Good Layout Is Visible From a Distance
The final check for a journal page is the silhouette. Before the details are read, the page should already show a clear anchor, supporting zones, and breathing room.
The anchor gives the eye a starting point. The supporting zones help that anchor instead of competing with it. The breathing room lets the whole structure stay visible.
Use the squint check
Put the page down and look at it from farther away. Ask whether you can see where the page starts, what matters most, and where the eye can rest.
Margins and grids are not there to make the page stiff. They make the page readable at a glance, then enjoyable up close.
If the silhouette feels organized before the details are readable, the layout is probably doing its job.
