Visual Hierarchy

Influences how users determine relationships and important of content

 

Size

Color (HSV)

Contrast

Proximity/Unity

Space

Repetition

Texture

Visual Hierarchy

Title Text 

Worf, It's better than music. It's jazz. I recommend you don't fire until you're within 40,000 kilometers.

Size

Title Text 2: Electric Boogaloo

Wait a minute - you've been declared dead. You can't give orders around here. 

Title Text 

Worf, It's better than music. It's jazz. I recommend you don't fire until you're within 40,000 kilometers.

Title Text 2: Electric Boogaloo

Wait a minute - you've been declared dead. You can't give orders around here. 

Do

Don't

Visual Hierarchy

Perceived Weight

Size

Larger objects are generally perceived as heavier

"Heavier" elements act as an 'anchor' when scanning and can imply importance - causing smaller near by elements to appear related

Elements near the top of the top of a page or content block are heavier.

Position

The further from the center/focus of a composition, the heaver it seems

Vertical objects appear heavier than horizontal ones.

Orientation

Orient sub-sections of content blocks or components in a way that doesn't conflict with the 'anchor' object

Visual Hierarchy

Color

Can be used to evoke attitudes or perceptions

Crimson

  • Authority
  • Sophistication
  • Ruggedness

#993333

Can create contrast or connections

between objects 

Dark/richer colors have more visual weight

High contrast background colors can effect weight

Visual Hierarchy

Contrast

Created using Hue, Saturation, Value

Contrast influences weight and can influence reading/scanning patterns

Hue              - color

Saturation    - how much of the color

Value           - how light or dark

Visual Hierarchy

Contrast & Color

Do

Content section 1

Content section 3

Content section 2

Contrasting hue, saturation, and values make it easier to see what's different

Visual Hierarchy

Contrast & Color

Don't

What's this even say?

Content section 1

This hurts...

Don't pair colors with similar HSV

H

S

V

240

100

100

0

100

100

Visual Hierarchy

Contrast & Colorblindness

Don't

Section 2

Content section 1

Rely on value to create contrast for safer colorblind vision

H

S

V

0

67

60

27

67

60

Section 3

Visual Hierarchy

Contrast & Colorblindness

Section 2

Content section 1

Section 3

Deuteranomaly

Protanomaly

NoCoffee Vision Simulator

Chrome extension offers multiple color blindness and vision impairment simulation options.

Visual Hierarchy

Proximity & Unity

Creates relationships between elements

Visual Hierarchy

Space

Group related elements

Visual Hierarchy

Texture

Hey texture... get it... Nevermind

POWER

It's so rad.

GLOVE

Visual Hierarchy

Texture

Can effect weight and importance

The Enterprise computer system is controlled by three primary main processor cores, cross-linked with a redundant melacortz ramistat, fourteen kiloquad interface modules. We finished our first sensor sweep of the neutral zone. I think you've let your personal feelings cloud your judgement. Your shields were failing, sir. Sorry, Data. Maybe we better talk out here; the observation lounge has turned into a swamp. The unexpected is our normal routine. and attack the Romulans. You did exactly what you had to do. You considered all your options, you tried every alternative and then you made the hard choice.

Visual Hierarchy

Repetition

Creates consistency and can be used to imply meaning

Reading Patterns

Users tend to scan in an "F" or "Z" pattern

Placing important content or items along these paths can be useful

Reading Patterns

Comfort vs. speed

People read faster with text has no line breaks, but they like reading with line breaks much more.

Ensign Babyface! The look in your eyes, I recognize it. You used to have it for me. We finished our first sensor sweep of the neutral zone. 

Ensign Babyface! The look in your eyes, I recognize it. You used to have it for me. We finished our first sensor sweep of the neutral zone. 

Fast

Comfortable

Visual Perception

Humans recognize and determine meaning from "visual" info much faster than "verbal" info (text)

vs.

Moon

Visual Perception

Dual-Coding Theory

Paring visual and textual (verbal) stimuli makes it easier to learn and remember

The Enterprise computer system is controlled by three primary main processor cores, cross-linked with a redundant melacortz ramistat, fourteen kiloquad interface modules. 

Maybe we better talk out here; the observation lounge has turned into a swamp. The unexpected is our normal routine. and attack the Romulans. 

 We finished our first sensor sweep of the neutral zone. I think you've let your personal feelings cloud your judgement. Your shields were failing, sir. Sorry, Data. 

The Enterprise computer system is controlled by three primary main processor cores, cross-linked with a redundant melacortz ramistat, fourteen kiloquad interface modules. 

Maybe we better talk out here; the observation lounge has turned into a swamp. The unexpected is our normal routine. and attack the Romulans. 

 We finished our first sensor sweep of the neutral zone. I think you've let your personal feelings cloud your judgement. Your shields were failing, sir. Sorry, Data. 

vs.

Visual Perception

Working Memory

Where new and already stored info meets

I takes energy to store and create meaning for new information. Building a consistent "logography" means users will only have to learn once.

Only used to imply "root" level of navigation

Only used to imply success or confirmation of an action

Only used with contact info

Only used to imply failure or denial of an action or service

Some may have loser definitions, but  are only used in specific contexts and remain constant in attitude or intent

Color can help reinforce context

Gestalt Theory

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts"

Closure

Content blocks should be seen as one object. Build good visual hierarchy to ensure this.

Hick's Law

Every additional choice will increase the time it takes someone to make a decision

Tool many links or buttons can hinder UX

Fitt's Law

The time needed to move to a target is a function of the distance to the target and the width of the target

Mr. Worf, you do remember how to fire phasers?

more

Mr. Worf, you do remember how to fire phasers?

more...

Mr. Worf, you do remember how to fire phasers?

more

vs.

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