EffectiveGraphic Design

Adapted from

The Non-Designer’s Design Book

By Robin Williams

The Four Design Principles• Contrast

– If not the same, make them very different

• Alignment– All elements should have a visual connection

• Repetition– Repeat color, shape, texture, space

• Proximity– Group related items

Contrast• The principle of contrast states that if two

items are not exactly the same, then make them really different.

• Be BOLD!

How To Create Contrast

• Large type and small type (size)

• Thin line and thick line (weight)

• Combinations of fonts

• Color

Examples of Contrast

Contrast – What To Avoid• Don’t be a wimp – do it with strength.

Alignment• The principle of alignment states that

nothing should be placed on the page arbitrarily.

• Every item should have a visual connection with something else.

Alignment Styles

No Alignment

Acme Construction

Frank Garcia

(505) 123-4567

100 Rio Grande Road Red River, NM

Right Alignment

Acme ConstructionFrank Garcia

(505) 123-4567

100 Rio Grande RoadRed River, NM

Center Alignment

Acme Construction

Frank Garcia

(505) 123-4567

100 Rio Grande RoadRed River, NM

Alignment – What To Avoid• Avoid using more than one text alignment

on a page.– Don’t center some text and right align other

text.

• Break the center alignment habit.– Formal / sedate / dull.

Repetition• The principle of repetition states that you

repeat some aspect of the design throughout the entire piece.

• The repeated item could be a font, line, particular bullet, color, image, or format.

Repetition

Acme ConstructionFrank Garcia

(505) 123-4567

100 Rio Grande RoadRed River, NM

Repetition – What To Avoid

• Avoid repeating an element so much that it becomes annoying or distracting.

Proximity

• The principle of proximity states that you should group related items together

• Why?– To organize information– To lend visual appeal– To lead your eyes

No Proximity

Acme Construction

Frank Garcia

(505) 123-4567

100 Rio Grande Road Red River, NM

Proximity

Acme Construction

Frank Garcia

(505) 123-4567

100 Rio Grande RoadRed River, NM

Proximity – What To Avoid• Avoid too many separate elements on a

page.

• Avoid leaving equal amounts of white space between elements.

• Don’t create relationships between elements that don’t belong by placing them in proximity.

What Goes Around

Comes Around

Lessons from Hitchhiking

Across the country

Robin Williams

January 1, 2001

What Goes AroundComes AroundLessons from Hitchhiking

Across the country

Robin WilliamsJanuary 1, 2001

What Goes AroundComes Around

Lessons from Hitchhiking

Across the country

Robin WilliamsJanuary 1, 2001

What Goes AroundComes AroundLessons from Hitchhiking

Across the country

Robin Williams

What Goes AroundComes Around

Robin Williams

Around

Around

Lessonsfrom

hitch-hikingacross

the country

Font Style for Primary • Comic Sans is an effective font for

use with primary kids. Can you tell why?

• Look at the letter a. In most fonts, the letter a is not written in the form we teach kids in handwriting.

What design techniques?

Rule 166• When using presentation software:

– One main idea or concept• 6 points

• 6 words

ReferencesThe Non-Designer’s Design Book

By Robin Williams

CARP Website