Basics
Designing your yearbook is often the most fun part of the creation process. When working on your design, remember these principles to ensure a great looking-book that is fun for everyone page through.
Alignment
Aligning elements visually connects them to one another to create a sharper, more ordered design. It tightens the layout and eliminates the haphazard, messy effect, which can happen when items are placed randomly. Aligning elements that are not in close proximity with one another helps provide an invisible connection between them.
Repetition
Repetition ties together individual elements to strengthen a design. It helps create association and consistency by using elements such as color, textures, shapes, fonts and art.
Contrast
Contrast emphasizes or highlights key elements within your design using two elements that are total opposites. This can be achieved a variety of ways including color, fonts (classic/contemporary), lines (thick/thin) and shapes (big/small). Contrast plays a critical role in the organization of information on a page. It guides the viewer to the most important element – where he or she should look first. For contrast to work successfully, make this design element strong and obvious. It should make an impact.
HELPFUL TIP:
Make sure photos you want to include are a high enough resolution to print clearly. It is recommended that photos be 300 dpi or higher to ensure clarity.
Proximity
Grouping similar elements together or in close proximity, creates an organized relationship between those components. You also provide a focal point to give
the reader an idea of where their eyes should start and finish. Elements don’t
necessarily have to always be placed together, however. But they should be
visually connected in some way, whether it be font, color, point size, etc.
Balance
Balance is the weight distribution of a design through the placement of elements. It provides stability and structure to a design. Balance can be achieved in two ways: Symmetrical or Asymmetrical.
Symmetrical balance is achieved when the weight of elements on both halves of the
design is even, given a center line. Slice the design in half and you’ll see the same
elements in equal weight on both sides.
Asymmetrical balance is achieved when odd or a mismatched number of different elements are evenly distributed without a center line and don’t mirror. Asymmetrical layouts are often dynamic as they can create tension, express movement, or
convey a mood.