Its a Blank Slate
When you're starting a new design, no matter what your design methodology is, you start with a blank page. There is nothing on the Web page - so the first thing you'll do is put something up on the page.
But do you think about the placement of those elements or do you just throw them onto the page willy nilly? Good designers don't allow the position and placement of their designs to occur randomly. They think about:
- what the element is
- how the element relates to the page goals
- where the element fits with the other elements on the page
Notice how the page is split with graphic design and a bold heading, with 3 sections balanced underneath. The color is bold over a black background which creates a focal point and ease of reading.
Where you Place Your Elements Can Make a Difference
As they say in real estate, there are three important rules: "Location. Location. Location." If the Mona Lisa were stored in my aunt's garage, it wouldn't have the effect on people that it does hanging in the Louvre. It's still the same painting, but if it were sitting next to cans of old paint, a dirty lawn mower, and a dust covered junker car it takes on the aspect of its surroundings.
Notice, on this design, the title is superimposed over the design. It's very effective.
Where are the Other Elements on the Page
In some ways this appears to be the most obvious part of design - after all if you already have a logo in the upper left, you're not going to place content on top of it. But you also need to think about the context of your positions. Placing an ad block in the middle of a text block implies a sense of connection between the two elements. Placing a horizontal line after a headline or by-line can create a sense of disconnect between the title or by-line and the content.
In some ways this appears to be the most obvious part of design - after all if you already have a logo in the upper left, you're not going to place content on top of it. But you also need to think about the context of your positions. Placing an ad block in the middle of a text block implies a sense of connection between the two elements. Placing a horizontal line after a headline or by-line can create a sense of disconnect between the title or by-line and the content.
In this design the page is split in half with the balance created by the title and the graphic. The colors are repeated in the swim suits and the bottom section of information. The choice of a beach background cohesively brings it all together. The header and footer are connected by the colors, the design and the horizontal blocking that repeats the beach scene.
Variety is the Spice of Life
One of the easiest design techniques is to center elements on the page. And many beginning designers start with that as their goal - all their design elements start in the middle, usually horizontally, but sometimes vertically as well. Centering appeals to many people because it's easy. You know you've "done it right" because half the page elements are on one side of the screen and the other half is on the other.
The page is divided into 9 sections. They are centered with the title superimposed over the middle section.
The page is divided in half with text on the left balanced with graphics on the right
Find the Points of Interest on Your Page
Points of interest are the focal points of a design - the places where your eye is drawn to. By changing the spacing around those points of interest you can affect how those items are viewed on the page.
The points of interest are the people. They balance each other by top and bottom placement as well as left and right.
The checkerboard effect with color and text and graphics is effective and interesting.
The organic effect of apples centered with the title superimposed on a plain white bowl creates a beautiful thing!
The centered image of the face with graphics on either side balances the page. The color on the left of the face creates interest.
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