can help any artistic novice create attractive signage and advertisements. This hour-long session will cover the foundations of graphic design, including color, contrast, texture, and fonts and how they coexist in an image.

1. GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR LIBRARIES:
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

2. OVER THE NEXT HOUR…
• We will cover the foundational elements of
design:
– Color
– Texture
– Space
– Contrast
– Fonts
– Resolution / Aspect Ratio

3. COLOR

4. COLOR
• Reflection of brand
• Most recognizable element in design
• Reuse colors from logo in promotional
materials

5. COLOR
(graphic courtesy of Black Bear Design)

6. COLOR

7. TEXTURE

8. TEXTURE
• An element that is less noticeable in current
design culture.
• Difficult to achieve.
• May utilize natural, man-made, or virtual
sources.

9. TEXTURE

10. TEXTURE

11. TEXTURE

12. SPACE

13. SPACE
• A cluttered design is like a cluttered desk.
• Space is a difficult design element for
librarians.
• Negative space is incredibly important.

14. SPACE

15. SPACE

16. FONTS
• Typography is an incredibly useful tool to
diversify and breathe life into every flyer,
brochure, and design.

17. FONTS

18. FONTS

19. CONTRAST
• Aids the organization of information within a
small space.
• A principle that applies to color, fonts, and
textures.

20. CONTRAST

21. CONTRAST

22. RESOLUTIONS / ASPECT RATIO
• Think about where and how this design is
going to be displayed.
– HDTV?
– Print flyer?
– 4 x 3 photo frame?
– Social media?

23. RESOLUTIONS / ASPECT RATIO

24. RESOLUTIONS / ASPECT RATIO

25. RESOLUTIONS / ASPECT RATIO
• Letter (landscape): 3300 x 2550px | 11” x 8.5”
• Photo frame: 1024 x 768px | 12” x 9”
• HDTV: 1920 x 1080px | 16” x 9”
• Facebook post: 940 x 788px* | 9.792” x 8.208”
• Pinterest graphic: 735 x 1102px* | 7.656” x 11.479”
* As suggested by Canva.com

26. COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS?
Matthew Stephenson
Teen Librarian
Pendleton Community Public Library
595 E. Water St.
Pendleton, IN 46064
mstephenson@pendleton.lib.in.us
765.778.7527 ext. 114