Designing for Online Learning
Menu
  • ENGAGEMENT
    • Close
      • Elements
        • Close
          • Overview
            • Close
              • Elements of Design
            • Close
          • Line
            • Close
              • Use of Line
            • Close
          • Shape
            • Close
              • Use of Shape
            • Close
          • Form
            • Close
              • Design Trends: Dimension
            • Close
          • Color
            • Close
              • Use of Color
              • Color Theory
              • Color Codes
            • Close
          • Value
            • Close
              • Design Trends: Gradients
            • Close
          • Space
            • Close
              • Use of Space
            • Close
          • Texture
            • Close
              • Use of Texture
            • Close
        • Close
      • Principles
        • Close
          • Overview
            • Close
              • Principles of Design
            • Close
          • Contrast
            • Close
              • Use of Contrast
            • Close
          • Scale
            • Close
              • Use of Scale
            • Close
          • Repetition
            • Close
              • Use of Repetition
            • Close
          • Symmetry
            • Close
              • Use of Symmetry
            • Close
          • Alignment
            • Close
              • Use of Alignment
            • Close
          • Proximity
            • Close
              • Use of Proximity
            • Close
          • Hierarchy
            • Close
              • Use of Hierarchy
            • Close
        • Close
      • Putting It All Together
        • Close
            • Use of Photographs
            • Composition: Extolling the Hero
        • Close
    • Close
  • TECHNOLOGY
    • Close
      • Tools
        • Close
          • Open Tools
            • Close
                • Free Online Tools
                • Bible Study Tools
                • Google Tools
                • Presentation Tools
                • Video Recording Tools
            • Close
          • Moodle Tools
            • Close
                • How to Set up a Peer Review in Moodle
                • How to Import Quiz Questions in Moodle
                • How to Set Up Moodle Q&A Forums
                • How to Set Up Moodle Lessons
                • How to Embed Links and Videos
                • Extending Moodle Using HTML (Part 1)
                • Extending Moodle Using HTML (Part 2)
            • Close
        • Close
      • Tasks
        • Close
          • Content Creation
            • Close
                • Using Images in Moodle
                • Finding Images to Use
                • Best Practices for Using Video Online
                • Alternatives to Video
            • Close
          • Learning Activities
            • Close
                • Moodle Books and Lessons
            • Close
          • Communication
            • Close
                • Video Conferencing for Meetings
                • Forum Subscriptions in Moodle
            • Close
        • Close
    • Close
  • LEARNING
    • Close
      • Understanding Learners
        • Close
          • Learner Differences
            • Close
                • Multiple Intelligences
            • Close
          • Readiness to Learn
            • Close
                • Readiness to Learn
            • Close
          • Learner Experience (LX)
            • Close
                • Learner Experience (LX)
            • Close
        • Close
      • Understanding Learning
        • Close
          • Adult Learning
            • Close
                • Adult Learning – Part 1
                • Adult Learning – Part 2
            • Close
          • Self-Directed Learning
            • Close
                • Self-Directed Learning
                • Self-Directed Learning Skills
                • Self-Directed Learning Processes
            • Close
          • Reflective Learning
            • Close
                • Reflective Learning
            • Close
          • Active Learning
            • Close
                • Active and Participatory Learning
            • Close
          • Collaborative Learning
            • Close
                • Collaborative Learning
            • Close
          • Transformative Learning
            • Close
                • Transformative Learning
            • Close
          • Lifelong Learning
            • Close
                • Lifelong Learning
            • Close
        • Close
      • Learning Pathways
        • Close
          • Modalities
            • Close
                • Course Modality Paradigms
                • Blended Learning
                • Blending Synchronous and Asynchronous Approaches
            • Close
          • Information Architecture (IA)
            • Close
                • Information Architecture
            • Close
          • Professional Development
            • Close
                • Communities of Practice
            • Close
          • Other Pathways
            • Close
                • Designing for High and Low Bandwidth Contexts
            • Close
        • Close
      • Backward Design
        • Close
          • Overview
            • Close
                • Backward Design in 7 Steps
            • Close
          • Outcomes
            • Close
                • Writing Cognitive Objectives
                • Writing Behavioral Objectives
                • Writing Affective Objectives
            • Close
          • Evidence
            • Close
                • What Counts as Evidence?
            • Close
          • Assessment
            • Close
                • Diagnostic Assessment
                • Formative Assessment
                • Summative Assessment
            • Close
          • Blueprint
            • Close
                • Scaffolding, Alignment, and Distribution
                • Creating a Design Blueprint
            • Close
          • Evaluation
            • Close
                • Evaluation
            • Close
        • Close
      • Developing Content
        • Close
          • Open Educational Resources (OER)
            • Close
                • Open Educational Resources (OER)
            • Close
          • Pedagogical Strategies
            • Close
                • Designing Good Discussion Questions
            • Close
        • Close
    • Close
    • Close
    • Close
Principles of Design: Hierarchy

Use of Hierarchy

By Horizon

» Engagement » Principles » Hierarchy » Use of Hierarchy

Creating hierarchy: Hierarchy is all about directing the eye to look at the most important part of the design first, then at the second most important part, and so on. As a designer that means you have to first decide what is the most important part of the design and then you have to make use of design principles to draw attention to it.
Contrast: The design principle of contrast is an easy way to highlight the focal point of the design. Areas of high contrast are eye-catching. If you have one particularly important piece of information to communicate, can you play with some type of contrast to highlight it?
Scale: Scale is another design principle that makes it easy to highlight the focal point of the design. Larger elements are presumed to have greater importance. Think about the layout of most newspaper articles and textbooks. The headings are always larger than the body text. Using scale to indicate hierarchy can be as simple as that.
Alignment & Proximity: Hierarchy is about more than just drawing attention to the focal point. It is also about showing connections between elements of equal importance. Alignment and proximity are ways of showing that certain elements go together, which makes them useful tools for creating visual hierarchy in your design.
The principle of HIERARCHY shows how the design is organized.
Use of Proximity
PrevNext
Use of Photographs
Sitemap
Contact us
Horizon Education

© 2021 Horizon Education Network. All Rights Reserved.