Before I became a professional organizer, I was a graphic designer. Interestingly, I often apply graphic design principles when I organize. It’s the perfect blend of my skills. In graphic design, you are given a bunch of images, and copy and you have to make all of them work together cohesively on one page. You guide the user’s eye on the page. If you have done your job well the user has the experience you intended. They clearly understand the information, they obtain all the information they need, they feel an emotion, they remember your art, they share your art, they are motivated to act, they buy the product, etc. This same concept applies when I am organizing a home.
As a professional organizer, my goal is to ensure that clients understand where everything belongs in their space. When I do my job well, they can easily find what they need, feel comfortable in their environment, and appreciate how it looks. They also recognize the value of my services. Here are some ways in which graphic design principles assist me in helping my clients effectively.
White Space
The spacing around items is just as crucial as the items themselves. This is known as white space. Our eyes need time to rest; too much visual information can be overwhelming and counterproductive.
Hierarchy
I always consider hierarchy. Just like a graphic designer guides the eye on a page, I arrange items on shelves so that the most important items are easily visible and accessible.
Purpose
In graphic design, everything serves a purpose. If it doesn’t it’s clutter. I make sure every item in a space has a purpose and the placement of every item makes sense. As a result, the space becomes intuitive and user-friendly for everyone.
Balance
Balance is essential. I aim for visually proportional objects in the space. I also introduce fun to functional spaces by adding photos to shelves to create balance and make them feel less utilitarian.
Color
Let’s not forget about color! If the client is open to the idea, I color-code the books. If the bins are colored, I create fun color combinations. Color can be used to establish hierarchy, and balance, and create visually pleasing groupings of items to help implement organization systems.
Need help getting organized? I’d love to help you make the most of your home. Call me at 804-625-4411 and let’s talk!
