Design is mostly about emphasis

Here’s a version of how to design something

1. Decide what’s most important on each page

2. Make the important stuff stand out

A lot of design is based on a simple idea: our brains are hard-wired to notice certain things.

Designers use these things as tools to draw your eye — and by doing so control your attention. Well-designed products direct that attention to make things clearer and help you get things done; bad designs send your attention on pointless goose chase.

The craft of design — directing your attention to the right places — is accomplished with emphasis.

I think using emphasis is one of the most important skills in all of design. Beginners that learn it well can do great work very quickly. Mastery of emphasis makes good designers into great ones.