The Rule of Thumb in Creating The Perfect Layout

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Hopefully you have several hands because it takes about 5 rules of thumb to get the perfect layout out every time. And while we might all laugh at you because you have five hands, we will all quietly respect your print layouts. So it's probably worth it in the end.

Rule of thumb #1: Perfect 3rds
Divide your layout into horizontal and vertical thirds. Make the primary elements lay along one of these lines and ideally at one of the points where the lines cross. This is related to the Golden Ratio. Look it up. It will change your weird handed world.

Rule of thumb #2: Go Ogilvian
David Ogilvy already did all the research you will ever need regardless of what printed medium you're using. He found that the eye is drawn across the page based upon the elements. Make sure that your layout has these key elements. You've got five thumbs, so remember each of these on one thumb: graphics are the first thing readers will see, then any captions, followed by the headline, sub-titles next, and lastly the body text.

Rule of thumb #3: Line it up
Use a grid to make sure your primary elements sit on the page in line with each other. Our eyes are very sensitive to alignment, so get it right. Quit using your inordinate number of thumbs to line it all up. Use a grid tool or a ruler.

Rule of thumb #4: Margins
Your margins are more important than you think. Use this general tip: put three of your thumbs across the bottom, one on the left margin, one and your pinky on right side margin, and one thumb across the top. This should give you an idea of how your margins should work to separate your content from the edge of the page. Perfectly centered is boring specially when it comes to poster printing. See, you're getting more use out of all those thumbs than you thought!

Rule of thumb #5: Upside down
Turn your layout upside down. It should be interesting visually upside down as well as right side up. What you're looking for here is that your primary elements - like headlines, graphics, sub-titles, etc. - are working together to draw the reader to the content. Use two hands to turn the picture over, another for note taking, and you still got extras. Easy enough.