Design and Layout
Making Things Look GoodMaking Things Look Good
Why Worry About Design?
Do you want to make your printed pages look better, but don’t know how?Can you tell that someone’s pages look better but don’t know why?Do you want people to read what you create?
So listen up!!!
Major Design Principles
Balance
Repetition
Alignment
Proximity
Contrast
Balance
Give equal weight to different elements on the page
Don’t make things lopsided, for example, all pictures at the bottom of the page and all copy at the top
RepetitionA.k.a.- Consistency
Repeat some aspect of design through the entire piece
The repeated element may be a typeface or set of typefaces, a certain line, a page format, etc.
Alignment
Nothing should be placed on the page at random.Every element on the page should have a visual connection with something else on the page.When items are aligned on the page, it creates a strong cohesive unit.
Which is the nicer business card?
Andy Dole
Geffen Records 35 Frog St.
Morrow, Ohio (513) 555-1313
Geffen Records
35 Frog St.Morrow, Ohio
Andy Dole
(513) 555-1313
Why? Alignment.
ProximityGroup related items together (move them physically close to each other).
The related items should be seen as one cohesive group rather than a bunch of unrelated bits.
Organize your page!
No order…
Grouped by Proximity
Contrast
Avoid elements on the page that are merely similar.
If the elements are not the same, then make them
very different
Common Design Pitfalls
Unbalanced shaded boxesWords on top of linesCentered pictures messing up word readabilityWeak, tiny headlinesUnaligned
Categories of Typeface
OldstyleSlab SerifSans SerifScriptDecorative
OldstyleBased on the handlettering of scribes
Good for extensive copy
Has slanted serifsSerif- extra line
Garamond
Palatino
Slab SerifClean, straightforward
Vertical and horizontal serifs
Very high readability
Good for extensive copy
Often used in children’s books
GeorgiaSylfaen
Sans SerifWithout serifs
Good for titles and headings
ArialComic Sans
Tahoma
ScriptAppears to be hand lettered
Use sparingly
Looks good Large
Monotype Corsiva
Decorative
Fun and distinctive
Use sparingly according to the occasion
The End