
20 ways of adding visual interest to a layout (including examples). This is part 1 of 3 of a series where I explore creative visual design ideas you can implement in your design project. You can implement these in web design, app design, poster design, marketing design, and more. Brought to you by Creatorfuel.
This post was inspired by Anthony Hobday.
We’ll look at the following visual ideas:
Backgrounds are essential to visual design because they provide the foundation for all other elements to rest on. Whether it's a crisp, white canvas with minimal design, or a colourful, textured background, they establish the tone and atmosphere of a design. By carefully considering backgrounds, foreground items stand out and grab attention while improving visual hierarchy and information clarity.
A border serves as a visual boundary, guiding the eye and separating elements within a design. They can range from subtle, barely noticeable lines to bold and striking frames that draw attention to specific content. Whether it's a classic elegance or a modern edge, border style, thickness, and color impact the overall look and feel of a design.
Layouts use lines and dividers as both aesthetic embellishments and functional separators. They can be used to create structure, demarcate sections, and direct a viewer's attention. Straight, curved, or dashed lines, as well as decorative dividers, can contribute to visual rhythm and add an extra layer of detail to the composition.
Backgrounds, borders, lines, corners, shadows, text, images, colors, and balance work together like pieces of a puzzle, shaping the look and feel of everything we see. By understanding how each piece contributes to the whole, designers can create engaging and balanced designs that tell stories, evoke emotions, and communicate messages effectively. So, as you embark on your design journey, remember that even the smallest details can make the biggest difference in leaving a memorable impact.
Design tool used: Figma