graphic design for effective communication

GRAPHIC DESIGNFOR EFFECTIVE

COMMUNICATION

Content & AudienceLayoutImages/PhotosColor

Graphic Design Basics

Highlight things that look odd

Preview Activity

Effectively communicate Add meaning/substanceApply to both print & electronic

Benefits of Good Design

1) Content & AudienceIdentify purpose of publication/online

materialHow long will info be valid?How much space do you have?Did you include complete contact

info?Do you need to add important

logos?

Know your audienceWho is in your audience?What do they want to know?

2) Layout: Negative Space

2) Layout: Design Grid

2) Layout: Text Alignment

2) Layout: Text Font/Typeface

Serif Typeface

Sans Serif Typeface

Decorative Typeface

2) Layout: Text Tips

DON’TUse a font size smaller than 12

pointsUse more than 2 typefacesUse all capital letters in body

copyLeave widows and orphans

hanging

2) Layout: Text Tips

DOProofreadCheck spelling and grammarHave someone else review

textRead it aloud and/or

backwards

3) Images: Tips

Should enhance the message

Faces look at reader or textDon’t mix clip art with

photosDon’t use too many or too

few

3) Images: Resolution

Measured in Dots Per Inch (DPI)

Screen usually 72 DPI resolution

Print usually 300 DPI resolution

4) Color

DON’TUse too much or too littleUse “too light” or “too

bright”Use complicated

backgrounds

Highlight things that look oddIdentify why they look oddSuggest edits to improve them

Post Activity

4) Color: ElectronicRGB (Red Green Blue)Created by adding light

4) Color: PrintCMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow blacK)

Created by adding other colors

4) Color: PrintPMS (Pantone Matching System)

Costs more for exact color match

4) Color: Properties

Warm colors appear larger/closer

Cool colors appear to recedeBlack and white are neutralsColors have emotional

meanings

Cool Tool

Choose newsletter copyCreate design grid layout Post on wall

Activity

Great design and great content will make a

great product!

Remember . . .

www.educationworld.com/clipartwww.allgraphicdesign.comNon-Designer’s Design Book (R. Williams)Non-Designer’s Type Book (R. Williams)White Space is Not Your Enemy: A Beginner’s Guide to

Communicating Visually (K. Golombisky, R. Hagen)

Resources