Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
'A grid system is an aid, not a guarantee. It permits a number of possible uses and
each designer can look for a solution appropriate to his personal style. But one must
learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.'
Josef Müller-Brockmann, graphic designer and author of
Grid Systems
in Graphic Design
Hierarchy of information
Hierarchy concerns the order in which information is presented; having organized
your content you will have decided what needs to be seen and read by your audience
and in what sequence. To create a clear hierarchy, you should work out what it is they
need to see/read/interact or respond to first, second and third.
Remember the page we mentioned on p. 56 when discussing the grid? It would have
been difficult to read because we hadn't used any different sizes, colour or a grid to
help you navigate through the information. This page had not been organized. There
was no hierarchy. We need to identify what the different levels of information are and
the order in which they should be seen and read, as in the illustration to the right.
Once this order has been established, we can begin to apply a visual hierarchy. This
will result in the successful navigation and communication of information.
A visual hierarchy can be created in many ways. Refer to the illustrations at the bot-
tom of this page and consider using variations of scale, weight (light, medium or
bold weights of a typeface), colour, tone, graphical elements (shapes/lines), space and
placement of elements to signal where you want your audience to go. In some in-
stances, for example when using interactive media, sound and movement may also be
utilized.
