The document discusses four principles of page design: proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast. Proximity involves grouping related visual elements close together to create logical organization. Alignment connects all elements visually, even if far apart physically. Repetition of elements throughout a design adds unity. Contrast makes differences between elements very noticeable to increase visual interest. Examples are provided to illustrate how to apply each principle effectively in page layouts.

1. Graphic Design
Basics
Four principles that govern page design

2. FOUR PRINCIPLES OF PAGE DESIGN
•PROXIMITY
•ALINGMENT
•REPETITION
•CONTRAST

3. PROXIMITY
• When several items are close to each other they
become one visual unit
• Be aware of what path the eye follows
• You should be able to create a logical progression
from beginning to end
• The basic purpose of proximity is to organize.
• Organized information is more likely to be read
and remembered

4. How to create Proximity
• Squint
o Count the number of visual elements by
the number of times your eye stops
when reading.
• If you have more than 5 elements,
see which ones can be grouped to
make one unit.

5. Avoid
• Too many elements
• Sticking stuff in the corners and the
middle
• Leaving equal amounts of white
space between elements.
• Creating relationships with elements
that don’t belong together

6. Examples

7. Example

8. ALIGNMENT
• Every Element should have some
visual connection with another
element on the page
• The basic purpose is to unify and
organize the page
• Even if the separate elements are
not physically close on the page,
they can appear connected.

9. How to Create Alignment
• Be conscious of where elements are
placed.
• Always find something else on the
page to align with, even if they are
far away from each other on the
page.
o Find a strong line and use it, such as a
photo or graphic.
• Use one text alignment for the
whole page, all left, center or right.
Never mix.

10. Alignment problems to avoid
• Avoid using more than one text
alignment on the page (don’t center
some and right-align other texts)
• Try hard to break away from a
centered alignment unless your are
trying to create a more formal
presentation

11. Alignment Example

12. REPITITION
• Repetition of visual elements
throughout the design unifies a
piece by tying together
otherwise separate parts.
• The purpose of repetition is to
unify and to add visual interest

13. How to create repetition
• Be consistent
• Find repeated elements such as lines
or boxes and make them stronger &
more dramatic
• Add repeating elements such as
numbered lists.
• Use contrast to accent repetitions.

14. Avoid
• Repeating too much
o Having every 3rd item in bold type will
be distracting and boring.

15. CONTRAST
• In order for contrast to work it must
be strong.
• Don’t Be A Wimp. If two items are not
exactly the same, then make them
different. REALLY DIFFERENT.
• Contrast adds interest to the page.

16. CREATING CONTRAST
• Add contrast with typeface choices,
line thicknesses, colors, shapes,
sizes, and space.
• Make it strong, make it noticeable.
• Avoid using two or more typefaces
that are similar.
• If items are not exactly the same,
make them different.

17. CONTRAST EXAMPLE

18. Assignment: Graphic Design
o Create a Poster to Illustrate each
of the 4 Principles: Contrast,
Repetition, Alignment, and
Proximity
o Set Your image size to
8.25"x10.25" at 300 ppi.
o You may use text, shapes, images
& fonts to illustrate your
understanding of each principle.