What Is Elevation in Graphic Design?

Elevation in graphic design is a technique used to create visual hierarchy by adding depth and dimension to an object, composition or layout. By creating the illusion of depth, elevation gives the viewer a sense of the importance of each element and allows them to focus on the most important elements first. Elevation can be used to create an overall feeling of movement and energy in a design, or it can be used to emphasize certain areas of interest.

Elevation is often achieved through a combination of techniques such as layering, overlapping shapes and objects, adding shadows and highlights, or using perspective. Layering objects can help create the illusion of depth by providing a sense of foreground and background. By overlapping elements, designers can create more complex compositions that appear to have more depth than a flat surface.

Shadows and highlights are also important tools for creating elevation in graphic design. Shadows give an object more dimension by creating contrast between light and dark areas while highlights help bring out certain areas in a composition by drawing attention to them. Perspective is another popular technique for creating depth; by shifting the perspective from one point to another, objects appear further away from each other creating an illusion of space.

Using elevation in design helps add visual interest and appeal to any composition or layout. It gives viewers something interesting to look at while also helping focus their attention on what’s important. Elevation also helps create a sense of movement within a piece; using overlapping shapes and layering objects creates the illusion that they’re moving towards one another giving life to an otherwise static image.

In conclusion, elevation is an important technique for any designer looking to create visually interesting designs with depth and dimension. By combining layering, shadows, highlights, and perspective designers can easily add elevation to any composition or layout making it more appealing for viewers.