Today’s Plan:
- Golumbiski and Hagen, Design Sins
- Robin Williams, The Basic C.R.A.P.
- Golumbiski and Hagen, Works Every Time Layout
Golumbiski and Hagen’s Design Sins
Let’s talk about what *not* to do. Here’s a link to G+H’s White Space book. Marc: scroll down to their 5 steps for visual success.
Robin Williams’ Basic Design Principles
My first foray into design was Robin Williams’ Non-Designer’s Design Book. In it, Williams lays out the basic C.R.A.P.:
- Contrast
- Repetition
- Alignment
- Proximity
These principles still ground a lot of design theory two decades later. Those who read White Space will encounter them with some different names, but the principles remain the same. For instance, let’s check out the website Clean Up Your Mess, which offers an example of Williams’ principles in action.
Creating a G+H Works Every Time Layout
First, some materials. We need properly sized placeholder images. Either 1/3 of the page or 2/3 of the page.
- 1/3 Image
- 2/3 Image
Second, an acknowledgement. G+H’s aesthetic grows out of a late modernist emphasis on clean, efficient, “modern” design. And this kind of design still wins awards today. Take, for instance, the 2022 Graphic Design USA Inhouse Award Showcase winners. But there are more postmodern? (no) contemporary approaches to design, approaches that are a bit more idiosyncratic or chaotic (see 99 Designs 2022 awards). These are harder to teach and to assess. History of graphic design and technical communication vs art.
Third, the problem with Canva (and, to a lesser extent, a problem with Word templates).
Okay, now back to G+H’s White Space book. Let’s look at the works every time layout.
Homework
Use G+H’s “Works Every Time” Layout to redesign your unfortunate flyer.
While I don’t particularly care what technology you use for this redesign, I recommend *not* using Word, simply because you will be fighting against the program.
