"Visual hierarchy, according to Gestalt psychology, is a pattern in the visual field wherein some elements tend to 'stand out,' or attract attention, more strongly than other elements, suggesting a hierarchy of importance."
The arrangement of visual elements in order of importance and prominence to guide the viewer's attention through the design.
Color theory: Understanding how colors can be used to create contrast, highlight important elements, and communicate emotions.
Typography: How different fonts, sizes, and weights can affect the way we read and interpret visual information.
Composition: The arrangement of elements on a page or screen, including balance, proportion, and spacing.
Contrast: Using differences in size, shape, color, or texture to make certain elements stand out and draw the viewer's attention.
Gestalt principles: A set of fundamental principles that explain how the human brain processes visual information, including figure-ground, similarity, proximity, and closure.
Grid systems: Using a system of aligned columns and rows to create a consistent and organized layout.
Hierarchy of information: Prioritizing information based on its importance, with the most important information getting the most attention.
Negative space: Using the space around elements to create visual balance and add meaning to the design.
Visual weight: How different elements in a design can appear heavier or lighter, affecting their perceived importance.
Iconography: The use of symbols and imagery to convey meaning, often without the need for text.
Contrast in size: Using size differences to create a sense of hierarchy, for example by making important elements larger than others.
Motion and animation: Using movement and animation to draw the viewer's eye and add interest to a design.
Essentialism: The philosophy of stripping away non-essential elements in a design to create a more streamlined and effective visual message.
Layout: The arrangement of elements on a page or screen, including balance, proportion, and spacing.
Proximity: Designing elements to be close to each other to create a grouping.
Repetition: Repeating visual elements to create a sense of consistency and unity.
White space: Empty space around elements that can help improve legibility and draw focus to key message.
Size: Bigger elements attract more attention and communicate greater importance.
Color: Brighter or contrasting colors stand out and draw attention first.
Contrast: High contrast between light and dark elements allows for easier differentiation and emphasis.
Alignment: Elements that are aligned horizontally or vertically create a visual structure and order.
Proximity: Elements that are close to each other are perceived as related.
Space: Empty spaces or negative spaces help to draw attention to the main elements.
Typography: Variations in font size, weight, and style help to differentiate important information.
Image: Images that are visually bold or striking can capture more attention than text alone.
Shape: Distinctive shapes can help to emphasize specific information.
Texture: Use of varying textures can add interest and depth to a design, while also conveying information.
"While it may occur naturally in any visual field..."
"...the term is most commonly used in design (especially graphic design and cartography)..."
"...where elements are intentionally designed to make some look more important than others."
"This order is created by the visual contrast between forms in a field of perception."
"Objects with the highest contrast to their surroundings are recognized first by the human mind."