Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Revision Layout A few basic concepts here: –Balance –Contrast –Unity –Proportion –White space Balance Equal layout to each side of the design
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Layout
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Layout Contrast is also used in layout. Juxtaposition of objects, text, logos orientation and size
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Unity Golden Rectangle, golden section, rule of thirds Said to naturally achieve order, proportion and aesthetic beauty
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Proportion Obviously this relates directly to golden section Harmony in design is important White space – the area around objects to allow them to breathe metaphorically obviously! White space does not have to be white Remember the site we looked at in the first week?
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Consistency and Usability This relates to how we read a document, aiding the speed and accuracy information is digested –Text left to right –Title always at the top in bold 12 points –Page numbers always bottom right Consistency should be invisible but expected (examples of consistency) The BBC website is a good example of consistency
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Consistency and Usability
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Consistency and Usability These lack consistency No formal layout No standard page Change in colour Changing typeface No branding
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Usability Usability is a quality attribute that assesses how easy the interface is to use The word usability also refers to methods used to improve ease of use in the design process –Learnability: Ease to accomplish basic tasks at first time viewing Efficiency: Once the design is learnt, how quickly can they perform tasks? –Memorability: On return after a period how easily can they re- establish proficiency? –Errors: How severe and how often? –Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Semiotics Semiotics – the study of signs –Taken from the Greek word for sign – Sema What do we mean by Sign?
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Semiotics Signs are everywhere and help us read messages when there isn’t time to actually read reams of text. –Road signs are the obvious example Semiotics therefore is the study of visual signs –This is true but it is also the understanding of: Drawings Painting Photography Words Sounds – onomatopoeia for example Body language
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Semiotics At semiotics lies sign. –We use sign and signification of object in 3 ways: Icon Index symbol
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Semiotics Icon – a sign that stands for an object by resembling it, not just visibly but by any means We use icons heavily in multimedia in this way Indexes – refer to their objects by relation or linkage between sign and object Indirect like smoke to signify fire Symbols – objects by virtue of law Direct in the example of text meaning the thing it represents like ‘dog’ allows us to visualise just that.
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Semiotics Our natural inbuilt humanity allows us the ability to read this meaning without the need in many cases to have the experience of the object itself Semiotics is controlled/nurtured by culture manipulated by: Religion Government Education etc This is so natural that we only really notice its existence when we travel to a different country
Copyright © 2003/4 Bolton Institute Icons, Picons & Micons We use 3 different methods in multimedia based semiotics: –Icons – representing an idea or area symbolically –Picons – take this further and make a clearer –Representation of this mostly through photography –Micons – move into animation (animated gifs, flash etc)