Don’t Use Size Just to Show Size

INKTOBER DAY 3: MINIATURE

When you make something smaller, you are not only communicating size.

You are communicating hierarchy.

The disruptive way to play with hierarchy is to make something your audience expects to see big… small.

Something they expect to see high… low.

But there is one important thing:You need a reference.

If everything is small, we dont really understand what “small” means.

We need another element to create the contrast.

And this is where things get interesting.

The big element has a meaning.

The small element has another meaning.

And the relationship between them creates a third meaning.

Then you can add even more layers.

What are they doing?

What are they wearing?

Where are they?

What is happening around them?

Every one of these choices can add meaning to the story.

So when you change the size of something, dont just ask:“How can I make this bigger or smaller?”

Ask:“What happens to the meaning when I change its place in the hierarchy?”

Thats today's tip: Dont use size just to show size. Use size to change meaning.