The "CRAP" principle

A term very interestingly coined by the design course at http://www.colorado.edu/.

The following is my version of the CRAP principle, which can be used in both graphic and web designs.

Contrast contrast brings in visual int rest and focus to the design.contrast can be brought in through fonts, colors and dimensions.a focal point (CVI) can be brought in the design using contrast, which is very essential in guiding the user through the design.contrast should also be balanced. Else it can create chaos.

Repeat repetition is a major factor in UI design to bring in consistency.repetition of elements like font color, header size, layout structure etc., tell the user that they are in the same web site.repetition also goes a long way in brand identity, repeating a particular style, by way of graphics, bylines or quote create a brand recognition.

Align alignment brings in rhythm and grace to the design.print designs like news paper and magazines generally justify the content and have a column alignment web pages favour left alignment and majority have a single column structure.every element in a page should be connected and aligned w.r.t each other. never have elements standing alone.always align a image with captions or baseline text.

Proximity group related design units in close proximity, thereby separating different units of the design.a single unity structure without proper grouping, results in a boring layout.there should be enough white space between one group and the other. maintain consistency in spacing different groups.