A system with room to breathe

Consistency is a relationship

A system can hold together through typography, proportion and image treatment while allowing radically different compositions. The common thread should be easy to recognise and difficult to reduce to a single layout.

Write rules that help decisions

A good rule explains why a decision works. Use generous space around a quiet image. Keep supporting text close to its subject. Reserve the accent for moments of emphasis. These principles travel better than a library of rigid screens.

Leave space for the next idea

Test the system with content you did not plan for: a long title, a portrait image, a project with only one photograph. A durable system makes those exceptions feel intentional.