If you want to learn the art of using lines in graphic design, you’re in the right place.
Lines are more than aesthetic elements – they can help structure the information and convey the right message.
Designers must master this element to elevate their work, captivate the viewer’s attention, and communicate more effectively.
This article provides a great introduction to the use of lines in graphic design. Let’s get started.
Why Are Lines Important in Graphic Design
Lines are one of the basic visual elements of design. They can be defined as a mark connecting two points or as the path traced by a point moving in space.
While they are one of the simplest elements, they are extremely important. Using lines, you can connect, organize, and separate the different components of a design.
They can also define the edges of forms such as triangles, circles, etc.
How Do Lines Affect Composition in Graphic Design?
Lines can affect the composition of your design in many different ways. With them, you can define shapes, create building blocks, establish a visual hierarchy, and more.
Also, by making choices regarding the properties of the lines, you can create a design that’s bold and vibrant or elegant and minimal.
Keep reading to learn how to do all these using the most humble element: the line.
The 5 Types of Lines in Graphic Design
These are the five most common types of lines designers use in their work.
Horizontal Lines
Horizontal lines are drawn from left to right or vice versa. They communicate a sense of calm because they remind us of things lying down and resting. This is because horizontal lines run parallel to the ground.
Vertical Lines
Vertical lines, as opposed to horizontal ones, are drawn from top to bottom or vice versa. Using vertical lines, you can communicate height.
In some cultures, vertical lines are associated with spirituality because they are pointed to heaven.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal lines are horizontal and vertical lines inclined at an angle. Imagine a line connecting opposite corners of a square—that’s a diagonal line.
These lines communicate tension and dynamism.
Curved Lines
Curved lines are bent smoothly – without sharp edges. They can create shallow curves or deep curves and completely change their meaning.
Curved lines can create a shape as simple as a circle or as complex as the human form. You can also combine multiple curves, creating wavy lines.
Curves are one of the most versatile types of lines. They can convey sensuality, comfort, motion, and fluidity.
Zig-Zag Lines
Zig-zag lines are formed by a series of sharp edges, so they have a series of diagonal segments. Zig-zag lines can represent thunders or the letters Z and W.
How Much Do You REALLY Know About Photography?! 🤔
Test your photography knowledge with this quick quiz!See how much you really know about photography…
Start Quiz
Your answer: Correct answer: Next
You got {{SCORE_CORRECT}} out of {{SCORE_TOTAL}}
These lines are great for creating texture and patterns – they make very dynamic designs.
The 2 Properties of Lines in Graphic Design
Lines have properties that alter their perception and aesthetics – think about the color, texture, and shape of the edges. However, the two main properties are length and width.
1. Length
The length determines how long or short a line is. You can use a line’s length to communicate or balance your composition.
Long lines convey more stability than shorter ones. Shorter lines are better for creating separation or attracting the viewer’s attention.
2. Width
The width refers to how thin or thick the line is.
Thin lines are more elegant, but they can appear fragile. They can be used to guide the viewer through the different elements in the design.
Instead, thick lines make a bold statement and quickly grab the viewer’s attention – that’s why they’re used to emphasize an element.
How Can Lines Be Used to Create Design?
If you were wondering how to convey movement and flow, emphasize an object, or divide information, lines are the answer.
Here are a few examples of how to use lines in your designs.
1. Connect
Credit: Canva
Lines can connect the different elements of your design, whether they’re text, photos, shapes, or a combination of all three.
You can connect images by touching the different components with the line, but you can also create leading lines that suggest to the viewer a connection.
2. Separate
Credit: Canva
This is one of the most common uses of lines in graphic and web design.
You can use dotted, dashed, or solid lines to divide information. Solid lines create a stronger separation than dotted or dashed lines – you can use one or the other depending on the relation between elements.
Also, solid, dashed, and dotted lines have different visual weights.
3. Highlight
Credit: Canva
A graphic designer can use lines to emphasize a specific part of the design or a single element.
To strengthen the effect, you can use multiple lines and even change the properties of each one, as shown in the example above.
4. Convey Emotions
Credit: Canva
You can use lines to communicate and evoke emotions with your design. Look at the above example; the thick, colorful lines immediately catch your attention.
The length and angle make the design more dynamic and add motion. The lines remind you of a meteor shower, which is a fleeting event – just like the offer the design is advertising.
The things you communicate with a design may depend on culture, but certain things can be considered to have universal meanings.
A graphic designer needs to consider this when creating something that will be seen by a worldwide audience – such as a web design or a logo for an international brand.
Here’s a short guideline with different lines and the emotions they communicate.
Horizontal lines communicate calm, tranquillity, and a sense of stability.
Vertical lines stand for strength, growth, and power; they represent grandeur.
Diagonal lines create movement, action, and dynamism.
Curved lines represent happiness and gentleness, which are also associated with comfort and flexibility.
Zig-zag lines convey intense emotions, both positive and negative – they can be associated with excitement but also anxiety.
Other Types of Lines (+ How to Use Them)
Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines are the most basic and commonly used types of lines. However, those aren’t the only ones. Check out these lines and see how they can level up your designs.
Contour Lines
Credit: Pixabay
Contour lines are the borders of a shape. They can be used to create a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object.
Gesture Lines
Credit: Pixabay
Gesture lines are quick, expressive strokes. They’re used to create movement, action, and energy.
Parallel Lines
Parallel lines run in the same direction without changing the distance between them; therefore, they will never cross.
You can make parallel horizontal and vertical lines. Diagonal lines can also be parallel. You can use them to create patterns and textures.
Cross-Hatch Lines
Crosshatch lines are used to give the impression of light and shadow in a design, adding a sense of depth and dimension.
To do this, the graphic designer must draw parallel lines at different angles to create a grid. Then, layer multiple sets that overlap to create shading.
Implied Lines
Credit: Canva
Implied lines, unlike the other lines we’ve talked about, aren’t physical lines. Instead, you create lines by using other elements of design, such as color, texture, or negative space.
Look at the example above. There aren’t any lines separating the rows and columns. Instead, it’s the space between the cells that creates the illusion of lines.
3 Examples of How to Use Lines to Create Impact in Your Graphic Design
Now that you know some of the theory, let’s see it applied to the real world with three successful brand examples.
The Adidas Logo
Lines are so important for Adidas that its founder, Adolf Assler, referred to it as the “three stripes company.” The three lines started as the key element in the structure of Adidas shoes.
Then, they became part of the logo, and they’ve been present in every design change it’s had through the years:
The trefoil logo with the three lines running through it.
The EQT logo with the three lines inclined bars represents “The challenge to be faced and the goals to be achieved.”
The wordmark features the three horizontal lines followed by the brand’s name in a sans serif typeface.
The Style logo features a circle intersected by three curved stripes.
The iconic three stripes are also featured in most Adidas products.
The Nike Swoosh
The famous Nike swoosh is another line effectively used in branding. While many people think it’s a tick or a check mark, it’s the abstraction of the sprinter flying off the block.
In fact, the name swoosh is meant to be an onomatopoeia of this action.
The logo conveys motion and speed.
The Amazon Arrow
Another successful logo based on lines is the Amazon arrow. Recognizable all over the world, it connects the letters A and Z in the word Amazon.
This is because those are the first and last letters of the alphabet, and it represents that you can find everything you need on Amazon – from Airpods to Ziplock bags, from AA batteries to zip ties.
FAQs About Lines in Graphic Design
What are lines in graphic design?
Lines are one of the basic elements of design. A line can be the segment that joins two points or the visible path of a moving point.
What do lines represent in graphic design?
Different types of lines represent different things. For example, horizontal lines represent calmness, while vertical lines represent growth. The properties of a line can change the perception we have of it which can communicate a completely different thing.
How do straight lines function in graphic design?
Straight lines have many functions. They can work as dividers that separate information or parts of the design. You can also use them to lead the eye of the viewer from one component to the other. However you decide to use them, they are preferred when creating a clean and precise look.
How do I use lines to convey emotion in graphic design?
To convey emotions with lines, you can start with their universal meanings – for example, that a horizontal line represents calm and stability. Then, using composition and properties, you can adapt them to convey something specific to the context and culture. Through color, you can add vibrancy to break the calmness, and with repetition, you can change stability with dynamism.
What do dotted lines represent in graphic design?
Dotted and dashed lines can represent guidance that leads the eye through the elements. They can also represent movement or progression as well as boundaries. Their meaning can change depending on how you use them.
What is the significance of line width and length in graphic design?
The width and length are properties of the line. The width affects the visual weight, while the length suggests direction or movement.
What are implied lines in graphic design?
Implied lines are created by different elements, such as shapes in a sequence or negative space in between shapes. They can lead the eye just as effectively as physical lines.
What are diagonal lines used for in graphic design?
You can use diagonals for different purposes. They can suggest movement and action, but they also convey tension and instability. They’re often used to give a sense of depth and perspective. Lastly, they can also guide the eye in a specific direction.
