Contrast is critical to overall balance and structure, differentiating elements within a display, and controlling the users’ gaze. Contrast allows structure to emerge from the page.
A full page of text will be viewed as a solid mass with no clues as to how the user should proceed, while an overly graphic page containing too many highly contrasted elements will disrupt the ability of the user to find the relevant content.
Contrast can exist across several visual dimensions: shape, color, size, or position (to name but a few). It’s important to develop a feel for how these differences can affect the user’s perception of the page.
Highly contrasted elements grab the users’ attention, whereas more subdued contrasts require conscious effort to be noticed.
While the use of contrast will be discussed further in the design elements section, it’s important to keep in mind that too many highly contrasting elements will lead to an unbalanced and confusing display.
Too little contrast leads to a dull page with no hints as to the underlying structure and may look accidental rather than intentional. Contrast is only effective when the intent is obvious.
Use contrast to draw attention to particular elements of the display. Contrast also helps to develop a hierarchy of focal elements to rhythmically move the user’s eye across the page.
Contrast and consistency go hand in hand. Make similar things look similar. Make different things look different. Leave nothing to chance.
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