For more resources, visit DigitalArtTeacher.com. There are four techniques that can be used to create an effective layout for any number of publications; posters, flyers, business cards, even websites! They may be called by the acronym: CRAP. Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity. Proximity deals with the physical closeness of different elements on the page.

1. PAGE LAYOUT TECHNIQUES
Proximity
Alignment
Repetition
Contrast

2. PAGE LAYOUT TECHNIQUES FOR A…
! Poster
! Business card
! T-shirt designs
! Flyers
! Invitations
! Websites
! …ANYTHING digital!

3. PROXIMITY
Group related items together

4. PHYSICAL CLOSENESS IMPLIES A RELATIONSHIP
! Science
! Math
! Reading
! English
! Fine Arts
! Graphic Arts
! Music
! Band
! Science
! Math
! Reading
! English
! Fine Arts
! Graphic Arts
! Music
! Band
Sample 1 Sample 2

5. BUSINESS CARD EXAMPLE

6. BUSINESS CARD (CONT.)
! How many separate
elements are there?
! Where do you begin
reading?
! What do you read next?
! What happens when you
reach the end? Where
does your eye go?

7. BUSINESS CARD EXAMPLE

8. BUSINESS CARD (CONT.)
! How many separate
elements are there?
! Where do you begin
reading?
! What do you read
next?
! Is there any confusion
as to where to start
and finish reading?

10. SMART GROUPING
Science
Anatomy
Biology
Chemistry
Art
Painting
Drawing
Sculpture
Math
Algebra
Geometry
Calculus
Sample 1 Sample 2
Science
Anatomy
Biology
Chemistry
Art
Painting
Drawing
Sculpture
Math
Algebra
Geometry
Calculus

11. FLYER EXAMPLE
! How many movies
are there?
! What is the name of
each movie?
! What day? Time?
! Where?
! WHAT’S GOING
ON?

12. FLYER EXAMPLE (CONT.)
! Proximity doesn't mean that everything is closer
together; it means elements that are
intellectually connected, those that have some
sort of communication relationship, should also
be visually connected.
! You want your reader to know the basic
information from a quick glance

13. FLYER EXAMPLE
! Now, how many
movies are there in
this schedule?
! What is the name
of each movie?
! What day?
! What time?
! Where?

15. GAME NIGHT ADVERTISEMENT
! What is happening?

16. GAME NIGHT ADVERTISEMENT
! Graphic design is all about communication.
! If the reader cannot tell what you are trying to
say, your design is unsuccessful.

18. WEDDING INVITATION
! How can this
invitation be
improved?
! Is the “white space”
being used
effectively?

19. WEDDING INVITATION
! By grouping the
related items, we can
make it seem much
more organized and
easy to read at a
glance.

21. WEBPAGE

22. WEBPAGE
! How many different elements are there?
! How should they be ordered?

23. WEBPAGE

24. WEBPAGE

25. PROXIMITY SUMMARY
! Purpose: To organize
! Organized information will be much more likely
to be read.
! Physical closeness implies a relationship
! Items relating to each other should be grouped
together.
! Elements that are intellectually connected
should also be visually connected.

26. TIPS:
! If you squint your eyes and count the number of
visual elements, it will help you ignore the
content and focus only on the design. Count the
number of times your eye stops.
! If there are more than 3 to 5 items on the page
(of course it depends on the piece), see which of
the separate elements can be grouped together
into closer proximity to become one visual unit.

27. AVOID:
! Don’t stick things in random places just because there
is an empty space. We LIKE white space, remember?
! Don’t put too many elements on a page.
! Don’t put the same amount of space between all the
elements.
! Avoid confusion over whether a headline, subhead,
caption, graphic, etc., belongs with its related
material. Group those related items together by close
proximity.
! Move unrelated items away from each other. You
don’t want to create unwanted relationships!

28. PROXIMITY ASSIGNMENT
! Using art supplies, make a poster that illustrates
proximity. (This is non-digital.)
! Requirements:
! Use white 9" x 12" paper
! Leave ½” of space around all edges
! Design it in landscape format
! Use any of the available materials to complete your poster
! Start your design in pencil so you can make adjustments
! Make it neat, take your time
! Show proximity by:
! Writing the word PROXIMITY in letters at least two
inches high on your poster, so they can be read across the
room.
! FIVE identical shapes/images which are close to each
other.
! THREE identical shapes/images which are close to each
other and different from the five mentioned above

29. EXAMPLES
! This shows proximity
because we are trying to
make related images/
objects physical
closeness to show their
intellectual relation

30. RESOURCES
! The content in this PowerPoint was inspired by
“The Non-Designer’s Design Book” by Robin
Williams.
! The assignment was inspired by the content on
www.nhsdesigns.com/