Section 5 · Visual Language

Layout

Definition

The overall arrangement of text, image, and space on a page or screen — the structural plan that organizes content before any grid is applied.

Why it matters

Layout is the first decision that determines whether a design reads as organized or chaotic; it sets reading order and hierarchy before finer details are addressed.

Example

Deciding a poster stacks a large image above text, versus splitting the page into separate image and text zones.