Principle 2 Direct The Eyes
Eye direction is important as it helps the viewer understand what the information is communicating. A path gets created if all the elements are put together syntactically which is the part to part relationship of the elements. Having a eye flow that that works to convey the information best to an audience is essential aspect of graphic design as we are visual communicators and if the eye flow is too complex or create difficulty, then the design artifact is causing more issues than then solving them.
Enhancing Cognitive Processes
Promotes speedy perception -
The quicker something is processed into the working memory the better because the sensory memory is scanning so many things at once that if a single part of the graphic is missed the less chance it is perceived. A viewer will overlook the complexity of the graphic if there is not inherent path or eye direction to help guide them to detailed areas that contain important information too. Having a clear and concise path increases efficiency in understand the whole.Improves processing -
Eye flow greatly increases the processing of information in an orderly or clear understanding. Viewers often get distracted by visual or verbal information that is irrelevant and because we flock to things out of the ordinary as viewers. What can happen is the irrelevant source can take up processing and the viewer tends to spend more time on that part rather than the whole design as one. Having an organized flow keeps the eye on the basic path in which the viewer can always trace back to if they were to stray from it.
Increases comprehension -
Getting a comprehensible reaction is important because a design artifact could contain information that is new or is put into a different schematic understanding. Having that inherent structure to the piece greatly increases the comprehension.Organization provides a cognitive framework which make it easier to comprehend the information. Eye flow also helps the viewer to break up the data and implement it into existing models and schemas.
Applying the Principles
Position -
The boundaries or frame of the piece is a imporant part to understand. How an object is affected in the space is how it is percieved and depending what other information is there can create many menaings and perceptions one's mind.
Emphasis -
Having many elements very different from each other helps to create emphasis and with it the page becomes flat or dull. Changing an aspect of one object to another is important and this is one way that eye flow is created inherently. Having varied sizes, points of view, detail, and relationship are all important things to think about when showing emphasis.
Movement -
Our eyes will always follow movement or motion in somthing, but any roadblocks will stop us in our tracks and curb the movement aspect. Seeing motion clearly can really help us understand the information being conveyed and so smooth transition is important as long as the information is coherent enough that we can get it all of it one look. The beauty of it is that we can always follow back through and stop to figure out any data that was missed.
Eye Gaze -
Out minds and eyes can detect a face even though it may not be and exact replica of a face. Certain aspects can grab our eyes because it is fimiliar to us or something completely new to us. At most time we are looking at what others are looking at because they are invest in whatever it may be and so we just get drawn to it even though we were looking the other person.
Visual Cues -
As visual people we are always looking for cues that instantly gives us the information or help us in directing the eye to the subsequent information. Having these visual cues greatly increase our overall processing of waht is happening or being conveyed to an audience or veiwer.
Color or Color Cues -
Having color or cues that include color help the veiwer navigate the information more successfully. Color helps attract attention and assist in giuding the veiwer to pay attention to te detail. Color can help to organize elements and link together information to one another.
