Layout Design
Layout Design: Arrange content for clear reading order. Review brief, audience, format, brand system, assets, and production constraints and produce a layout specification or design.
--- name: graphic-design-layout-design description: Use when arranging supplied or planned content into a readable visual composition for a specified medium. license: MIT metadata: author: Thrive category: graphic-design --- # Layout Design ## When to use Use when arranging supplied or planned content into a readable visual composition for a specified medium. ## Boundaries Use Branding to define the identity system, Typography for a type-only decision, and Print Design for production preflight of an established layout. ## Inputs Collect final dimensions, medium, audience, reading distance, content hierarchy, brand assets, required copy, image rights, and export format. ## Method 1. Rank content by the action the viewer should take. Sketch at least two arrangements that differ in hierarchy or reading path before styling one. 2. Build a grid with consistent alignment and spacing. Use type scale, contrast, and white space to make primary, secondary, and supporting information distinct. 3. Review the design at actual output size. Check small text, crop, safe areas, responsive variants, and whether imagery or decoration competes with the message. ## Decision rules - If all copy cannot fit legibly, negotiate content priority or format rather than shrinking text below usable size. - If brand assets conflict with accessibility or reproduction needs, document an approved variant instead of silently changing the identity. ## Verification - A viewer can identify the primary message and next action within the intended viewing time. - Alignment, contrast, text size, and crop work at the final size. - Exports use the requested dimensions, format, color mode, and licensed assets. ## Stop and handoff If required copy, dimensions, or asset rights are unknown, present the layout as a draft and identify the decision needed for final export. ## Output Return the design or implementation specification, hierarchy rationale, dimensions, assets used, export settings, and remaining review questions. <!-- MIT License Copyright (c) 2026 Thrive Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. -->