Key Terms
Contrast: use separation for unlike elements (bold, whiting, line thickness, sizes)
Repetition: repeating aspects of design (Titles, 36 pts, underlining, hyperlink, shapes)
Alignment: justifying to emphasize key points (left, right, center, top, bottom, flush – text to picture)
Proximity: limit and separate unlike elements (separate elements with white space, lines, colors). put everything that is alike together
Brief Summary
Contrasting elements will help the reader figure out which page elements are related and which are separate. Good contrast separates main elements on a page and allows readers not to be distracted by similar elements on other sections. Don’t be afraid to make things dramatically different. The repeating nature of weblog entries down a page let’s you control how the user’s eye is guided down the layout of your site, and the correct spacing and design is crucial or else entries will cram into each other, users won’t be able to find key elements, or readers won’t be able to read and comprehend your writing as well as they should. Repetition reinforces meaning to users and organizes information in a cohesive manner. This allows for visual consistency. Quality alignment and spacing is important in a layout design. Use left or right alignments, center the headings of pages but not the body, and use hard edges to line up all other elements. Proximity allows similar information to be grouped together to form a cohesive whole. Shows which page elements are group together and which are separate.
Connections to Course Outcomes
C.R.A.P. relates to the course outcomes because the visual appeal of a webpage/blog/etc. plays a large role in the effectiveness of digital writing. We wouldn’t be so drawn to sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr if it weren’t for the way they use contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity to draw us in. These sites are very effective in gaining their audience’s attention and keeping it.
Works Cited
Barryrunner. (2007, November 29). C.R.A.P. – Basic Layout and Design Principles for Webpages. Retrieved September 24, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_mWi6r-9I