2 Design fundamentals

 

This chapter covers

  • The design fundamentals of proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, and balance
  • Using the design principles to establish relationships between elements and create a hierarchy on the page
  • Why these design fundamentals are vital to understand before starting to wireframe

The layout is the most critical piece of a website’s design. It is quite literally the foundation for the remaining pieces that will eventually be added to the website. Let’s consider building a house rather than a website for a moment. Before you can start picking out windows and blinds or even the type of bathtub you want, you need to have the plans for the structure and layout of the house. The size of the bathtub can certainly influence the choices you make about the house’s structure, but you can’t put a bathtub in before the other foundational elements are built.

2.1 The principles of design

2.1.1 Proximity

2.1.2 Alignment

2.1.3 Repetition

2.1.4 Contrast

2.1.5 Balance

2.2 Design fundamentals for user experience and beyond

Summary