With the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens only a matter of weeks away, fans are turning back to the original Star Wars trilogy in preparation.
What is it about Star Wars that makes it such a force to be reckoned with?
In a 1987 article celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Star Wars, George Lucas boldly stated, "A film is not about technique. It's about ideas."
But while ideas are what hold a film together at its core, the design techniques used to deliver those ideas have a profound effect on viewer experience. When Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) first hit theatres in 1977, it broke box office records, grossing $220 million during its initial theatrical run ($859 million with inflation). People flocked to theatres to see the visually stunning film. Critics compared it to 2001: A Space Odyssey in terms of its groundbreaking special effects.
That being said, the flashy special effects aren't the only reason why the film was so successful. Undeniably, what has made A New Hope and its two sequels stand the test of time are its effortlessly fun and engaging story. What facilitates a timeless visual story? Some very basic principles of design.
A good film should not only dazzle viewers with its effects, but should also facilitate the storytelling through its seamless design and editing. The same goes for static visual storytelling, like in print design and infographics.
In honor of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we went back to the original Star Wars trilogy to take a closer look at how the films employed fundamental principles of design to tell some of film history's most beloved stories.
Here are 7 design principles from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
An extended version of this post originally appeared on the Venngage blog