One of the most important means of influencing visual quality, contrast is a key ingredient in instant impressions and long-term effect. This is achieved through juxtaposition: light/dark, warm/cool, smooth/textured, large/small, etc., creating contrast, which adds visual interest, and focuses attention and informs. A lack of contrast can result in dullness, ambiguity or inconsequence, whereas its proper application can elevate even the most mundane items. The ability to gauge when contrast is natural or artificial is a key aspect of refining one’s skills.
From the high contrast of Caravaggio’s paintings to the graphic contrasting colors of mid-century Swiss posters, contrast has always played a starring role in visual art. Examining these examples reminds us that contrast serves a purpose beyond mere aesthetics: it’s a tool for directing the viewer’s attention, for creating information hierarchies, and for inspiring an emotional reaction. In the case of the Renaissance masterworks, high contrast helped achieve a three-dimensional effect; in the graphic posters, contrasting size and color got the message across in the most efficient way possible. Looking to these historical examples can help remind us that contrast is not typically a happy accident: it requires designers to think intentionally about what they want to draw attention to — and what they want to de-emphasize.
Contrast is still the signifier of excellence in many aspects of modern visual design, including web design, fashion photography, and architectural city planning. High contrast in a well-designed website makes the site’s functions clear; low contrast in a poorly-designed website makes navigation difficult and confusing. Fashion editors often use contrast to add emotional depth to photographs. The most advanced artists, however, know how to use small contrast where big contrast might be overkill, and this is something that can only be learned through much practice and careful attention.
Learning to see and evaluate contrast involves making a game out of comparing similar subjects or graphics and determining which works better and why. Most of the time, the answer is because of stronger contrast: sharper lines, greater separation between colors, bolder use of size. This exercise helps you recognize when contrast is weak and less effective and when contrast is strong and more impactful. And it follows that once you can see and evaluate contrast, you’re going to do a better job of applying it, whether you’re picking out a new wardrobe, decorating a room, or designing an infographic.
Finally, contrast instructs us in the value of restraint. In design, more is not always better. To be refined, you don’t have to make a mess of black-on-whites. A little goes a long way. The most impactful effects are frequently achieved by using contrast subtly. You learn what you can bear, and then you learn to judge. It is the difference between competent observation and considered curation.
