size



By: Amanda Redden

 

Size: [sahyz] ; noun. - how small or large something is. Physical dimensions should serve scale and proportion – but size is also contextual and relative in designs.

Size and scale are similar and sometimes confused with each other. "The size refers to the actual dimensions whereas the scale refers to the size in relation to everything else, such as people or the size of a room." (2).



=In design, there are three factors of size: =
 * 1) = function =
 * 2) =attract=
 * 3) =organize=

__** Function **__ The function of size is to determine what the printed size of the piece will be. For example, if you are making a flyer, you need to consider the size in case it has to fit in a standard manila envelope or be made smaller or larger.

To attract the audience,small and large elements can be used or an image can be re-sized as well as cropped or edited to make it more appealing.
 * __ Attract __**

There are a few ways to organize your piece. The most important element should be the largest and the least important element should be the smallest. This will allow the viewer's attention to instantly be focused on the main topic. Headlines are usually the largest type element while the sub-headlines are slightly smaller and the body text is even smaller. To show importance, images can be made larger so they appear closer and create spacial balance.
 * __ Organize __**

= Here are several ways design elements can be enhanced by using size: =
 * Make the most important element the largest
 * Make elements more noticeable by changing the size of text or pictures
 * Decide when to bring forward elements or make them recede
 * Contrast two elements with each other, add small text to a large picture
 * Use repeating elements to make elements fit together



= Size in regards to web design: =

The designer determines the size of the page as well as the size of the sidebar, header and footer and the main content area. Other aspects that the designer is responsible for is setting the size of the images within the page and the size of the displayed text used throughout."Every element of your page will display at some size." (3).

Another aspect of size in the design process is the size of the files being used. As a designer, you need to consider the size of your creation for users to download the final piece. Each viewer may have different browsers in which the webpage is opened. With that being said, each viewer sees the web design in absolute measurements regarding fixed dimensions and size.





Sources: 1. Image 1: http://www.designofthepicturebook.com/2012/01/ 2. http://www.prettyunexpected.com/basic-elements-of-design-size-scale/ 3. http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/size-scale-proportion/ 4. Image 4: http://urlnextdoor.com/ai/design-layout/week04.php 5. http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2013/02/20-typographic-websites/