What Is a Layout Design?

Design layout is the organization of text and images on a web page, poster, book or two-dimensional page. Web designers and graphic designers apply graphic design principles and typography to organize, or lay out, the contents of a page. Composing a design layout also helps organize the text and images into a easily understood hierarchy of information.

According to Creative Bloq, a design website for graphic designers, the primary objective of a design layout is to communicate information clearly and effectively to readers. One of the best ways to do this is to create a balanced layout, which ensures the key information is delivered effectively.

One of the ways to create balance is to use a grid as the organizational foundation of a page. This helps with organization of the page contents. Using a grid also helps form relationships between the different elements on the page. Another principle that designers use when creating layouts is a focal point, which is a strong visual element. It grabs the reader’s attention immediately, and it is usually the largest, brightest or most unusual element on the page. Grouping similar elements together also creates a focal point. However, one the easiest methods for creating a focal point is to use the Rule of Thirds. It says if a page is divided horizontally and vertically into thirds, the points that interconnect are the natural focal points of the page.