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Chapter 7 ∣ Design and Layout
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Space
Space should never be considered the leftover
area. Space provides relationships for the elements in
a design. Each element placed forms a relationship
with the page and with other elements. Space is
created when this happens and often provides a
ground or frame of reference for the content.
Many famous designers and artists are known
for their use of space in design. Some of them
include M.C. Escher, Saul Bass, Paul Rand, and
Alan Fletcher. Many logos and optical illusions rely
on space for their effectiveness. White space is
covered more thoroughly later in this chapter.
Size
Size is the relationship between elements on a
page. The use of proportion helps achieve balance
and unity in a layout. However, keeping everything
proportional, in the same plane, is unnecessary.
Using the unexpected to generate a dramatic
response is a good way to get attention. Making an
element larger or smaller than anticipated is one
of the most effective ways to generate contrast in
a design. Some ways to achieve this are through
interesting cropping of images, implied action, and
use of depth. See Figure 7-9.
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Figure 7-8. Using text as texture to make a portrait from only letters and characters.
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Figure 7-9. Cropping images in an interesting and
unexpected way can create excitement.