copyright © 2003/4 bolton institute revision layout a few basic concepts here: –balance...

Copyright © 200Copyright © 2003/43/4 Bolton Institute Bolton Institute

Revision Layout

• A few basic concepts here:– Balance– Contrast– Unity– Proportion– White space

Balance• Equal layout to each side of the design


Layout


Layout

• Contrast is also used in layout.• Juxtaposition of objects, text, logos orientation and

size


Unity

• Golden Rectangle, golden section, rule of thirds• Said to naturally achieve order, proportion and

aesthetic beauty

http://www.silverlight.co.uk/tutorials/compose_expose/thirds.html


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?


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



• These lack consistency • No formal layout• No standard page• Change in colour• Changing typeface• No branding


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?


Semiotics

• Semiotics – the study of signs– Taken from the Greek word for sign – Sema

• What do we mean by Sign?


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


Semiotics

• At semiotics lies sign.– We use sign and signification of object in 3

ways:• Icon• Index• symbol


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.


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


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)

copyright © 2003/4 bolton institute revision layout a few basic concepts here: –balance...

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