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hierarchy

The Tool

instructions for students

what the teacher does

Uses concrete examples to show how typographic hierarchy is achieved in graphic design.

what the student does

Finds their own real-world example to analyze and identify the different levels of typographic hierarchy.

 why? 

If you have ever read anything, a magazine, a website, a menu, an app on your phone, you have experienced typographic hierarchy. If applied effectively, it has guided you through the content the way the designer has intended it to. 
 

This activity takes familiar examples and asks the student to analyze the designer's choices. In doing so, they begin to understand how hierarchy is used to communicate a message.  

  1. Find an example of typography that has at least five different levels of hierarchy. This can be a poster, magazine article, webpage, app, etc. 
     

  2. Take a screenshot or photo of your example.
     

  3. Place the image in the software of your choice or print a copy of your example
     

  4. Analyze your example. Take note of how your eyes travel through the design. 
     

  5. Number each level of hierarchy accordingly.
     

  6. Write a brief rationale (2–3 sentences) explaining how the designer achieved each level of hierarchy. Consider the typographic choices used like size, weight, colour, or typeface.

Real-World Examples

 Supporting UDL 

Representation

The teacher models disciplinary thinking by using different kinds of examples to illustrate hierarchy. These examples may include but are not limited to: printed materials such as magazines, brochures, and posters, digital materials such as websites and apps. 

Engagement

Choice and autonomy are optimized by asking the students to choose their own example to analyze. 

Action & Expression

The way that students identify the levels of hierarchy in their examples is flexible. They may choose to mark up an image digitally using design software or make notes on a print out. 

Reference

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CAST (2024). CAST Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 3.0. Retrieved from https://udlguidelines.cast.org 

 accessibility features 

This tool improves accessibility by accommodating learner preference by giving the students the choice of working digitally or simply with pen and paper. Furthermore, students are not limited to finding examples online - they are also given the opportunity to explore their surroundings in search of an example to work with.

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