Homework assignment: Read Rolling Stone.com

One of my favorite design principles is the rule of thirds. It is such an easy rule to follow on so many different platforms and it makes such a big impact on the final results. The rule of thirds basically requires you to divide your object into a grid with three equal sections going each direction – a tick-tack-toe grid if you will. Once you’ve set this grid, you adjust your photo or design accordingly.

            When photographing landscapes, the pictures appear more balanced if you aim to place the natural lines along the lines of your grid. Instead of placing the line where the sunset meets the ocean in the center of your photo, try to place it in the top or bottom third of the photo and watch as the entire picture is changed without losing the emphasis you’d like to place on that clean line. Most cell phones and digital cameras even have the option to view that grid in your viewfinder when taking photos so that it is even easier to adhere to the rule of thirds.

            When designing webpages, the rule of thirds applies as well. If there is a particular item you’d like to highlight on your page, you can frame it with columns along the sides using it to take up the center section. I found that RollingStone.com provides a great example of a design layout that follows the rule of thirds. If you take a look at their page, they display breaking news along the left and trending articles along the right and their top story is placed right in the center of the page layout.

Editing mistake of the week: The 13 Awkward Struggles Of People Who Hates Being Touchy-Feely.

When I followed the link to the article, the title was completely different, but the title that comes up when the link is shared on Facebook should read: The 13 Awkward Struggles of People Who Hate being Touchy-Feely.