Emphasis / Focal Point is a very powerful ingredient when designing messages that need to catch someone's eye. A strong focal point makes it almost impossible to not engage a viewers attention. While a design can have more than one focal point (aka accent), it is important to be careful—several focal points will turn the design into a three-ring circus.

EMPHASIS BY ISOLATION

4-color Apricot Screenprint (Edition of 50), 2015, Casey Deming

EMPHASIS BY PLACEMENT

Advertising Magazine Cover, 1932, F. Funke

EMPHASIS BY CONTRAST

Hungarian Matchbox Label, (Date unknown)