Hierarchy: A Simple Explanation of the Term from

Contents:

• Fundamental principles of hierarchy in graphic design
• Hierarchy in design: definition and importance
• Structural levels in design: the basis of hierarchy
• Proximity
• Contrast
• Balance
• What is the role of hierarchy in typographic design?
• SOLID in OOP
• The structure of levels in the profession developer

The concept of hierarchy is used in both design and information technology. However, does it mean the same thing in these fields, or does each have its own understanding of the term?

Hierarchy is a system in which elements are arranged in a certain order, reflecting their importance or level. Mikhail Voronin, a graphic design specialist, explains that hierarchy helps organize information so that it is understandable and easy to perceive. This can manifest itself in differences in size, color, or the arrangement of objects on the page.

Anuar Mendubaev, a development expert, adds that hierarchy is important not only in design but also in software structure. It allows you to create logical connections between components, which simplifies user interaction with the product. Thus, hierarchy is a key element that contributes to clarity and usability in various areas.

Font designer at NT Type, with significant experience in graphic design. Digital printing specialist with technical skills. Speaks at professional-related events. An active member of major font communities, he also took part in the Yo-fest 2022 exhibition.

Fundamental Principles of Hierarchy in Graphic Design

Hierarchy is formed based on guidelines that help organize the workflow. For centuries, graphic designers and typographers have been guided by these guidelines. However, with the advent of tools such as Photoshop and Figma, these key principles have acquired particular significance.

The development of digital interfaces has necessitated digital layout, which is sometimes even more complex than traditional print. It must take into account adaptability, display differences across multiple devices, as well as rendering nuances, and the diversity of browsers and operating systems. So, simply knowing how to arrange elements on the screen to achieve the desired visual effect is not enough - it is also important to take into account all these technical and user experience and interface features.

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The interface is a kind of link between the user and the device or program. It allows people to interact with technology or software by providing easy-to-use controls and visual cues. More broadly, an interface can be either physical or digital. For example, the buttons and screens on a phone are physical interfaces, while the menus and windows on a computer are examples of a graphical interface. The primary goal of an interface is to make using technology easier and more intuitive for the user.

Hierarchy in Design: Definition and Importance

Hierarchy is a way of structuring information in a visual form. It provides many benefits:

• It creates a visual organization that guides the audience's eye through design elements.
• It organizes data by categorizing it based on its importance or interrelationships.

Let's say you are creating a brochure for a new product line. In this case, the first step is to determine how to arrange the information so that it is understandable even to those unfamiliar with your company's products, as well as to those who have been working there for a long time. This means that some sections will have priority, and they should be placed first!

Structural Levels in Design: The Basis of Hierarchy

The key concept of a hierarchical system is the classification of information into levels.

At each level, there are components that are more important than the elements at the previous level, but less important than those at the next level.

Hierarchy allows the audience to quickly identify the key points to focus on first, and then, if desired, drill down to less significant aspects.

Three key principles that underpin hierarchical structures in graphic design include balance, contrast, and proximity.

Proximity

This principle concerns the distance between elements within the overall structure of a design. Both close and distant placement of objects can help users find the information they need on each page more quickly because they create visual cues that make it easier to find. If the proximity rule is violated, everything will look disordered, which is completely contrary to user expectations.

The key point is that objects that are close to each other are perceived as related. This property can be effectively used to structure information or group design elements.

Contrast

Visual differences between elements are formed based on the contrast principle, which allows some to stand out while others remain less noticeable. Various characteristics, such as color, shape, size, and texture, are used to achieve this effect.

• Color Contrast.

This method is quite simple to apply, since many contrasting shades are clearly visible without special tools. It is enough to choose one light and one dark color (for example, for the background), and also select harmonious tones. However, there is a risk of making a mistake, especially if the brightness of the chosen colors is the same, and the differences lie only in their shades.

• Contrast of shapes.

Two objects or areas with different shapes can coexist in the same design, which helps achieve contrast.

For example, icons for sections and product categories in an online store can be the same size, but be round and square. This difference in shape will allow them to stand out from each other better.

• Size contrast.

Large elements tend to have a stronger impact on attention than small ones, since our vision and brain perceive them much faster. However, this does not mean that you need to increase the size of all text to the maximum.

Balance

Balanced The distribution of elements creates visual harmony and creates an impression of order and organization, or, conversely, chaos, if it corresponds to the design concept.

Balance in a work of art allows the viewer to perceive the overall harmony of the composition without focusing on individual details. It is achieved through the use of symmetry and asymmetry, as well as the correct scale, proportions, and relationships between elements.

• Symmetry.

Symmetry emphasizes the unity of the components, while symmetrical compositions are generally perceived as more formal than asymmetrical ones.

• Asymmetry.

Asymmetry can be off-putting, but at the same time, it can attract increased attention. Sometimes, just slightly shifting two identical gray rectangles in a design is enough to create an interesting visual effect.

What is the role of hierarchy in typographic design?

In this situation, nothing has really changed.

In the field of book publishing, and then on the Internet, certain principles of text hierarchy have emerged:

• Font size matters significantly, and large font sizes are more important than small ones.
• Thick typefaces are more important than thin or standard ones.

Italics are placed a little to the side, since they were originally a separate typeface, which over time became a typeface and, accordingly, a way of emphasizing information in text.

Accidental fonts are distinguished by their unique use. They are used not for long text typesetting, but exclusively for headings, large fonts, and various decorative elements, such as drop caps.

In general, it can be said that text becomes more significant and occupies a higher position in the design hierarchy if it uses more ink or takes up more pixels, as well as if the font is more intricate.

However, hierarchy can also be achieved using three different weights of the same font.

At NT Type, we have just begun beta testing our new geometric font, NT Somic—you can download it and test it in your projects. We have a small request for you: since the font is still in beta, please do not rush to distribute it on public groups like "All free Cyrillic fonts here." Instead, please try using it and share your experience with us. We will be very grateful to you.

Development Team Leader at Antro.cx.

When I hear the word "hierarchy", I think of the fundamentals of programming, especially how they are organized and structured.

Following these principles can improve a programmer's efficiency, and they should be kept in mind. Let's look at a few of them: KISS, DRY, YAGNI, and SOLID.

KISS (keep it simple) – strive to simplify your code. Most systems perform best when they remain simple rather than become unnecessarily complex.

The DRY (don't repeat yourself) principle means avoiding code duplication. This will allow you to make changes in only one place, significantly simplifying the development process. Rest assured, your future self will thank you for making this decision.

The YAGNI (Yet Aren't Gonna Need It) principle reminds you not to complicate your code by adding unnecessary functionality that isn't currently being used.

SOLID in OOP

If you have any idea about object-oriented programming, then you're probably familiar with the basic principles of SOLID.

There are five key principles of object-oriented programming and design that, if followed, can make your code more scalable and maintainable.

• The Single Responsibility Principle (SRP) states that each object should focus on performing one specific task. This responsibility should be entirely contained within the class, and all methods and functions related to it should serve only this responsibility.
• The Open/Closed Principle (OCP) implies that your code should be open to the addition of new functionality, but its basic structure should remain unchanged.
• The Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP) states that child classes should not violate the behavior defined by a parent class. This means that the behavior of derived classes should be consistent and predictable for the part of the code that relies on the base class.
• The Interface Segregation Principle (ISP) implies that broad and complex interfaces should be broken down into narrower and more focused ones. This allows software components that use such compact interfaces to have access to only those methods that are necessary for their functioning.
• The Dependency Inversion Principle (DIP) states that modules at a higher level should not depend on modules at a lower level.

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Besides the SOLID principles, there are many other approaches and guidelines that contribute to writing high-quality code.

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Basics of Object-Oriented Programming in Python: Methods for Preventing Confusion in code.

The structure of levels in the developer profession

In addition, the hierarchy of professional positions is important during the development process.

In the field of information technology, there is a generally accepted classification of the level of professionalism of programmers, which divides them into three key categories - beginners (junior), mid-level specialists (middle), and experienced professionals (senior). The level of a developer increases with his growth and accumulation of experience, but it is worth noting that this status may vary depending on the specific organization. That is, the same specialist may occupy a senior position in one company, and be classified as middle in another.

People who are just beginning to master the field of information technology often require help from more experienced specialists. It is important for them to receive mentorship and training to successfully develop in this field.

Mid-level specialists have a certain level of experience and are able to independently handle assigned tasks.

Professionals with extensive experience, who have been working in the field of information technology for a long time and have extensive knowledge in their specialization.

These specialists have project management skills, know how to evaluate tasks and make important and responsible decisions.

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