Lines - Lines are the most basic of the design elements. Lines can be straight, curved, thick, thin, solid and not- solid. They are used to connect two points, separate sections of a design or focus the user's eye on an element. A jagged line conveys emotion, a line that ends in arrow forces the viewer's eye to look in a specific direction. A line that meanders among several elements guides the viewer from one element to the next and on to the next.
Shapes - The basic geometric shapes are squares, circles, and triangles. They are used as boxes or borders on a design or as solid shapes for decorative purposes. Shapes are also icons, symbols, and dingbats. Shapes add interest to a design.
Texture - Visual texture is created with certain graphics techniques to draw attention to an element on a page or to serve as a background on a web design. Texture increases the overall visual appearance and draws attention. Texture can be added to a type, images, and other elements.
Color - Color is an obvious element that is used to attract attention and to represent emotion and mood. Red presents strength, anger or passion, for example, while blue invokes peace and security.