What is Layout? 7 Secrets of Beautiful Layout Design

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What is Layout Design?

Layout design (or Layout design) is the process of arranging graphic elements and typefaces for a publication. The purpose of this process is to grab the viewer's attention. It also helps the publication to convey a certain message. Layout design is important with any publication that needs to convey a message through images. For example, magazines, website interfaces or general advertising publications.

A good composition should be both lively and coherent. When building layouts, most designers will follow basic rules such as alignment, information hierarchy, or use of space.

5 elements in layout design:

Text: The text sections in the layout include the main header, subheader, header, footer, and body paragraphs. For websites, text also includes command bars and menus. Each typography style will bring different feelings. Consideration of flexible font combinations also contributes to increased communication efficiency.

Contour: Refers to how far any two points are connected. Whether it is a straight, diagonal or oblique line, it also has the effect of directing the viewer's eye to a certain part of the design. Lines also serve as a boundary between different parts of a publication.

Cubic: Basically, a cube is a 2-dimensional space surrounded with contours. Circles, squares, triangles or any other shape can serve as visual part of the composition.

White Space (Negative Space): The space between objects is just as important as the visual elements. If used properly, white space can attract attention and highlight a design.

5 rules of layout design:

Alignment: The technique of arranging elements in a design so that they show their relationship to each other. Repetition of elements is also a way to create consistency in the design. With the text part, the alignment is usually about 3 points: left, right or center.

Information Hierarchy: A good layout must master how to hierarchize clusters of information into major subsections. In particular, the main space of the design will be the most prominent information that needs to be remembered. Hierarchy can be through size, color, contrast or placement.

Contrast: A method used in tandem with alignment and balance, making designs more eye-catching and appealing. Pair elements with contrasting colors, shapes or fonts for a unique visual effect.

Balance: In layout design, balance is created through geometric symmetry. Or even the asymmetrical arrangement of objects.

Neighborhood: Indicates the distance (near) of elements in the composition. This is the method of creating a mutual connection of parts.

7 layout design secrets:

Build mood boards

Try making a compilation of design inspirations for your product. Keywords like “page layout”, “color scheme”, “typography”, … will give a lot of references. Moodboard is also a guide to remind designers of the style they are trying to build for the design.

Link design with content

Think about the content as well as the audience the design is targeting. For example, if you design a magazine, you should read the content carefully to choose the most suitable concept. Or when building a landing page for a brand, you need to consider the brand identity to create the right style.

Refer to the template

If you're building layouts for your website, it's not a bad idea to refer to available online templates. This is a way to learn more about balance and vibrancy for composition.

Create Intuitive Contrast

Look for solutions to create visual contrasts that instantly catch the eye of the design.

Variations with typography

Choosing typography is one of the most important tasks to properly represent your brand identity. Mixing fonts in the same family can bring consistency and coherence to a design.

Take advantage of negative space

Using negative space purposefully helps create a better visual effect than a thick and messy composition. When mockup on the product, if the design is too messy, change the light to a more minimalist and neater direction.

Test the rules

The design process is different for each designer. The general rules are for reference only. Feel free to experiment a lot to create the most original and unique product.

The information about the layout above hopefully has partly helped you have the most general picture of this extremely important task in the design.

Common rules in layout design

1. Rule of thirds

Similar to photography, the rule of thirds is also one of the important layout systems that help you have a great composition in your design. This rule is considered a basic standard to help your product achieve the highest efficiency and impress customers.

Blog illustration - What is Layout? The importance of layout in design

Creating this layout is extremely simple. You just need to divide your design into 3 columns and 3 rows. At the intersections of these rows and columns, you should place the main subjects as well as other supporting elements. If you are having trouble creating balance in your design layout. The Rule of 1 of 3 is sure to become a great friend.

2. Odd number rule

Designers have found that a layout system with odd number of elements (about 3 objects) is often highly effective. The 2 outer objects create balance for the central focus point, creating simplicity and naturalness for the design. This is also the basic content of the odd number rule. This rule is used quite a lot in logo design.

3. The Rule of Balance

Everything in this world becomes more perfect when there is balance. So is the design. Designers always have to change different elements in their products towards harmony and balance in their work. Lack of balance in layout arrangement, lack of white space between details... will make a design extremely "painful" and create a bad impression for customers.

Blog illustration - What is Layout? The importance of layout in design

In addition, in design, white space is also an extremely important factor. White space will give other details space to "breathe", and create the necessary balance for your design.

4. Rule of emphasis

Aside from the gaps mentioned above, the average viewer's eye also needs something prominent to focus on, otherwise they'll just glimpse your design and walk away.

To convey the message to the audience that what is the main point, the main object that they need to focus on, you need to use this layout system with secondary and balanced elements. Before embarking on the design, clearly define the focus point in the design, and guide the viewer's eye based on the structure of the layout system!

5. The Grid System

"Grid systems are an important part of graphic design. It speeds up the design process by helping designers determine where to place what type of content." The simple reason that designers love to use this layout system is because Grid makes design products look cleaner, more efficient and more usable.

Grid systems bring many advantages not only to the design product, but also to the process of creating that design. For example, when you want to design many general posters of an event, stick to your grid system to arrange the elements of date, time, images, colors, ... from which you can create out consistency in its posters. What's more, they save a lot of time to edit later.