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Manuals / Graphic Design / Chapter 3

A · See · beginner · Week 1 · Chapter 3 of 13

Contrast deep dive: figure & ground

Figure-ground relationships, alignment as invisible glue, and proximity grouping — the Gestalt basics that make layouts feel “designed” without decoration.

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Figure and ground

Every layout has a ground (background) and figures (content). Flip them intentionally — dark mode posters use light type on dark ground.

Figure and groundDrag stickies · tap for tips
Study mapDrag stickies · tap for tipsKeep it shortdrag · tap →Name the waitdrag · tap →Scope locatorsdrag · tap →Trace when stuckdrag · tap →One browser firstdrag · tap →Isolate statedrag · tap →Assert the UIdrag · tap →Retry wiselydrag · tap →Seed datadrag · tap →Close the loopdrag · tap →Keep it shortdrag · tap →Name the waitdrag · tap →Scope locatorsdrag · tap →Trace when stuckdrag · tap →One browser firstdrag · tap →Isolate statedrag · tap →Pathwise hackdrag · tap →Figure and grounddrag · tap →Try thisdrag · tap →Follow the dashed drag · tap →

Do this now

Redesign your night market poster in two versions: light ground and dark ground. Same hierarchy, different mood.

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Chapter learning outcomes
  • Figure/ground
  • Proximity & alignment
  • Visual tension vs harmony

Clear these before you leave

Side quest

Before / after

Find a bad local flyer online. Redesign only hierarchy and alignment — keep their words.