Design for Hackers

The forms of realist faces are derived neither from calligraphic hand nor from mathematical precision; instead, they lie somewhere in between.

The Impressionists avoided black not only because it nearly doesn’t exist in nature, but because the effects caused by changes in hue are so much richer than those caused by changes in shade. When you use pure black to create contrast, you miss out completely on the powerful effects of changes in hue.

It won’t get noticed if it doesn’t contrast with its surroundings.

Dark backgrounds can provide a sense of exclusivity and sophistication.

This restriction was a blessing, because changes in size are best done with some proportional consideration.

As you mouse over certain elements of the Think Vitamin design, they pop into the foreground, prompting you to interact with them.

The term design principles refers to a series of beliefs or tenets about what kind of features make a composition attractive.

Elements can be made dominant by being the darkest, the lightest, the largest, or even by having lots of white space around them.

When something appears to be closer to you in a painting or composition, it is considered to be in the foreground. Things in the foreground are likely to be noticed first in any composition.

Figure 5-3 The composition on the right is more visually interesting than the composition on the left, despite sharing similar characteristics, because it possesses different proportional relationships.