Post on 19-May-2015
transcript
Principles of design, layout, and desktop publishing
Concepts that can increase quality, effect, & efficiency
you’re workingin the post-revolution era.
the “electronic publishing revolution” has made it both easier and harder for you to get your
message out.
example: http://www.hotbot.com
so, assume nobody’s interested.
in the information culture that we now live, why should anybody read your work?
learn to trick your audience into paying attention. treat your publication like any other presentation, e.g.: a
speech.
this is an absolutely key principle!
ask yourself ...
what’s your purpose?- what do you want your web to achieve? - determine this very early on in the planning stages of your design
to entertain to persuade to identify to inform to elicit a response to provide a reference ?
what’s your image?
formal, informal, friendly, playful, elegant, stylish, trendy, classic, adventurous, conservative, scholarly, provocative, diverse,
spirited, generous, concerned
the design of your pages will create an image, whether you like it or not
who’s your audience?
who do you want to experience your design? what are they like? what do they know already?
learn everything you can about your audience
remember corporate image
Mangadine Systems Where the future starts when it's good and ready
a good hammer does not equala nice birdhouse.
software is only a tool, and good design is not one of it’s default settings.
in other words ...
having the tools of a designer does not necessarily make you a designer.
example: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com
don’t forget your hats.
designer/producer writer editor artist typesetter technician
keep an extra set of eyes handy.
repetition gives cohesion.
a consistent “look and feel” shows
planning and professionalism
example: http://www.ccu.edu
variation gives interest.
small variations within your
scheme keep your audience
engaged
example: http://luke.ccu.edu
symmetry loses your attention
asymmetry holds your interest.
use the rule of thirds.(a design principle taken from photography, fine art, graphic design, et al)
keep the eye on the page.
Effect isa product of quality and culture.
You might also want to think of “effect” as
your audience’s experience
effect is the result ofunconscious assessment.
effect (or experience) is the bottom line.
Form has function
Details are important.They do contribute to the unconscious
assessment that is your audience’s experience.
"Details"
“Details”
Style means what?
Style means something.
Style means something.Style means something.
and very important to realize ...
fashion exists.
but, you must also remember …
… ultimately,content is as important as effect.
invention is …
the art of stealing creatively. electronic publishing is perhaps the easiest medium ever in which you can “steal” other
peoples ideas just be aware of copyright issues as you “create”
good design can be time-consuming, so ...
... “steal” from yourself to save time
example: http://www.netone.com/~wyllyamz
perfectionism wastes time.
most often it takes:• 20% of your time to do 80% of the job.• and 80% of your time to complete the final 20% of that job.
• another way to put this ...
perfectionism wastes time.
80% effort = 99% effect
Strive for excellence …not perfection.
Efficiency isa product of effort and effect.
ReaReaddthis.this.
Readthis.
less is more.
in designing a new "graphic piece," it is better in the opinion of most professional
layout artists — though there are a few examples that seem to demonstrate the
contrary — to use only a few elements and fonts than to use many different kinds. the
same is "true" for words.
example: http://www.netone.com/~wyllyamz/eMpTy/resume.html
In conclusion … Keep in mind the law of computer-user
inverse inefficiency:• A beginner wastes hours figuring out how to do
something that an experienced user could do in just a few seconds.
• An experienced user wastes hours designing a time-saving feature that will do something a beginner could do in just a few seconds more.
remember Hofstedder’s law.
“everything you do will take three times longer than you think it will, even when you take Hofstedder's law into account.”
technology is not only your friend, but also …
your enemy.
the computer can be a very distracting thing to complete your task, you must exercise discipline