Design Hierarchy
by Joseph on the 29th Jul 2023
Design Hierarchy is not Visual Hierarchy; they are two different things. Design Hierarchy is the process by which a document is created by using systematic steps and pre-defined fundamental guidelines.
When I create a document, I use the following Design Hierarchy:
- Margins – Set up document margins
- Grids – Set up grid structure in a column or modular grid
- Research
- Understanding the message
- Talking to product owners
- Verifying requirements or brief
- Looking at similar examples
- Understanding the user
- The Hero – A single focal point or the hook on the document. It can be a large image or text;
it’s something that grabs attention and makes it memorable.
- Content Flow – Organising content around or strategically around the focal point to follow a flow, preferably to a CTA (Call to action) like a contact us button.
- Negative Space – Declutter the design keeping it simple and allowing for breathing room around elements to enable the user to navigate through the document with ease visually.
- Repetition – Connecting design aspects to a unifying element, such as shape or colour.
- Test – Test the design for:
- Consistency
- Typos
- Mistakes
- User perception
- User journey