Graphic Design:the fun part

Sheila PotterScott Olszowiec

DigitalImagesDigitalImages

The plan: housekeeping activity design principles (if we have time): web examples activity

P:/AITT/teacher training/Clarica Scholars1/CD/…

/Presentations and Resources/graphic design workshop/graphic_design.htm

a hierarchy is a “visual path” establishes the relative importance and

sequence of information

use various font sizes, colours and weights for contrast

similar “chunks” of information together separate unrelated items with more

white space

Hierarchy: Organize Your Information

Fonts: 2 broad categories

what is a serif? Times New Roman has serifs Arial doesn’t

Serif fonts lead the eye horizontally, and may therefore be preferable for large blocks of text, whereas sans-serif fonts are simpler, lead the eye up and down, and are more easily read from a distance.

Serif fonts lead the eye horizontally, and may therefore be preferable for large blocks of text, whereas sans-serif fonts are simpler, lead the eye up and down, and more easily read at a distance.

Font-fest

some fonts are fun some are friendly some are more serious some are dignified…others are more artistic than

legible

Fonts have personality, and convey an impression which should be consistent with the meaning of the words themselves.

Fonts have personality, and convey an impression which should be consistent with the meaning of the words themselves.

What’s your favourite colour?

usually, complimenatrycolours are a safe bet,

but not always

for example, more peoplePREFER BLUEPREFER BLUE which therefore has broad appeal, but

also tends to be serious, corporate, and cool.

IBM warmer colours tend to draw the eye,

and can overwhelm a design for example, red used a lot is hard on

the eyes, but as a highlight, it can help establish hierarchy

Powerful colour…

whatever colour you choose, consider leaving

lots of white space…

…Instead of using a busy background image

Balance

Balance in design is the overall unity and visual weight that is created when all the elements are in place. whole design will become unified two basic types of balance:

symmetrical asymmetrical

Symmetrical Balance

Asymmetrical Balance

Off Balance

In an ‘unbalanced ’ layout,

« …the eye is confused. It shifts from element to element, wanting to move things so that they sit right on the page, as we want to straighten a picture hanging crooked on a wall. » Toward a Dynamic Balance.

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