To me, graphic design is the combination of shapes, colors, typefaces, images and words that cause you to react or feel something. It typically conveys a message, shines light on an issue, maybe solves a problem, expresses beauty or sets a feeling. I’ve always thought aestically, composition was one of the most important features of graphic design and key to a successful design. The reading quickly changed this opinion.

This article helped me to grasp what graphic design truly encompasses.The use of images, text, position and overall psychology to help reel in their audience are the main components to a successful design. What I love about design is that is goes hand-in-hand with psychology which is one of the main reasons why I made the decision to major in both Graphic Communication and Psychology to get a better handle on what the audience sees, wants and understands. The psychology behind the design influences how you perceive the idea and as a designer how you convey your message.

My question to the author is if there could be one essential trait behind a successful design, what would it be? So many factors contribute in the process of creating but what is it that one must always keep in mind? The audience? Perspective? Feeling? Message? No matter the answer, it will be subjective and it will depend on who is the audience and what is the message but if there is one idea that applies to all of the above, what is it? I want to know the key ingredient, the inside scoop!