5 Principles
1) AlignmentRelated items should line up to aid in overall
coherence.
Bad Alignment Makes Documents Difficult to Read
Better Alignment
2) ConsistencyEnsure that each section of the document is visually
consistent with other sections. Examples include:
1. Switching font style or size, which can make a document look awkward for readers
Switching from bulleted lists to numbered lists without a reason
And inconsistent spacing or indenting
3) Proximity
The principle of proximity is fairly simple; it dictates that related items should be visually
arranged together
4) ContrastUsing different font sizes or styles can help
distinguish between elements in a document that are meant to be distinct from each other. Examples include:
Bolded or Underlined Subheads Use of italics for lists or titles Even things like bullets are used partly for contrast
5) White SpaceEverywhere there is not a text or visual
constitutes white space.
White space helps to separate your text into disparate, distinguishable parts.
White space also helps to emphasize key points/parts of your document