Page Design Principles

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Page Design Principles

• Balance, Emphasis, and Colour

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Balance

• Balance is the act of comparing or estimating two
  things, one against the other, and the contrast
  between
• Empty space (white space) and filled space
• Text and images
• Colour and no colours and different colours
• Textures against flat colours

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Balance in Page Composition

• Three different types of balance when laying out
  pages
• Symmetry
• Asymmetry
• Radial symmetry

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Symmetrical or Formal Balance

• You can usually identify at least one of three
  lines of symmetry.
• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Diagonal

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Symmetrical Balance
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Examples of Symmetrical Balance

• www.hyperlite.com/

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Examples of Asymmetrical Balance
www.boystownpediatrics.org/
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Examples of Radial Balance
www.disney.com/
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Emphasis

• Emphasis To express with particular stress or
  force
• What message is stressed in this slide?

10
Colour and Contrast

• Using colour can enhance or detract from a
  composition.www.lighthouse.org/color_contrast.htm
  
• Colour wheels help determine which colours are in
  greatest contrast.

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Colour Wheels

• Analogous colours are adjacent to each other on
  the colour wheel.
• Complementary colours are opposite each other on
  the colour wheel.

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Colour in Design

• Use colour to label or show hierarchy.
• Use colour to represent or imitate reality.
• Use colour to unify, separate, or emphasize.
• Use colour to decorate.
• Use colour consistently.

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Summary

• The basis of good page design is use of design
  elements and their thoughtful application in the
  form of design principles.
• Clearly identify what you are trying to
  accomplish use design to convey your message.
• Brainstorm alternatives.