Design Principle for Multimedia Application

CONTENT                                                                             PAGE NUMBER

1.0 Introduction                                                                                   1

1.1  Alignment                                                                                        2

1.2  Contrast                                                                                          3 - 4

1.2.1        Manipulation of space                                                               

1.2.2        Typography

1.2.3        Positioning in Elements

1.2.4        Colors      

1.3  Proximity                                                                                         5-6

1.4  Repetition & Consistency                                                                 7

1.5  Stability & Balanced                                                                         8

1.5.1                  Symmetrical Balance

1.5.2                  Asymmetrical Balance

2.0 Lesson Learn & Reflection                                                          9

3.0 References                                                                                     10

1.0   INTRODUCTION

Multimedia application is an application uses variety of gathering present in media resources such as graphics, text, pictures, audio or video. Following is a background study about Design Principles for Multimedia Application. Design principles such as alignment, proximity, contrast, repetition and stability as well balance is essential in developing an application. Moreover, applying these principles could make more nourishing and effective design

1.1 ALIGNMENT

The principle of alignment in designing and developing a multimedia application is overall about positioning of text or graphics to the left, right, or centre of a page.  (Technical Aspect & Design Principles, 2013) Alignment is important in a design, as it will merge the selected text and graphics and makes it more organized, attractive and readable to the audience. Mainly alignment is used to create order, organize page elements, group items and create visual connections. Examples of alignment that can be used to create an eye-catching multimedia application are, horizontal, vertical, left, right, edge and centre. Visual or Optical alignment helps the designer to solve some problems that can happen with other types of alignment due to the varying shapes of letters and graphics. (Bear, J. 2013) It is to be said that good alignment is invisible when every element is lined up neatly. Inserting too much of alignment could affect the readability as well creates unorganized look. If the designer found difficult to do alignment for a complicated layout, it is recommended to use guidelines and grids aid in the grouping the elements. Following figure 1.0.1, is an example of good and bad aligned design.

                                  Figure 1.0.1 Comparison between aligned designs

1.2 CONTRAST

     Contrast is one of the interesting and simplest design principle which means difference. The contrast present in a design is known as its energy or the unique within the design. Although we are not conscious of it, our brain always scans the similarities and the differences in a picture. (Reynolds, 2008, pp. 153 – 163) In short the more the difference, the more the contrast. This is because contrast is the way of stressing parts of a layout or controlling the readers' eye to specific areas of the page.  (Bear, 2013)

Contrast in a multimedia application can be applied in different ways, for example, through the manipulation of space, the choices of colors, usage of typography, positioning the elements and so on. (Reynolds, 2008, pp. 153 - 163)

1.2.1: Manipulation of space

     Manipulation of space in an application indicates how much do the space given among the elements, whether it is near, far, empty or filled. So designers must not insert too much of texts or graphics in the application or else the audience may find it difficult to understand the point of the application.

 1.2.2: Typography

     Using different type of text such as serif, sans serif, bold and narrow with different font style can create contrast. However, too many style or font type in a single application can make the audience confused. At the same time, it is good to avoid using all bold and capitalized texts in the application to show the contrast among the different texts.

1.2.3: Positioning the Elements

     All the texts and graphic in the multimedia application need to be aligned according to the audience needs. At this stage, the elements can be positioned at the top or bottom and isolated or grouped. Furthermore, movement of the objects in an application also can make it look attractive or messy. So designers need to consider the balancing of objects during the development of the application.

 1.2.4: Colors

     Moreover, designer should be clever in choosing the colors for their design. Before applying, they must compare whether dark, light, cool and warm colors are suitable for their application theme. Most importantly, it is advisable to select background colors that show contrast with the font colors. (Chance, 2005, pp. 10 – 34) Figure 1.0.2 is an example that shows the contrast in colors of a design.

  Figure 1.0.2:  Color contrast in a design

 1.3 PROXIMITY

       Proximity design principle in multimedia application means arranging elements closer or farther to create a well-organized look. In other words, the related items in that particular application are grouped together by moving physically. This step is significant because if the information were presented well organized, the more the consumers are likely to remember or read it. (Universitydirectories.com, 2013) However, arranging the elements in the application sometimes could be tricky.

        For example, the application may look cluttered or confusing to the audience if the objects are moved too close to each other. On the other hand, objects which are moved too far are a weak design in an application. So it is important to make a connection between the objects and to the audience. Following is a figure showing the comparison between a good and bad proximity design:

Figure 1.0.3: Comparison between Proximity Designs

This proximity or assembling of objects can be done with observable spacing, by assigning physical barriers, the use of color, shape or even the texture to group or separate the like and unlike items. (Glossary, 2013)  Besides, to develop a multimedia application with an appeal and clarity, it is essential to consider the method called ‘White Space’. White Space is the consideration of unused areas in an application. It is advisable to not crowd with too many of texts or graphics. Figure 1.0.4, shows an example of White Space method.    (Chance, 2005, pp. 10 - 34)

Figure 1.0.4: White Space Method

                                  1.4 REPETITION & CONSISTENCY

The design principle repetition is often paired with consistency and it is considered as reusing of same objects or graphics throughout in a multimedia application. Use of this principle could enhance the unity, cohesiveness and the consistency of a design. Design elements such as colors, graphics, layout, lines, alignment and typography are usually used to improve the consistency during the development of the design. (Technical Aspect & Design Principles, 2013, p. single page)

However, we must ensure that we do not insert too much repetition in the application. For instant, using different colors can make the application unbalanced or messy, so to avoid this, a theme color can be chosen. As a whole, the important elements in the application will be emphasized. (Reynolds, 2008, pp. 153 – 163) Besides, various types and sizes of fonts also give a disorganized look, because of this serif fonts are being used to make it look consistent. Being aware in using repetition can produce harmony in the design.  Following Figure 1.0.5, is the same image which undergone repetition of graphic treatment by creating consistency.

                                        Figure 1.0.5. Example of Repetition

1.5 STABILITY &  BALANCE

Stability in a design often refers to balance and vice versa. A design with elements which are inflexibly fixed could create a stable layout. As a result, audience will be comfortable with the balanced design. Therefore, principle of balance is always measured in multimedia application designing. (Park, 2007, pp. 25-68) The main principles of balance are Symmetrical and Asymmetrical.

1.5.1: Symmetrical Balance

  Both sides from the center of the design vertically and horizontally are identical or flawlessly centered composition like mirror image. Its visual position must be considered relative to the others in order to balance one design component with other design components. (Bear, 2013)    

                              Figure 1.0.6: Example of Symmetrical Balance design

1.5.2: Asymmetrical Balance

             A stable design is created with off-centered or with mismatched elements without spoiling the layout balance. Asymmetrical balance can generate an energetic and attractive impression which symmetrical does not. The sense of variety present in this design makes it look striking.

                                        Figure 1.0.7: Example of Asymmetrical Balance Design

2.0   LESSON LEARN & REFLECTION

Overall from the background study, I learned that design principles are very important to be considered during designing and developing a Multimedia Application. Moreover, organization could be done before designing any applications. Making detailed outline with information chronologically for the application which will be designed. Next, develop the design according to the audience needs or to topics. In this process, Story Board is essential as it helps to collect ideas and plan throughout the process.

Three main things should be highlighted in Multimedia Application designing process, which is clear, consistent and contrast. The appearance of design always affects the way we distinguishes it. A design should have a good communicability and clear for the audience to read and understand the message in the application. To make the designs clean, avoiding adding too much of information is best. The hierarchy should be seen clearly. Furthermore, a designer at first need to have constant mental adjustment, so that he/she could come with ideas in this current constantly changing environment. Contrast in a design makes it unique, which draws the attention of the audience. It aids to produce strong active differences among the objects present in the application. In conclusion, these design principles: Alignment, Contrast, Proximity, Repetition & Consistency and Stability & Balance plays major role in creating an impressive Multimedia application. The more striking the application designed, the more the audience will be satisfied.

                                                   3.0 REFERENCES

Bear, J. 2013. Alignment. [online] Available at: http://desktoppub.about.com/od/designprinciples/a/alignment.htm [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].

Bear, J. 2013. Repeating Elements for Page-to-Page Consistency. [online] Available at: http://desktoppub.about.com/od/designprinciples/ig/Principles-of-Design/Repetition---Patterns.htm [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].

Chance, D. 2005. Multimedia Design Principles. [e-book] pp. 10 - 34. Available through: Google Scholar http://web1.arthurphilh.schools.nsw.edu.au/~tas/Multimedia/Website/Term4/Resources/designprinciplesMM.pdf [Accessed: 15 Sep 2013].

Desktoppub.about.com. 2013. Balance - Lessons on Balance in Page Design. [online] Available at: http://desktoppub.about.com/od/designprinciples/l/aa_balance.htm [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].

Glossary, J. 2013. Proximity. [online] Available at: http://desktoppub.about.com/od/glossary/g/Proximity.htm [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].

Howard Bear, J. 2013. Principles of Design. [online] Available at: http://desktoppub.about.com/od/designprinciples/Principles_of_Design.htm [Accessed: 20 Sep 2013].

Park, J. 2007. Visual communication in digital design. Seoul, Korea: YoungJin.com.

Reynolds, G. 2008. Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. [e-book] pp. 153 - 163. http://www.presentationzen.com/chapter6_spread.pdf [Accessed: 18 Sep 2013].

Technical Aspect & Design Principles. 2013. [e-book] p. single page. Available through: Google Scholar http://www.edb.utexas.edu/minliu/multimedia/technical.swf [Accessed: 14 Sep 2013].

'Universitydirectories.com. 2013. Use Design Principles to Create Better Ads | University Directories. [online] Available at: http://universitydirectories.com/2013/04/designing-an-effective-advertisement-102/ [Accessed: 17 Sep 2013].