Proximity

Proximity

• Group related items together• Unrelated items should not be in close

proximity• This gives viewers instant organizational cues

How does the one on the left change how you view the list?

Common Business Card

Common Business Card

Compare to this one

What relationships does proximity imply?

How do the relationships change?

How can we fix this list?

Does this make more sense?

What are some issues with this flyer?

How many Concerts are in the Series?

What do you assume about the concerts?

Can you tell when and where the sale is happening?

How about now?

Which items should be grouped together?

A much cleaner look

Are all links equal?

Proximity

• When items are in close proximity, they are grouped together and become a visual unit.

• Items related to each other should be grouped together

• Be aware of how your eyes move around the page

Why worry about proximity?

• Basic purpose is to organize• Close proximity implies related information• If information is organized, it is more likely to

be read and remembered

What to Avoid (as in Don’t do them)

• Too many separate elements on a page• Sticking things in the corners and middle• Leave equal amount of white space between

elements• Creating relationships with elements that

don’t belong together

Proximity Assignment• Use white 9" x 12" paper as the foundation for your design.• Design it in landscape format: with the 12" edge going left-to-right and the 9" edge

going top-to-bottom.• You can use any of the available materials to complete your ad: markers, colored pencils,

crayons, rulers, compasses, colored paper, scissors, glue. Do not cut pictures from magazines.

• Start your design in pencil so you can make adjustments before you finalize your design.• Write the word PROXIMITY in letters at least two inches high somewhere on your poster,

so they can be read across the room.• The rest of your poster must be arranged like this:• FIVE identical shapes/images which are close to each other.• THREE identical shapes/images which are close to each other and different from the five

mentioned above.• Make it colorful.• Make it neatly. Take your time.