General principles of publication design Magazine Design and Production COMM 3003

Credit where credit is due … Robin Williams Susan Hilligoss Susan Hilligoss and Tharon Howard

General princi pl es of publication design Publication Design: SimplicityConsistencyCreativitySymmetry 1.62 Divine Proportion

Four concepts ContrastAlignmentRepetitionProximity

Proximity “Proximity, or closeness, implies a relationship.”

Proximity Key idea: “Group related items together”

Proximity All examples from The Non-Designer’s Design Book Problem: Reader’s eye must bounce all around card to obtain information

Proximity Solution: Solution: Group together related elements Group together related elements

Proximity Problems:  The two items in top left are in close proximity but not related  Gaps separate related items

Proximity Sol ut ion: Regroup information Change to caps/lowercase Use squared edges Let image break out of box

Proximity Problem: Everything is close to everything else

Proximity Solution: Contents are grouped Contrast is added with headlines/rules

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

Alignment  No element has any connection to the others.  Elements aligned

Alignment

Alignment

Alignment Trapped white space pushes elements apart

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

Repetition Key idea: “Repeat some aspect of the design throughout the entire piece.”

Repetition When you get to the end of the information, does your eye just wander off the card?

Repetition Repeated bold type encourages reader to “bounce” between the two dominant typefaces

Contrast Problem:  What is the focus? Border? Eagles? Type?

Contrast Solution:  Contrast  Alignment  Repetition  Proximity

Solution:  Contrast  Alignment  Repetition  Proximity

Solution:  Contrast  Alignment  Repetition  Proximity

Solution:  Contrast  Alignment  Repetition  Proximity

Solution:  Contrast  Alignment  Repetition  Proximity

Solution:  Contrast  Alignment  Repetition  Proximity

Solution:  Contrast  Alignment  Repetition  Proximity