09: Good Design is CRAP

Introduction to Interactive Media

09: Good Design is CRAP


What is CRAP

• Crap stands for – Contrast– Repetition– Alignment – Proximity

• Guiding principles of good design.


Who invented CRAP?

• The idea of CRAP was coined by Robin Williams in her book: “The Non-Designers Design Book”

• She applies principles to print media.


What is the CRAP philosophy?

• William’s contends that understanding the CRAP principles and applying them to the piece you are creating will vastly improve the effectiveness of the piece you are creating.


CRAP applied to design for the screen.

• The CRAP principles can be applied to interactive digital media pieces as well as print.

• In this lecture we will learn the CRAP principles and see how they are applied to interactive digital media interfaces.


Design Principle #1: Proximity

• Things that are related should be grouped together.

• Things that are not related should not be grouped together.


The use of a menu bar is an example of good proximity

• Most web sites use a menu bar. This is an example of good proximity. All the navigation elements have a similar functionality so they are in close proximity.


Proximity ExampleNotice how all the main navigation elements are in close proximity to each other along the top of the interface. Extra space has been deliberately added between the main navigation and the rest of the content on the page.


Bad Proximity Example

Original header graphic


Put Related Content Together

original header graphic

modified header graphic


Put Related Content Together

modified header graphic

explanation of modifications





Consider Whitespace

• a related concept to proximity is that of whitespace

• whitespace refers to any empty space between visual elements– it is not necessarily white, but it will be if

the background color is white






Design Principle #2: Alignment

• visual elements should line up in straight lines, horizontal or vertical

• straight lines give a more organized appearance







Alignment• as a general rule, left alignment work best – particularly for

paragraphs of text• center alignment is terrible for paragraphs, but can work

for things other than text• some examples of good center alignment:


Design Principle #3: Repetition

• visual elements that have the same purpose or level of importance should look the same

• if there are too many different-looking things on a web page, it will not look like everything belongs on the same page– it will not look cohesive


Bad Repetition


Good Repetition



Good Repetition

everything with the same purpose/importance looks the same – fonts, colors, icons


Good Repetition

• Repetition allows us to focus on what is different.


Good Repetition


Design Principle #4: Contrast

• visual elements with a different purpose or level of importance should appear different– this is the opposite of repetition

• more important elements should be more prominent (larger, with stronger colors) than less important elements


Bad Contrast


Bad Contrast


Bad Contrast


Bad Contrast - Redesign


Good Contrast


Good Contrast


LET’S DO A LITTLE CRAP ANALYSIS





CRAP Recap

• the four principles you should consider to improve your design are:– proximity– alignment– repetition– contrast


CRAP Recap• proximity: visual elements that are related

should be close together, and vice versa– use whitespace to separate elements

• alignment: visual elements should be lined up in straight lines– left- and right-alignment are usually best– center-alignment can work sometimes, but not

with paragraphs of text


CRAP Recap• repetition: visual elements that have the same

purpose or level of importance should look the same– this applies to fonts, colors, icons, etc.– repeated elements on a page will give it a sense of

cohesion (unity)

• contrast: visual elements with different purposes or levels of importance should appear different– the opposite of repetition

Documents

09: Good Design is CRAP