Do you ever look at a design and feel overwhelmed or confused about where to focus? When elements compete for attention, it can be tricky for the viewer to know where to look first.
That's why visual hierarchy is so important in graphic design! It helps guide the eye through clear and intuitive layouts.
At Ladybug Studio, we use professional techniques to create visual hierarchy in all our designs - from product photos to brand identities and store displays. Keep reading this blog post to learn 7 pro tips that make it easy for viewers to focus on the right things in your designs.
1. Play with size
Bigger objects grab more attention. Make the most important parts of your design larger. For example, product photos look best with the product itself as the largest element. Brand logos also need to stand out, so size them generously.
On the other hand, supporting details like text and icons should be smaller so they don’t distract from the main focus.
Pro Tip: Use scale intentionally. The bigger the size difference between elements, the more it signals importance!
2. Leave white space
Empty areas give the eyes a place to rest. Don't cram everything close together. White space makes designs clean and approachable.
Place key details apart with breathing room around them. Separate paragraphs of text and give buttons and icons padding. The whitespace allows each component to stand out clearly.
Pro Tip: Frame important objects in the composition with negative space. The contrast draws the viewer in.
3. Direct lines lead the eye
Clever placement of lines draws attention and connects elements. Diagonal lines and curves add dynamism to product photos, guiding the gaze along the product shape. Lines around a focal point highlight and contain it.
Repeating line directions creates flow through the composition. Aligned text paragraphs, rows of icons, or logo shapes with parallel lines link together visually.
Pro Tip: Break alignment and vary line directions to indicate separation too! This clarifies divisions between different sections.
4. Limit color variety
Too many colors fight for attention. Stick to one or two main colors, and use accent shades sparingly. Vibrant hues attract the most focus, so reserve them for key points of interest.
Muted neutrals make good background colors because they recede. High contrast between foreground colors and their backdrop makes details stand out crisply.
Pro Tip: Color can encode meaning as well. For example, make call-to-action buttons red to signal urgency.
5. Bold and thin weights guide eyes
Font weights create contrast to direct eye movement. Boldface headings in a large type size identify sections and topics. Thin lowercase text formatted in paragraphs fills in detailed content.
Switch font weights intentionally to coordinate with the messaging. Light script fonts might suit an elegant, upscale brand. A tech company could use heavy sans serifs for a cutting-edge look.
Pro Tip: Too many competing fonts and weights cause visual confusion. Limit your selections for clarity.
6. Odd numbers attract more than even
An odd number of objects draws more attention than an even grouping. The dominance of a central item surrounded by fewer supporting elements on each side creates an appealing asymmetry.
In product photos, place the most important view off-center. For infographics, consider 5 columns instead of 4. Use 3 social media icons instead of 2. The uneven visual interest engages viewers.
Pro Tip: Balance asymmetry with other elements. Repeating colors, sizes, or line directions will unify the layout.
7. Images stand out from graphics
Photographic elements contrast with flat graphics to indicate significance. Product photos will immediately attract eyes amidst solid brand elements like logos and icons.
Infographics pop when key data points are images, not just charts or text. Even on text-heavy pages, strategic photos guide the reader through lengthy content.
Pro Tip: Surround images with flat graphics or whitespace to make them recede or stand out as needed.
Now Put These Tips into Action!
With these 7 pro techniques, you can direct attention and establish visual hierarchy in any design:
- Scale up the most important parts
- Space elements apart with breathing room
- Align lines to connect and lead the gaze
- Color code areas by meaning
- Vary fonts and weights for contrast
- Use odd numbers and asymmetry
- Make key images stand out
If you need help applying professional visual hierarchy to your designs, the experts at Ladybug Studio are ready to help! Our graphic designers specialize in product photos, brand identity, and store displays that make your product the star.
With our detail-oriented approach, your unique brand essence and messaging will shine through clearly. We'd love to collaborate with you and create eye-catching designs that connect with your customers.
Get in touch today to get started on refreshing your look!