Visual elements do an excellent job of bringing text-based content to life. However, you want to make sure that you’re balancing graphics and text, as you don’t want one to overshadow the other. Too many images can overwhelm viewers, while too much text can make the content look confusing or boring. While simplicity is often key, the right balance of graphics and text can make even complex designs look great.
Below are some of the best ways you can strike a balance between text and graphics.
Treat them as separate entities while honoring their relationship.
Text and graphics are two separate entities, though they have a strong relationship. Keep this in mind as you make design decisions, as they don’t necessarily need to be symmetrical. It’s possible to blend text and graphics harmoniously without them being equally dominant.
To achieve this, we recommend understanding the hierarchy between your graphics and text. Which element will have the most impact? Make this your focal point and balance the other elements respectively. Be sure to account for positioning, contrast, tone, texture and size.
Create a mind map so that you can visually lay out the different elements.
A good way to start your project is by creating a mind map. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate – a quick sketch will do. The key is to get an idea for how the different elements relate to each other. And, if you draw your own design, you can easily move things around and add or remove elements.
A lot of times, we find that few words are required, especially in visual-heavy content like infographics. This type of content focuses more on pie charts, bar graphs and other displays to convey information. The text is then used to explain why the data matters.
Select all images and text carefully – they should reinforce one another.
Images are important communication tools, so choose them wisely. Review the quality of the image, the people/things in the photo and even what’s in the background. The human brain can scan a photo extremely fast – it takes about 13 milliseconds to process an image! This means that viewers will be drawing conclusions about your brand in just milliseconds.
The font you choose for your text can also carry a certain message, so pick wisely. Some of the best fonts for website content include Roboto, Libre Franklin, Raleway, Inter and Source Sans Pro. Use text to clarify information and add meaning to the design.
Use white space on graphics and add background to text.
When creating balance in your design, it’s extremely important to utilize white space and appropriate backgrounds. Make sure the graphic you choose has enough white space around it.
Also, add a background to your text so that it’s easy to read. If there are intricate or complex visuals behind the text, viewers won’t be able to see the words clearly. Play around with contrasting colors, translucent color overlays and backdrop shapes to find the ideal background.
Professional Website Design Services
Design involves far more than putting together pretty pictures and words. This is why graphic designers are trained to find aesthetically pleasing designs that lessen eye fatigue and visual overload. To learn more about our professional website development services, contact Magna Technology today. We have experienced graphic designers on our team!
