19th
Design: It’s all CRAP.
CRAP is a handy mnemonic for (aesthetic) design guidelines: contrast, repitition, alignment and proximity.
Contrast: Use dark text on a light background or vice versa.
“Performance is optimal when contrast levels […] exceed 70 percent.”
[UPD:124]
Repetition: Repeat important thematic elements of the design.
“Repeated exposure to stimuli for which people have neutral feelings will increase the likeability of the stimuli.”
[UPD:70, Exposure-Effect]
Alignment: Don’t place anything haphazardly.
“Elements in a design should be aligned with one or more elements. This creates […] unity, cohesion and [influences] perceived stability.”
[UPD:22]
Proximity: Place related elements together.
“Elements that are close together are perceived to be more related than elements that are farther apart [… and this proximity] will generally overwhelm competing visual cues (e.g., similarity).”
[UPD:160]
If you keep this CRAP in mind, you’ll always have design guidelines at your disposal ;).
-ben
ben@goodspeed-it.ca
References:
[UPD]: Universal Principles of Design, 2003, Lidwell et al. (C) Rockport publishing.
