What is a layout and what information does it provide?

Answer 1

A layout is an orderly arrangement of the elements making up a message. This includes visuals, headlines, subheads, body copy, captions, trademarks, slogans, signatures, etc. The designer brings coherence to the visual message and use style to help create meaning.

By arranging the elements creatively and relating elements to one another in size and proportion, the designer will enhance the message. The design principles of balance, proportion, and movement are guides for uniting images, type, colors, and qualities of the medium into a single piece of communication. A layout can also serve as a blueprint for producion. It will show the size and placement of each element, tells the copywriter how much copy to write, suggests the size and style of the image to the illustrator or photographer, and helps the art director specify the type. And, once the production manager knows the dimensions of the piece, the number of photos, the amount of typesetting, and the use of art elements such as color and illustrations, they can accurately determine the cost of producing it. To the audience, the layout provides all the information about the product or service being sold, or the message intended to send to an audience, in an eye-catching way.