Basic Design Principles

1. Basic Design Principles Gaining Attention and Delivering a Message by Mr. Tim Hixson Computer Applications

2. What a mess!

3. Four Elements of Good Design • Good color contrast to allow the message to be seen • Readable fonts to communicate the message clearly • Use Pictures to enhance the message • Arranging contents to draw more attention to the message

4. Color Contrast • Contrast is the effect of having colors that are different enough to stand out against each other. • In the example, the black text on the dark blue background is harder to read

5. Color Contrast • Bad contrast • Good contrast Can you read this? You can read this!

6. Better Use of Contrast

7. Font Selection • Consider the appropriate size font • Use Sans-Serif fonts for better readability • Limit yourself to two different fonts to avoid distractions and clutter (maybe three on a larger work) Hello Hello serifs sans-serif

8. Better Use of Fonts

9. Use of Pictures • Use pictures that directly relate to the message • Avoid using too many pictures • Use pictures that have a similar style and coloring

10. Better Use of Pictures

11. Content Placement Look at the box. When I show the numbers, which one do you notice first? 3 5 This is commonly called the Rule of Thirds. 2 8 6 1 4 7 9

12. Better Use of the Rule of Thirds

13. Good Example – Poster Melissa Logies – Class of 2010

14. Good Example – Poster Caleb Venman – Class of 2010

15. Good Example – Scrap Book Cheryl Ginsburg – Class of 2009

16. Good Examples – Business Cards Amy Hart – Class of 2010 Becky Yager – Class of 2009 John Wiser – Class of 2009 Chris Stathopoulos– Class of 2010

17. Basic Design Principles Gaining Attention and Delivering a Message by Mr. Tim Hixson Computer Applications