The Creative Sector

Colour, layout and typography

An understanding of colour, composition and typography is essential within all aspects of the design world. Understanding how all of these elements work together will ensure you are able to take your first steps in this industry. 

Let's start by having a look at colour.

Colour

Colour has the ability to connect people to objects, images and scenes. For example red is typically seen as a colour of passion, danger, romance, or violence. Green is connected with nature or sickness, blue with calm or depression. Yellow is warm and inviting, or a warning. Purple is connected with royalty. When creating a portfolio, the colours you choose can be of service or disservice to your work. There are amazing techniques when playing with colour. Below is a video which explains some of these cool techniques. Once you have finished watching the video, reflect on how this could support your portfolio. 

Layout

Layout is the way in which the parts of something are arranged or laid out. The purpose of layouts is to distribute the text and/or content on a page to achieve a clear outcome. 

Layout plays a significant role in a graphic design. Layout refers to the arrangement of elements on a page usually referring to specific placement of image, text and style. Strong composition is achieved when the proper layout is used to enhance the look of the particular object and the objects as a whole piece. 

Layout for visual elements plays a significant role in graphic design to create and achieve a successful design that attracts potential customers, is user-friendly, easy to read and understand to want to find out more.

Whether you're designing a page for print, or a website, there are some common principles you can apply to ensure balance. 

Use a grid

By using a grid to inform the position of different elements on a page, you'll create a connection between the different elements that make up your page. This can help provide a sense of order to your layout, providing the reader with a clear structural reference to fall back on. 

Choose a single focal point

One of the most effective ways to provide a sense of balance is to choose a single focal point for your layout. A good example of this in practice is the use of a large image as the biggest single element on a page. If you have multiple visual elements, use the proximity principle of Gestalt Theory to groups them together, aligning them the same way. 

Use the Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds says that if you divide your page into thirds both vertically and horizontally, the points at which the grid lines intersect provide the natural focal points of a composition. In itself the rule of thirds won't magically provide your layout with balance, but by extending the principle it is easy to use this tendency towards a natural focal point to help inform the balance of your layout. 

Typography

Typography is the style and appearance of printed matter.

In the design industry, this design ingredient is one of the most basic components in all good creative pieces. It dictates how the main star of any design, the content, is communicated. Just like fashion, typography styles are always changing, and will be the main driver in refreshing a brand's identity. Designers and developers, however, are finding other ways of making their typography inspiring. They use clever methods that vary from concealing or story telling to becoming an interactive element that will make their user engage with the information. 

Watch the video and reflect on what your style would be. Which image drew you in and grabbed your attention? 

Careers and responsibilities

Many different skills are required during the development and maintenance of websites. Some of these skills include User Experience design (UX), User Interface design (UI), web development, content strategy, and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Often these skills are spread across teams, with team members specializing in different areas, however, some designers possess skills in all of these areas and are capable of operating alone.

Below are some of the roles and responsibilities of a Web Designer:

• See the art as a way to leverage technology
• Have a mutual interaction with their audience
• Technical responsibilities such as coding and programming
• Apply an engineering approach to their designs
• Must predict how a design will make its audience feel and react
• Need to know how to design responsively across different screens such as mobile, tablet and desktop
• Can develop and enhance their work over a period of time

Some of the roles that exist within the field of Web Design:

• Full-stack Developer
• Interaction Designer
• UI Designer
• UX Designer
• Web Designer

Careers and responsibilities

Graphic design is the practice of visually communicating, using a variety of elements that usually include one or more of the following:

• Colour
• Form
• Line
• Shape
• Size
• Space
• Texture

The field is considered a subset of visual communication and communication design, but sometimes the term "graphic design" is used synonymously.

Graphic Designers create and combine symbols, images, and text to form visual representations of ideas and messages. They use typography, visual arts and page layout techniques to create visual compositions.

Below are some of the roles and responsibilities of a Graphic Designer:

• Put the art first
• Have a one-way relationship with their audience
• More artistic and hands on through media such as sketch with a pen and paper
• Emphasize visual theory in their designs
• Must focus on how a design communicates a message to its audience
• Need to know how each element of a design translates to print
• Have one shot to get a design right once it's printed

Some of the roles that exist within the field of Graphic Design:

• Art Director
• Creative Director
• Graphic Designer
• Packaging Designer
• Product Designer

As a designer, your portfolio represents a window for the world to view your work and judge your talent, skills and experience. Throughout this module you will be seeing activities like this one to build your own portfolio.

Step ONE

Create an account in CANVA or a portfolio host of your choice.

Step TWO

Explore the creative sectors, and choose one that you can see yourself in.

Step THREE

Create a mood/vision board based off your chosen sector. Add in images that inspire you and speak creatively to you, add in goals and include your own personal flare that represents you.