12 Matching Annotations
  1. Dec 2016
    1. 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.

      Conveying the big picture is always important. While all the elements may connect, the big picture may say it all in one. This idea too, helps the designer control the end users focus. I also like the idea of harmony mentioned, while making small elements zoom into the large picture. This can be helpful in puzzled pictures, or connecting wardrobe for clothing stores, and much more.

    2. One of the key approaches to achieving layout nirvana is a clear sense of structure and hierarchy. We've already touched on structure, but it's important to also convey the relative importance of different pieces of content on your page. A headline, for example, should almost always be more visually important than paragraph content.

      Hierarchy is very important. A title grabs attention, so it should generally be more visible, with a bigger and bolder font. A title gives important to messages. The more important titles should be bigger and bolder , and the subtitles are generally less bigger and bolder. For example, this is why the front page news title is usually the biggest and boldest than all the other titles on the paper.

    3. In the printed medium, the most common way to make use of white space is by enlarging the page margins and gutters. On the web, simply providing plenty of breathing room around elements can help make the layout feel composed and balanced. Using negative space works best when you have a clear structure that anchors content together (such as that provided by a grid), as the risk of white space can be a sense of disconnection between page elements if introduced haphazardly.

      Reitterating the fact that white space can be very unattractive, using the white space in a structured manner helps. By adding structure to white space, it helps group content better, but this can be very tricky if you are new to designing. Making sure page margins, and breaks are consistent helps in appearance, and conveying of importance. This maybe why 1 inch margins are formal in writing college papers. Hint. Hint.

    4. 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 too agree with this statement. I do not like adding too much content to fill white space. Although white space is very unattractive adding too much content to the white space can create a disarray for the reader. Adding much to white space can cause complex to reading and navigating on the website for the end user.

    5. A good page composition should be both pleasing to the eye, but also communicate those key messages clearly to the intended audience.

      This is basic elements that exist in may other subjects. A professor may not even read your work if it does not appear neat, a job application may not even be considered just because it wasn't neat. Neatness brings attraction, and appeals to persons better.

    6. In itself the rule of thirds won't magically provide your layout with balance, but by extending the principle it's easy to use this tendency towards a natural focal point to help inform the balance of your layout. A common approach is to place the most important elements of your page in the upper (or lower) third of the page, with the primary focal point aligned to match one of the intersections.

      I really like this tip !!! This tip helps you balance out how you would like the reader to respond to certain things. In addition, it also gives the designer a basic set up, of how to convey the most important elements of their site. Appealing to the audience, and getting them to focus on what you want can help businesses push new items, or grab attention to the most important news.

    7. 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. 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!

      An important note to take!!! While grids create structure and ensure neatness, they help end users relate and connect content better. Grids help the visual learner, putting things in order, and position.

    8. 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.

      Creating a strong visual was one of the very first objectives we faced in working in designing the GCCA website. The GCCA website lacked a lot of visual with repeatative content all on different pages. Not only are visuals important but they also give the reader a reference to material that is on the web page. The visual gives importance to the content expressed. The quality of pictures, also express the importance of the content.

    9. One of the easiest ways to ensure your page has a degree of balance is to use a grid system. Grids used to be the sole preserve of the printed page, but much work has been completed online in the past few years to help migrate the concept of the grid across to the digital medium.

      Grids are certainly helpful when it comes to balancing pages. Grids give a numerical layout on where things are landed at on a webpage. Grids offer proper aligns and ensure neatness that makes it better for the end user.

    10. 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.

      This too, is something I also learned working with designing the new GCCA website. Trial and error were main steps that were taken for this project.I too, do not encourage free form methodology. Templates and computer based designs work well as they are prefixed in design and structure.

    11. 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.

      Reitterating the idea of neatness and appearance of website design lays a foundation for website designers. Creating balanced pages helps users navigate and implore websites better. Balancing pages is top priority for website appearance, when you balance pages content is better grasped and noticed.

    12. Whether you’re designing a page for print, or a website, there are some common principles you can apply to ensure balance.

      Workig with the GCCA website this was a very important element for designing a website. Making sure that the pictures are aligned, same size, and of the same good quality are surely important. Principles for laying a website gives the basic foundations. Surely, some individuals freestyle when it come to designing websites, however, when abiding by the principles of website design it makes readability easier for the audience/ end user.