DURING their school days many people by their early teens have left behind any visual education. Yet, in everday life, most people know what they like and don't like on page or screen – but when using software, they struggle to create the 'look' they want for their information. Usually, to create our own effective look we need to be able to do three things,

- access and articulate graphic principles and tips
- practise using them in projects
- develop a visual attitude when creating text,

so that 'home-made' layouts can be made not only to inform but also look good and communicate effectively.

Resources for learning and practising the basic principles of layout and design are plentiful and fun to look up. Below are a few samples to try out…