Arrangement of Artifacts

Arranging artifacts within a design - If a design has been mad in the background then artifacts must be arranged within that design to pull the display together.  Each section must be put together as a small display with each section complimenting each other.  One of the best ways to do this is to start with a single section and work around it.  Remember to keep the display balanced, so what you do to the right side will be done to the left side.

     The way that I found which best works for me is to start in the center and work out.  Find the one artifact or artifacts which you want to be the center piece.  Now the artifacts around it should draw the attention to the center piece.  To keep the display balanced after a section is arranged, I will match artifact for artifact for the number or sections which will be the same.  For example, if I am working with the corners,  Then when an artifact pointing up is place, the same size of artifact is place on the rest of the corners.

     In the photo gallery on some of the pages I put the thinking and how I used the arrangement to draw attention to specific areas.

Other arrangements - If you decide you do not want any type of design in your displays, here are a few things to think about when putting you displays together.

1.  Keep some type of order in the display.  If it appears that you just took a handful of artifacts and threw them in it will detract from the display and artifacts.
there will always be some type of organization, it may be a simple straight line, whatever it is keep it in order.

2.  Keep the display balanced.  Not only will your display hang crocked if not balanced, people will have a hard time looking at it.  When a display is balanced it looks more organized.  This is what our brain likes and makes it easier for the brain to store and retrieve information about the display.

3.  When arranging the artifacts it is fine to have light small artifacts on top and larger artifacts on bottom, but if you place the larger artifacts on top it will appear that the display is hung upside down.  You may also choose to arrange artifacts small to large or large to small going side to side, but keep it the same on both sides.  example, Large small, small Large, or small large,  large small.

     Whatever you choose to do when creating your display remember, the more organization and order you have the more professional the display will look.  In addition it will make it easier for people to remember your displays, and this is what makes a great display.

    The arrangement of the artifacts are the greatest and most important part of putting a display together.  You must decide if you are going to make a design within the artifacts or just arrange them in some order and balance.  Whatever you choose to do, there has to be some order so the mind has the ability to process the display.

Arranging artifacts in a design -  Many people arrange their artifact in a design of some type. I have seen eagles and Indians to states.  Whatever you decide to design there are a few things to think about.

1.  Do not overcrowd the artifacts.  I have seen many displays where the artifacts are almost laying on each other within the design.  When artifacts are displayed this way the individual artifact is lost to the design itself.  If this is the effect you wish to have then use pieces and chips to fill in the color of each area.  Nothing should be displayed in these type of displays that you want to stand out or be remembered.

2.  The background color must show the artifacts well.  If some of the artifacts are lost within the background people will have a hard time making out the design.  It will look more like a "connect the dots" other than a design.

3.  When making designs of this type it will be hard to keep the display balanced.  Try to keep the design centered to make it as balanced as possible.  When a display is out of balance people get the feeling that everything is not right.

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