Style, Content & Layout
The Link to Purpose
Knowing the purpose of a media product is only half the job. The real skill is understanding how designers use style, content and layout to make that purpose work. Every decision — from the colours chosen to the way a voiceover is delivered — should connect back to what the product is trying to achieve.
This unit identifies seven tools designers use to do this: colour, conventions of genre, formal/informal language, positioning of elements, style of audio representation, style of visual representation, and tone of language.
Colour
Colour carries meaning even before a word is read or a sound is heard. Certain colours are strongly associated with particular feelings or ideas. Red communicates urgency, danger or excitement; green suggests nature, safety or health; blue often conveys trust, calm or professionalism; yellow and orange are associated with energy and warmth.
A charity campaign raising awareness of environmental damage might use earthy greens and browns to reinforce its connection to the natural world. A safety sign might use red to draw attention to rules and warnings. An entertaining children's product might use bright, bold colours to feel exciting and inviting.
Colour can also create contrast — placing light text on a dark background, for example, to ensure information stands out clearly. In an informative product, clear contrast supports readability; in a promotional product, it can make a key message impossible to miss.
Unlock All Revision Notes
Syllabus-perfect, clutter-free summaries — so you only study what really matters.
Start your 7-day free trial (no card needed!)Existing User? Sign In