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