Blog Post: Emphasis and Alignment

Using emphasis in your design can give the viewer a “clear and meaningful”. But as a designer you have to decide what you want to make more dominant on the page, it should describe whatever your talking about thoroughly, whether its through a picture or text. Alignment can also help improve your design because it works as a “structural framework”. When you use alignment is make your work look more clean, organized and put together.

“Creating visual hierarchy demands that the designer bolster the visual dominance of certain significant items, and restrain the impact of other supporting elements.” Pg. 63 (Krause)

http://www.giftrocket.com/

This website is a good example of emphasis because of the large image to the left. It attracts attention because it’s dominant and bigger than all other elements on the page. But also with the rocket pointing directly to the first word in the main heading it helps to guide the eye through the rest of the content on the page.

“Alignment between elements can be used to create a sense of agreement, soundness and unity within a piece, regardless of the tone of its overall message.” Pg 79 (Krause)

http://envato.com/

The content of the page shows good alignment with the basic two-column layout that is consistent through the page.  The left side is being used for images and the right is being used to further explain the image, what its about and what it includes. Using the grid design lets the content lines up very well and makes it easier to manage.