Layouts

Layout refers to the arrangement of visual elements on a surface, such as a page or screen, to organize information, guide reading, and communicate emphasis. It encompasses both print page layout and digital screen layouts.

Central to layout are grid-based structures that provide alignment and consistency. Principles such as alignment, hierarchy, balance, contrast, and white space help readers navigate content and focus on important elements.

Common elements include margins and gutters, columns and rows, typography, images, color, and navigational or interactive controls in digital contexts. The layout determines where text flows, how images relate to copy, and how the reader's eye moves across the composition.

Types: print layouts for books, magazines, and newspapers rely on fixed pages and typographic grids; web and app layouts must adapt to various devices, using responsive or adaptive approaches. Modular or card-based layouts organize content into blocks that can rearrange across breakpoints.

Grids and systems: many layouts are built on column grids, baselines, and rhythm. In web design, CSS Grid and Flexbox offer flexible ways to implement grid-based layouts, while print relies on canonical typographic grids and margins.

Process and considerations: layout design typically starts with goals, audience, and content. Designers create wireframes or thumbnails, then develop composition, typography, and imagery, followed by testing for readability, accessibility, and aesthetics. Layout work often iterates with feedback and production constraints.