Design 101 – C.R.A.P. over Crap – Part 4

It’s time for the final instalment in the C.R.A.P. series! I hope you’ve found these articles helpful and easy to understand. The final principle I’m going to discuss today is Proximity. Once you learn about this you’ll have all the knowledge needed to make sure your site works with visual design standards and pleases the public!

PROXIMITY

Proximity is all about grouping similar items together. If elements are related, they should be in close proximity to each other, simple as that. Proximity is often used in conjunction with repetition, to give the user a clear visual representation of things that belong together. It’s also tied in with spacing, as we discussed in the alignment article. The right amount of padding, or white space around an element, can visually let users know if an adjacent element is related, or not.

For an example, look at this website banner. It’s scattered and lacks clarity because proximity and alignment weren’t considered. The information is not organized in an intuitive manner.

Now look at the banner with the same information, but arranged with the rule of proximity in mind. You’ll see related information is grouped together. The agent’s name is followed by her designation, and the office contact numbers appear underneath the brokerage name. The website address is aligned in the same area as the brokerage info, but is differentiated by font colour and weight. This logical organization of information is simple and easy to understand, yet it’s not uncommon for this principle to be overlooked on the web.

The principles of C.R.A.P. are among the first things you learn in Web Design 101.

These principles reflect standard web conventions and good practice, and in turn ensure that users are able to understand and navigate their way through your site with ease. But remember – these principles don’t stand alone. Follow all the rules when working on your website and you’ll soon have an easy-to-understand, powerful, and professional real estate website.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

And remember – WHEN IN DOUBT – contact our Support Team for help. We’ve seen and created hundreds of real estate websites, and we know what works. Do you feel like your site has become outdated? Not happy with the overall look? We can have a designer consult with you on the look and feel of your site, and give it a little sprucing up if need be. We’re always here to help. Post a comment here or email us with your questions!

Authored By: Tara, Client Relations