Design theory involves the fundamentals and principles of creating visual communication and all types of art.
It deals with how we see and perceive visual information, and separates ideas of style, taste and trend from the universal principles of aesthetics that are common to every person.
It is foundational to the pursuit of design, photography, illustration and visual arts in general.
This common visual language connects designers and image makers from history to current day and continent to continent.
Design theory involves an understanding of the tangible elements including form, space, proportion, color, scale, texture, structure (grid), composition, line, shape and volume and how to arrange them to achieve balance, rhythm, pattern, hierarchy, emphasis, and unity. Design theory, blended with a purpose or problem to solve, results in effective design solutions.