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Graphic Design vocabulary · Design Principles

Focal point

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

/ˈfoʊkəl ˌpɔɪnt/nounCommon term

In graphic design, focal point means: The part of a design that attracts the eye first and holds attention, often created with size, colour, contrast or position.

In Turkish: odak noktası

How it is used

Used in critiques and art direction. A design has a clear focal point or none; you create, strengthen or change the focal point. Too many focal points make a layout feel confusing.

Example sentences

  1. The product should be the focal point, but the bright background steals all the attention.

  2. This flyer has four focal points fighting each other; pick one.

Common collocations

  • clear focal point
  • create a focal point
  • main focal point
  • strong focal point
  • visual hierarchyThe order in which people notice and read the parts of a design, created with size, colour, contrast, position and spacing, so the most important message is seen first.
  • contrastA clear difference between elements, for example dark and light, big and small or thick and thin, used to attract attention and make text and shapes easy to see.
  • compositionThe overall arrangement of shapes, images, text and space in a design or picture, and how they work together to lead the eye and create a feeling.
  • scaleThe size of an element compared with other elements or with the whole design. Changing scale creates contrast, drama and a clear order of importance.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Design Principles

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