Super-Size Your Graphics to Create Visual Impact

Monday October 30, 2006

^{Screenshot by J. Bear; Die Ziet and Chicago Tribune, examples from Poynter Online, July 3, 2003}

Visual impact -- the wow factor -- balanced with effective communication of the message make for great design. Visual impact is accomplished in a variety of ways including color, pattern or texture, and strong images. Anne Van Wagener, writing for The Design Desk at Poynter Online, discusses CVI - Center of Visual Impact.

A concept that Mario Garcia writes about in his book Pure Design, CVI is about the use of one visual element that is at least three times larger than others on the page. This larger than the rest image immediately attracts the eye and pulls you into the page.

Take a look at eight award-winning newspaper design examples of pages with a strong CVI. Although written about newspapers, the idea of using super-sized graphics is applicable to other types of publications as well.

More: Choosing Graphics for Desktop Publishing and Contrast and Newspapers