Elements on a page further reading

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Text and images make up the key components of a layout and they must be presented to the reader in a way is as to communicate effectively and efficiently.

• The intensity of the layout and the amount of free space surrounding the text and image elements are key design considerations
• Tight positioning of elements can give design a more frenetic pace whereas introducing space can produce greater tranquility
• Columns and gutters are some of the most basic yet vital elements used for placing text and image
• Images are the graphic elements that can bring a design to life, they play a vital role in communicating a message or an aesthetic
• The different elements that comprise a design could be treated as separate components that are to be arranged on the page with clear distinctions
• An entry pouring is a visual aid on a page indicating where to begin reading, newspapers use it a lot. Without this separation the context would be too dense and difficult to navigate.

The rule: the fewer the differences in the size of the illustrations, the quieter the impression created by the design.
As a controlling system the grid makes
it easier to give the surface or space a rational organisation.

Josef Müller-Brockmann