Layout Controls

To layout a page is not just "throwing" controls on a page. Several aspects have to be considered, such as:

• Flow of control

  How the user progresses through a page when doing his or her work.

• Dependencies

  How elements on a page affect each other.

• Togetherness

  Which elements on a page belong to each other, there may be closer and farther relations between elements.

• Aesthetics and general design principles

  How information can be effectively communicated visually.

The layout process has three steps - these can be done in the following sequence:

• Sequence of elements (vertical, horizontal).

• Nesting of elements.

• Spacing between elements at different hierarchy levels.

The sequence takes care of the flow of control, dependencies, and information about which elements belong together - the latter in a more linear fashion. The nesting also takes care of dependencies and of togetherness - but in a hierarchical or top-down fashion. The spacing takes care for aesthetics and the proper application of design principles (mostly togetherness).