Saturday, April 27, 2024

Design Principles: Compositional, Symmetrical And Asymmetrical Balance

balance design

Form refers to the illusion of three dimension in an image and the way forms appear to take up physical space. This three dimensional appearance is created with light and shadow to create shape and form. It also to some extent refers to placement of shapes, lines colours and other visual elements. The placement of elements could also be used by artists to denote a background or elements that appear further away, using linear perspective. By placing a vanishing point on a surface and creating the appearance of buildings, landscapes and streets disappearing into the distance, artists create a sense of depth.

Questions related to design principles

A lack of balance can lead to visual tension, which can make or break a design. Balance can be achieved with symmetric, asymmetric, radial, or mosaic approaches. A balanced composition is simply more pleasing to the eye, and depending on what type of balance you choose, can create a feeling of order.

Design Principles: Compositional, Symmetrical And Asymmetrical Balance

Balance has to be visible in your images, colors, texture, and space to give it stability and order. Asymmetrical balance results from unequal visual weight on each side of the composition. One side of the composition might contain a dominant element, which could be balanced by a couple or more lesser focal points on the other side. One visually heavy element on one side might be balanced by a handful of lighter elements on the other. This design distributes the elements (color, line, and shape) to achieve asymmetrical balance.

Apply balance to your designs to catch and please the eye

The biggest argument in favor of layout being the easiest way to balance an image, is the fact that many graphic designers often use a grid to arrange the elements of their design. UI structures and web layouts too are often designed using grids, allowing for a balanced placement of design elements throughout the whole structure. Balance in design doesn’t always mean having equal parts horizontally, vertically, or radially. Another type of balance is asymmetrical, which means having balance without symmetry. This is the opposite of symmetrical balance and is also known as informal balance. The Hubspot website effectively shows this through the use of illustration and text.

Maybe you want them to stop and think, or move and take action. An example of mosaic balance is a painting by Jackson Pollock. So going off-balance is a choice you’ll want to tread cautiously with. And only if you are sure about the effect it will create on your audience. The arrangement of petals in a sunflower is the perfect example of radial symmetry.

The contrast between light and shadow breaks the symmetry of the buildings on each side of the canvas. For example, this design, while it has some elements on each side, it’s lack of repetition (of colors, graphics, shapes, etc) make it feel relatively unbalanced. Notice that while you don’t see equal amounts of color, line, or shape on each side of the design, it still appears balanced.

balance design

The screenshot here is from the “About” page, but the other pages of the website are similarly balanced. The symmetry can even occur over multiple axes at the same time. For example, the left and right half of a composition could mirror each other, while the top and bottom also mirror each other. Everything on one side of the axis is mirrored on the other side. Natural forms that grow or move across earth’s surface develop reflection symmetry.

However, one thing to note is that while asymmetrical balance and off-balance might sound similar, they are two entirely different concepts. In asymmetry, the balance is shifted slightly by altering the perspective. But in discordant or off-balance designs, the balance is shifted so much that it creates a sense of unease and incompleteness in those who view it. The abstract exhibitionist painter Jackson Pollock often incorporated this type of balance in design in his masterpieces. And his ideas can be used by designers to create subtle backgrounds that boost the impact of actual design elements they want their viewers to focus on.

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In some projects, unbalanced might be right for the message you’re trying to communicate, but generally you want balanced compositions. Abstract forms, organic forms and geometric forms are all types of forms seen in paintings and drawings. So in this piece by Edgar Degas, the organic form of the dancer stands out against the abstract backdrop.

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Then balance the placement of your subject with an object or subject on the other side of the canvas. This will create a sense of symmetry and balance within a painting. This could be a mirror-like image, or a slight variation of a mirror image. Larger shapes will attract more attention than smaller shapes, a collection of small shapes can appear complex and can offset the visual weight of large shapes.

We can imagine a centre point of the design and distribute the elements in a way that creates balance. The principles of design in art are foundational concepts that guide the creation and evaluation of artworks, ensuring visual harmony, balance, and cohesion. These principles include balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity/variety. Each principle plays a pivotal role in organizing or arranging the visual elements in a design, ultimately shaping the viewer's experience.

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