 PARC it
Visually effective web pages usually follow these (radically oversimplified) Rules of Graphic Design:
- proximity - group like things together, and separate unrelated items; this bulleted list is an example
- alignment - find a strong line and stick to it, establishing a visual connection to everything on the page; the splash page for this web, for example, uses the right margin to create a strong vertical line, and a ruled line and row of images to create a strong horizontal line
- repetition - repeat design element(s), particularly in a multi-page document; the navigation elements on these pages, the graphic on the right and the text at the bottom, are examples
- contrast - create interest by contrating elements on a page; I've contrasted type faces, the lines of the graphic with the wrapping of the text, and strong grahics and text with lots of white space.
The sense of order and unity that results from using the PARC principles is fine if the goal is clarity and ease of use. But what if the purpose of a web site is less informational and more experiential?
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