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

Alignment… Proximity… Give every element a visual connection to another element. Items related to each other should be grouped close together. Principles of Design

"Alignment." About.com Principles of Design. Web. 20 Sep Alignment

Key idea: Nothing should be placed on the page arbitrarily. Every item should have a visual connection with something else on the page.

Problem: No element has any connection to the others. Solution: Elements aligned Flushed right Nothing should be placed on the page arbitrarily ( randomly without thought) Alignment

When items are aligned on the page, it creates a strong cohesive unit, even if the two objects are physically far away from each other. Every item should have visual connection with something else on the page. Alignment

Text Alignment NEVER use more than one text alignment in a document. Avoid Centering when ever possible.

Centering can create: 1. a more formal look 2. a more sedate look 3. ordinary 4. dull Alignment

Use spaces between paragraphs instead of indenting NEVER do both! But, if you must indent then use an ……. Alignment

“em” – a space as wide as the point size of your type Alignment

Alignment unifies and organizes the page. “Find a strong line and use it.” Flush right type makes use of image’s border. Alignment

Avoid using more than one text alignment and center alignment. skills/images/module4/paragraph%20indents.jpg Alignment

Example

Basic Design Elements Packet 1.Complete your notes using this PowerPoint. 2.Look through the magazine and find an ad that demonstrates a good example of alignment. 3.Use your pen and show how each element is connected to another element by connecting them with dashed lines. Refer to the example on my website or look at the example on the next slide. 4.Sketch out your text using the Principle of Alignment in the top right quadrant of your sketch sheet. Do not draw any pictures or elements, only text.