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Layout and Page Design Fundamentals

The document discusses layout and page design fundamentals. It outlines the golden rules of design which include designing for clients, being creative, finding clear and universal designs, keeping things simple, and designing comprehensively. It also discusses the layout process and defines steps like fixing the page format, creating the document, and making final corrections. Additionally, it explains the golden section and harmonious page formats using ratios and the Fibonacci series to ensure correct composition. Finally, it discusses the design grid as a system to organize elements and align them consistently within the page.

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214 views7 pages

Layout and Page Design Fundamentals

The document discusses layout and page design fundamentals. It outlines the golden rules of design which include designing for clients, being creative, finding clear and universal designs, keeping things simple, and designing comprehensively. It also discusses the layout process and defines steps like fixing the page format, creating the document, and making final corrections. Additionally, it explains the golden section and harmonious page formats using ratios and the Fibonacci series to ensure correct composition. Finally, it discusses the design grid as a system to organize elements and align them consistently within the page.

Uploaded by

clara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Layout and Page Design Fundamentals

Golden Rules of Design:


1. Design is a service. Work and design to address clients and target groups.
2. Be creative, look for new solutions and ways of thinking.
3. Find clear and universal design, stick to visual constants to raise the perception value
(identity, recognisability, trust).
4. Keep it short and simple: reduce and simplify to achieve an efficient effect.
5. Design comprehensively, credibly and appropriately.

Layout Process:
1. Fixing the page format (size)
2. Creating the document
3. Defining the type area
4. Fixing the design grid with text and stylistic elements
5. Make-up and final corrections

The Golden Section and harmonious page formats:


The Golden Section is an aesthetically pleasing division of space that is often used by artists as the
basis for measurements within their composition.

The Golden Section is a ratio which is evident throughout the universe as the number Phi and is also
related to Fibonacci Series. You can use this ratio to good effect in design by making sure that
elements of your grid conform to this ratio. Using the Golden Section can ensure a natural sense of
correct composition, even though it is based in mathematics it will ‘feel’ right.

A spiral growing out of squares sized according to


Fibonacci Series (0+1=1; 1+1=2; 1+2=3; 2+3=5; 3+5=8; etc). This spiral can be found in nature, art,
design and architecture.
To create a Golden Section Ruler:
1. Create a new document in InDesign with page measurements 13″ x 0.25″ and margins set to
“0”
2. Draw a rectangle measuring 0.25″ x 8″ and another one measuring 0.25″ x 5″. Fill them with
different colors.
3. Export as EPS file (Encapsulated PostScript) which will make resizing of the ruler easy and
independent of resolution.
4. You can then place this file in any InDesign document and use to find Golden Sections for
your layout.

Using GS ruler for starting a grid

Golden Section at work (left page of the spread)


 

The Design Grid:


A construction grid that helps to organize a design area. The design grid makes it easier to design
clearly, consistently and with continuity. It is a system of guidelines, borders (margins), and columns
into which elements are placed and to which they are aligned. Before document layout begins
following design elements should be established:

1. Format (size of the finished project)


2. Type area and margins
3. Columns (column width, column spacing, column height)
4. Basic typeface and point sizes (number of character in a column)
5. Column spacing (number of lines in a column)
6. Dividing the column into grid fields
7. Margin types
8. Pagination (number of pages in the document)
9. Color scheme

There are a variety of design grids available decision on which one to use depends on your
publication’s needs. One of the most effective principles in grid design is called the Rule of Thirds,
also known as the golden grid rule. The Rule of Thirds is a technique which is applied by dividing a
space into thirds, both vertically and horizontally, creating a grid of rectangles. It’s a good place to
start

Rules of Thirds grid with no gutter between the guides.


 
Example of a page using Rules of Thirds grid.
Using this grid as a base, you can fine-tune it further by introducing columns and using the Golden
Section rules introduce other elements such as header, footer or sidebar elements.

Hierarchic grid structure - columns of different widths defined


for specific kind of content.

Examples:
 

Examples of different layouts using various grids:


 Heroes and Villains book by Fontana Studios
 Watt magazine
 Electronic Beats Magazine
 Wave Magazine

Read more about grid systems here


THE RULES OF DESKTOP PUBLISHING AND DESIGN

 Use Only One Space After Punctuation. One space at the end of a


sentence is the proper choice for typeset material. This is because if you use
two spaces, which is standard when typing a letter, the digital line of type
may break between the two spaces and throw off the alignment.

 Don't Use Double-Hard Returns After Paragraphs. With modern


word processors and page layout applications, it is possible to precisely
control the amount of space between paragraphs. Skipping a line isn't
necessary and it usually adds too much space to a layout.
 Use Fewer Fonts. A generally accepted practice is to limit the number of
different typefaces to three or four.
 Use Ragged-Right or Fully Justified Text Appropriately . If a client
insists that fully justified text is better than left-aligned text, convince them
they are wrong. Unless you are working with narrow columns in a
newspaper or newsletter format, just go with left-aligned text. That way
you don't end up with lines with extra white space placed between words
and individual letters by the software as it attempts to make every line
exactly the same length.
 Use Centered Text Sparingly. When in doubt, don't center it. Of
course, there are occasions when doing anything other than centered
would look funny, such as on most traditional invitations.

 Balance Line Length With Type Size. If the desired size of type and
the line length used in the page layout are incompatible, one of them needs
to change. Don't use your largest type on your shortest line.
 Use All Caps Sparingly and Only With the Right Fonts . In print
and on the web, shouting is never worse than when it is done with all-
capped decorative or script typefaces. Even if you use a traditional font,
reading all caps is more difficult than reading uppercase and lowercase
text.

 Use Frames, Boxes and Borders With a Purpose. A frame loses its


ability to emphasize blocks of text if every other block on the page is boxed.
Use the elements sparingly to be effective.
 Use Less Clip Art. Use clip art with moderation and with purpose. Using
a lot of clip art can look dated.
 Use More White Space. White space provides visual breathing room for
the eye. It is a classic design element. When used properly, white space
guides the reader's eyes when you want them to go.
 Know Your Audience. Design for the people you are trying to reach. If
you edit a publication for seniors, don't use tiny type. If your audience
consists of photographers, use only the best images.

These rules are guidelines. In most cases, they help you improve your documents.
However, don't feel you have to follow them blindly. Sometimes a departure from
these guidelines is productive, but it should be deliberate.

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