One of the key approaches to achieving layout nirvana is a clear sense of structure and hierarchy.
When preparing any article or arranging any type of information is to keep structure in mind. The headers will be the first piece of content displayed followed by the actual content of the paragraph.
Finally, the use of scale can be a very effective method for achieving a good visual balance in your layout. By making some elements larger than others, a sense of order and hierarchy will emerge. This helps create a comfortable layout because the viewer will automatically look at the larger elements within the layout first, progressing through to the smaller elements as they read.
One of the most basic approaches when preparing an article or arranging any type of information is to keep sizing in mind. The title or logo will typically be the most stand out piece on the page and the headers under that, followed by the actual content of the paragraph.
Look at the different elements that make up your page and decide which is the most important. Use this element to provide a structural hook for the remaining elements on the page,
The question of what is most important should always be in the back of your mind when you are using any element of the designing process.
repetition can provide a strong sense of connected design and balance to a composition.
The more someone sees an image or important date or address, the more it gets embedded into their memory. This is why you should take not of the focal points and play both of these components with each other.
It's common for novice designers to make use of every single bit of space on a page, stuffing in content until every gap has been filled. The more experienced know that sometimes the best bit of design involves leaving elements out, rather than shoehorning them in.
As one grows as a designer, they may learn that some things are better left unsaid or not displayed. By cutting down content and images, it could actually give the reader more insight.
Put simply, the rule of thirds says that if you divide your page into thirds both vertically and horizontally, the points at which the grid lines intersect provide the natural focal points of a composition.
This is a new, interesting concept that I knew nothing about before reading this article, but I will definitely be applying this to the project for this class as well as other projects. These major focal points should be used to the most information or images or whatever it is you want to catch the readers' eye upon first glance.
One of the most effective ways to provide a sense of balance is to choose a single focal point for your layout. A good example of this in practice is the use of a large image as the biggest single element on a page.A strong visual can provide a powerful way to lead the reader into your page, and also supplies a useful structural element around which to arrange the remaining content in your layout.
This was a problem we faced with the original layout of CCi's website. For users who wanted to visit the site, it would have been better for them to first see the logo or brand of the CCI before anything else.
By using a grid to inform the position of different elements on a page, you'll create a connection between the different elements that make up your page.
As stated in the article, this is probably the simplest way to improve a page. Just by simply aligning your information and content, it can be more appealing to the reader.
A good page composition should be both pleasing to the eye, but also communicate those key messages clearly to the intended audience.
This is the most important components of the page. And once a designer finds balance within design and content, the best end result will be the outcome.
While this can lead to some excellent happy accidents, there is a risk that using a free-form methodology can result in a lack of visual balance on the page.
If a layout is too free form, the content can get too jumbled. And whereas the goal may have been to have a laid back easy display, too free may give a reader an opposite effect.
The primary objective of any page you design, whether it's for a printed brochure or the latest web app, is to communicate information clearly and effectively to the reader. One of the best ways to ensure that the key messages are delivered to the reader is to create a balanced layout.
This is very important and related to my assignment for the service learning project. In comparing the old newsletter to the one I am creating with my group, I realize that the layout is just as important as the content.