Graphic design often aims to create visual interest and draw the viewer's eye across the page or screen.
Movement is an important principle in graphic design that can help achieve these goals.
Skillful use of motion allows designers to actively engage viewers and create visually compelling compositions.
Here are some key ways that movement is incorporated in graphic design:
Literal Motion through Animation
Animated graphics like gifs or videos can literally show motion on the page or screen.
Even short looped animations can capture the viewer's attention with movement.
Subtle animated effects like animated hovers, transitions, or micro-interactions also introduce motion to direct the user's eye around a page or interface.
These animations don't need to be complex - even a simple spinning icon or pulsing button brings energy and movement into a static design.
When used appropriately, animated graphics and motion effects can add flair while enhancing usability.
Implied Motion through Lines and Shapes
Angled or diagonal lines tend to imply motion and dynamics much more than static vertical or horizontal lines.
Sweeping gesture lines, curved forms, and expressive brush strokes also give an innate sense of movement and flow.
Blur effects can likewise imply the motion of a fast-moving object frozen in time.
Skilled designers leverage these techniques to lead the viewer's eye in specific directions without literal animations.
For example, a movie poster may use expressive diagonal lines and perspective to create an energetic sense of motion.
Magazine layouts can guide the reader through with repeating curved shapes.
Website headers may imply momentum through blurred elements and velocity lines.
Thoughtful use of line and form allows designers to inject visual dynamism and implied motion.
Strategic Direction through Layout and Composition
Clever composition and layout choices can direct the viewer's gaze in very intentional ways.
Strategically placing focal points and strong directional lines or shapes can guide the eye from one element to another across the page.
Used well, this can orchestrate visual flow through a layout.
For example, a website interface may use strong diagonal lines, contrasting colors, and strategic whitespace to lead the eye down through page content.
Magazine articles may gradually reveal information by guiding the reader across the spread.
Book covers often use implied lines to lead the eye to the title and imagery.
Purposeful design moves the viewer through the content in a very deliberate flow.
Kinetic Typography and Three-Dimensional Effects
Type and letterforms can also incorporate movement for impact.
Kinetic typography refers to text arranged in motion-implying ways, like following a wave or spiral shape.
Three-dimensional effects can make type appear to rotate in space.
Perspective effects can expand, contract, or move type to add energy.
These techniques make the otherwise static typography more dynamic.
Cinematic title sequences commonly use kinetic typography to immerse viewers.
Music videos and commercials may also embrace kinetic text for high visual impact.
When used thoughtfully, kinetic typography and three-dimensional letterforms can capture viewers' imaginations by transforming type into a moving artform.
The Takeaway
Incorporating movement engages viewers by bringing graphics to life.
Whether through:
- Animations
- Expressive techniques
- Strategic layouts
Motion directs the eye across the page in purposeful ways.
A sense of movement is a core principle of impactful graphic design.
