- Dec 2016
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www.creativebloq.com www.creativebloq.com
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The idea is that by identifying and re-using a motif or design treatment throughout your layout, you can provide a reference for the reader so that disparate areas feel connected and part of the same overall composition.
This tip is useful because it says that it is okay to re-use design treatments, because it provides a reference for readers and makes the overall content fell connected.
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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.
I think the problem with for some beginner designers is that the try to stuff as much content as they can, which often leaves the website looking crowded. This tip is useful because it tells us that sometimes white space can be help make the layout balanced.
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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. By aligning your key elements to these four points, you'll achieve a more pleasing composition than if you, for example, perfectly centre elements on your page.
I like this tip because whenever I try to create a page layout, trying to find the right balance and focus is always a problem. With this tip I can create better focal points that will make the content more accessible to readers.
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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.
This reiterates the idea that balance is key to help you get started on your content.
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This can help provide a sense of order to your layout, providing the reader with a clear structural reference to fall back on. This is important because when all your page elements have a feeling of connectivity with each other, the overall effect feels more comfortable to the reader, helping to put them at ease, and facilitating their access to the important stuff: the content!
Grids are more useful for beginner designers, serving as a guide to help navigate the elements of your website, which will ultimately be easier for the reader to understand.
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A good page composition should be both pleasing to the eye, but also communicate those key messages clearly to the intended audience.
As we talked about throughout the semester, with tech writing, it is important to first know who your audience is in order to produce the appropriate content.
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Page layout typically involves a lot of placement, rearranging and formatting of elements. Many designers approach this process organically, feeling their way to a pleasing end result. 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.
I think this is how all page layout start. I remember when I started using tumblr, even myspace, it was a lot of trial and error to get the page layout I wanted. But with tech writing you have to remember that the end users needs are the goal.
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