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Visual Hierarchy

Using size, weight, contrast and position to show what matters most.

What is Visual Hierarchy?

Using size, weight, contrast and position to show what matters most.

What you learn

Make the most important thing the most visible.

When it helps

people miss the most important thing, or a page feels cluttered.

Use it at work

  1. Decide the one thing people must see first.
  2. Make it the largest, boldest or highest-contrast thing.
  3. Make everything else quieter.
  4. Squint at the result and check what stands out.

Your output

Step back from your screen or squint. Note what you see first. If it isn’t the most important thing, change size, weight or contrast.

Watch for

Giving everything equal weight, or emphasizing the least important thing.

Related practices

Sources

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