HumasUPNVJ – The Research and Community Service Week (Pekanlit) at UPN "Veteran" Jakarta (UPNVJ) entered its second day with a series of interesting activities. On this occasion, a workshop on making community service media and monograph books became the main focus. One of the sessions that stole the attention was the workshop entitled "Designing Visuals in Community Service Reports and Monograph Books," presented by Abdul Aziz S.Sn., M.Med.Kom, a lecturer in Visual Communication Design from Bina Nusantara University.

In his presentation, Aziz emphasized the importance of visual output in various studies. According to him, the main purpose of visual design is to attract public attention to a particular product or brand by utilizing aesthetic appeal. Aziz also revealed that good research results can be processed into monographs or reference books, which can later be used by the wider community.

Aziz provides practical guidance in converting research results into an attractive visual form. He emphasizes the importance of understanding composition in design, which involves the use of lines, planes, colors, and textures. These elements should be arranged based on design principles such as hierarchy, balance, alignment, emphasis, proportion, movement, negative space, contrast, repetition, variation, and unity.

In addition to composition, Aziz also discussed the importance of typography in visual design. He explained that typeface plays an important role in creating an attractive and easy-to-read appearance. There are three main types of typefaces identified by Aziz:

1. Serif: Known for the small lines or curves at the ends of the letters, this type is often used for formal texts, due to its good ability to create a smooth reading flow.
2. Sans Serif: Has no lines or curves at the ends of the letters, making it simpler and more modern, suitable for a cleaner look and lower formality.
3. Script: Similar to handwriting, it gives a personal feel and is often used in more relaxed or informal contexts.

Aziz emphasized that the choice of fonts should consider reading comfort, by maintaining balanced letter proportions and easily recognizable characters. Letters that are too thick or too thin can reduce readability, as can excessive use of capital letters. He also reminded about the importance of font size and other aspects such as line spacing (leading), letter spacing (kerning), and word spacing (spacing), all of which play a role in ensuring text is easy to read.

Aziz ended the session by explaining the importance of using harmonious colors between the background and text elements to create an attractive visual. After these aspects are considered, the designer can begin the layout process, which is the arrangement of design elements to look balanced and harmonious on a page. A good layout not only makes the book look aesthetic, but also makes it easier for readers to understand the content presented.

With this comprehensive presentation, it is hoped that participants can apply the knowledge they have gained in community service activities, so that the results of their research can be more easily accessed and utilized by the wider public.