When you have a great deal of complex information to communicate, a photo can get across more detail in a small space. In addition, photos are easier to process for readers who are pressed for time and unwilling to read lengthy amounts of text. For a layout that is easy to scan, use a large photo that takes up an entire page or spread; use a shot with a plain background to allow design continuity and space for captions. Use lines pointing to important parts of the photograph and short callout captions for explanation.
When looking at a print piece, many viewers will scan it first to see if it contains information that is of interest to them. To make it easier for people to find the data they are looking for, lay out the page using a hierarchy of information. Organize your information so it is easy to see in descending order of importance. The title should be the largest, followed by headings, subheadings, pull quotes and sidebars. Use colors, bold text and larger font sizes to draw attention to different pieces of the page.
If you are designing a page layout with many small blocks of text, it can be helpful to create a visual flow on the page to highlight the connections between each piece. Depending on the type of information, you can organize them in chronological order, by the type of relationship or in a logical progression. Put the logical first item at the top left of the page and design the rest of the page in a way that mimics the way a person reads, from left to write. Use lines, arrows, colors or other graphics to indicate to the reader where he should go next after each section.
Color can be a powerful visual indicator, helping people to find relationships between pieces of information that they might not group naturally. For a bold, bright page, use blocks of color to guide the reader through your page. Use one block for the title of a page, for example, and divide individual sections with other colors. If more than one section is related, use the same color to link them visually.