designing your blog

Why Design a Blog?

Design is something that is emerging as more and more important. It is essential to have a product or a form of presenting information that effectively utilizes all of the best aspects of design. In this case, what I am designing is my blog. Not only does designing your blog make it more aesthetically pleasing to viewers, but it also makes it more accessible and easier to read. By making sure my blog looks good, I can attract more readers to actually care about what I have to say.

Design Principles to Consider 

When designing anything, it is absolutely essential to consider the core elements of design. These include contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity, white space, and balance. Contrast has to do with making sure you chose two colors that contrast greatly, which makes the type easier to read. Repetition brings the same elements back again and again, making every piece feel like a part of the same whole. Alignment of text makes our eyes and brains process text differently. Proximity and white space make sure that everything is spaced evenly, and there is some some space that is blank, to give viewers eyes a rest. Balance makes sure one side of the product or website doesn't feel heavier, with more subject matter on that side. In any choreographed swing dancing, choreographers like to make sure the dancing couples are spaced out evenly, to make the best use of the stage. Similarly, designers like to take up the same amount of room throughout the page.

How I Have Designed my Blog

In my blog, I try to stick to a very minimalist design. My colors, black and white, with some added purple to match my heading, all contrast very nicely and make sure that all of the text is extremely easy to read. I try to make sure all of my pictures are floating in my text to add interest and break up the type a little bit. I also tend to add headers to break up large chunks of text, so it's easier for a reader so scan through the post to look for exactly what they are reading. All of these elements together allow for my blog to be designed effectively and aesthetically pleasing.