Dominance/Emphasis
Dominance and Emphasis
While you can talk about emphasizing one thing or another, the element of emphasis has more to do with an object, color or style dominating another for a heightened sense of contrast. Contrast is intriguing, and it creates a focal point.
Emphasis is also known as dominance in graphic design.
What is it?
- The first thing the eye sees on a design.
- Traditionally this was the central part of the design, from which all other parts radiated.
Why is important?
- Design is to manipulate the viewer; dominance is where the viewer is to start looking
- There is an order in a design. You want the viewer to follow the correct direction, getting information in the correct order. To do this you need to force them to a specific start point on the design.
- It gets the viewer's attention.
How to achieve it
Through the use of some elements:
- Color (Red being the best.)
- Image
- Shocking
- Weird
- Controversial
- Sexual
- Text or Words
- Shocking
- Weird
- Controversial
- Sexual
- Contrast (Contrasting colors, e.g. black on white)
- Size (Bigger image vs. smaller)
Line Colour Shapes Space Texture Typography Scale/Size Dominance Balance Harmony Main