Elements of

Clean Design

What is Clean Design?

Definition

• A clean design is one that supports visual thinking so

people can meet their informational needs with a

minimum of conscious effort.

Informational Needs

Make it Easier to

Find Information

1. Deciding relevance. Do I even care?

2. Getting an overview. What are the main ideas? What's

most important?

3. Basic comprehension. What text explains this chart?

4. Retrieving buried details. I remember something

about an orangutan... where was that?

5. Finding actionable details. How do I get in touch?

In the Real World…

1. What's this brochure about? Hm... looks like it's about phrenology. I need a phrenologist!

2. What services do they provide? Are they certified? Are they local? Huh. I dunno.

3. How do I get in touch? There’s no number. I’ll Google it later.

4. (Later, at home) Now what was I going to Google?

Use Sizing

What are the Size Differences?

Use Size Consistently

Identify the roles of your

visual elements.

Size elements consistently.

Provide strong contrast

between elements with

different roles.

Use Grid Structure

Grids = Happy Reader

Use Headings & Lists

Headings

Lists

Which one do you want to read?

Proximity & Grouping

Kitten Madness

The Takeaway

Place related

items close to

each other.

Make sure the

grouping is

obvious.

Whitespace is

your friend.

Alignment

What’s the Difference?

Which is easiest and most attractive to read?

Alignment is Awesome

• Avoid Slight

Misalignments

• Break Your Center

Alignment Habit

• Experiment With

Contrasting Alignments

Eliminate!

Get Rid of Junk

Now, Analyze Yours!

• What are the informational needs?

• Sizing

• Grid Structure

• Headings & Lists

• Proximity and Grouping

• Alignment

• Elimate!