Basic Elements of Design

A summary of the book by Robin Williams “Non-Designer’s Design Book”

Principles of Design

Contrast

Repetition

Alignment

Proximity

If two things are not the same, make

them REALLY different.

Contrast

One of the most effective ways to add visual interest to your page is…

Key idea:

For contrast to be effective, make them different, really different.

Contrast is created when two elements are different.

Contrast

color

http://desktoppub.about.com/od/contrast/ss/contrast_5.htm

picture elements

http://www.palmer-photoart.com/img/KiwiContrast.jpg

You can create contrast through…Contrast

http://www.famefoundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Bad-MySpace-Design-620.jpg

Two items on the same page can not be similar.

Contrast

Our eyes like contrast. Make two elements on the page that are not the same, such as two typefaces or two line widths or two colors, very different.

Look at each of the three

versions:

How has the designer increased the contrast in the

text elements from version to version?

In the colors?

In the size of elements?

The graphics?

In the spatial relationships?

One purpose of contrast is to create an interest on the page.

Contrast

http://www.famefoundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Bad-MySpace-Design-620.jpg

One purpose of contrast is to aid in the organization of information.

Contrast

Bad contrast is just as bad as no contrast!

DDMPRocks!

This is hard on the eye making it difficult to stay on the page.

DDMPRocks!

Much better use of color to create good contrast.

Contrast