Download - Elements of Clean Design
Elements of
Clean Design
What is Clean Design?
Definition
• A clean design is one that supports visual thinking so
people can meet their informational needs with a
minimum of conscious effort.
Informational Needs
Make it Easier to
Find Information
1. Deciding relevance. Do I even care?
2. Getting an overview. What are the main ideas? What's
most important?
3. Basic comprehension. What text explains this chart?
4. Retrieving buried details. I remember something
about an orangutan... where was that?
5. Finding actionable details. How do I get in touch?
In the Real World…
1. What's this brochure about? Hm... looks like it's about phrenology. I need a phrenologist!
2. What services do they provide? Are they certified? Are they local? Huh. I dunno.
3. How do I get in touch? There’s no number. I’ll Google it later.
4. (Later, at home) Now what was I going to Google?
Use Sizing
What are the Size Differences?
Use Size Consistently
Identify the roles of your
visual elements.
Size elements consistently.
Provide strong contrast
between elements with
different roles.
Use Grid Structure
Grids = Happy Reader
Use Headings & Lists
Headings
Lists
Which one do you want to read?
Proximity & Grouping
Kitten Madness
The Takeaway
Place related
items close to
each other.
Make sure the
grouping is
obvious.
Whitespace is
your friend.
Alignment
What’s the Difference?
Which is easiest and most attractive to read?
Alignment is Awesome
• Avoid Slight
Misalignments
• Break Your Center
Alignment Habit
• Experiment With
Contrasting Alignments
Eliminate!
Get Rid of Junk
Now, Analyze Yours!
• What are the informational needs?
• Sizing
• Grid Structure
• Headings & Lists
• Proximity and Grouping
• Alignment
• Elimate!