Clear design basics: getting familiar with CRAP!

We love words at the Clear Language Lab! But even the most important and interesting information can miss the mark if the design is not clear. In the Non-Designer's Design Handbook, author Robin Williams (not that Robin Williams!) explores tips to make everyday content like flyers and social media posts easier to understand. Let's break down the CRAP method! 

Breaking down CRAP  

Have you ever looked at a poster or form you are making, and you know something feels off...but you don’t know what? The CRAP method gives you a few key things to look for in making a design that your readers can follow! 

	Explanation	Example
Contrast	Using different colors, size, fonts, and other elements to help important information stand out
Repetition	Using similar elements like shapes, color, and fonts to create unity in a design
Alignment	Lining content up with other content on the page in an intentional way to make content easier to read
Proximity	Grouping content in ways that supports meaning and helps the reader make sense of the information

Applying CRAP strategies 

Look at the two sample posters below. What do you notice is different about how information is presented? Which one makes it easier to find information? Why? 

Version 1	Version 2

Contrast 

#1 uses different fonts and sizes, but they are inconsistent and don’t seem to have a clear pattern to them. #2 uses contrast to make the title and subheadings stand out. 

Repetition  

#2 has several repeating features, including the same subheading and icon styles across sections to create continuity. 

Alignment 

In #1, the text is centered, which can be hard for people used to reading in English, which is read left to right.  #2 uses left alignment for most text and uses center alignment for just a few elements like the subheadings, which adds some contrast. 

Proximity (Grouping) 

In #1, the text runs together, and the reader must figure out where sections start and stop.  In #2, we can skim more easily with helpful headings that let us know what details are in each section so we can choose what to read (or not read). 

Reflecting on your work 

• Think about a flyer, social media post, or document you’ve shared with community members. What is something you might change next time? 

• What ideas here would be helpful to share with your colleagues? 

Clear Language Lab Cheat Sheets are brief summaries of foundational topics we talk about often at the Clear Language Lab. Questions or errors you want to report? Contact Tiara Whitlock, Program Manager, at tiara@litworks.org.

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