Balance is one of the core principles of design. It refers to the visual weight distribution in a composition. Balanced designs feel stable and aesthetically pleasing. The three main types of balance are symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial. Mastering these creates layouts that are cohesive.
What is Balance in Design?
Balance in design means evenly distributing visual elements across a composition. It allows a layout to feel harmonious and stable. Without balance, a design can feel chaotic or uncomfortable to look at.
Balance gives order to a composition and directs the viewer’s eye. It establishes visual hierarchies and creates entry points into a design. Balanced layouts have unity between elements while still having enough contrast to be visually interesting.
Why is Balance Important in Design?
Balance is one of the most fundamental design principles. It’s key for creating aesthetically pleasing and functional visuals. Here are some of the benefits of balanced design:
- Provides visual stability and structure
-Creates an entry point and visual path for the viewer’s eye to follow
-Allows the designer to control visual weight and hierarchies
-Distributes elements evenly so the composition feels unified
-Establishes contrast between elements
-Communicates visual relationships between components
-Directs attention towards focal points
In short, balance gives a design an overall sense of harmony and order. It’s foundational for both graphic design and interfaces. Without balance, a layout can feel chaotic or stressful to view.
The 3 Main Types of Balance
There are three primary types of balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial. Each has its own aesthetic that creates visual harmony. Let’s look at them in more detail:
Symmetrical Balance
Symmetrical balance is when elements are distributed evenly on both sides of a central axis. It creates a mirror-image composition. Some examples include:
- A logo design with identical elements reflected on either side
- A website layout with navigation links evenly spaced out
- A brochure with text and graphics mirrored on both pages
Symmetrical compositions emanate equilibrium and formal order. They can evoke tradition, class, and authority. When overused though, symmetry can feel monotonous or static.
Asymmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical balance is when elements have differing visual weight, but the overall composition feels cohesive. Examples include:
- A homepage layout with sections of uneven size that balance each other out
- A poster with typography and graphics sized and placed to balance
- A brochure with asymmetric columns that have equivalent visual weight
Asymmetry creates more dynamic energy and vibrancy. It allows designers to offset elements while maintaining harmony. Asymmetrical balance can be more difficult to achieve but often looks more organic.
Radial Balance
Radial balance is when elements radiate outwards or inwards from a central point. Examples include:
- A logo centered on a page with graphics radiating out symmetrically
- A newsletter layout with sections organized around a focal feature article
- A poster with typographic elements emanating from the product image
Radial balance leads the eye powerfully towards a central focal point. It creates strong visual hierarchy focused in the middle of a composition. The radiating elements act as supporting players.
Tips for Achieving Balance in Designs
Here are some tips for mastering balance in your visual designs:
- Map out element placement based on visual weight before finalizing a layout
- Use white space purposefully to balance busy areas with breathing room
- Offset dense areas with lighter ones for smooth asymmetrical balance
- Reflect elements across a central axis for dynamic symmetry
- Make sure visual weight “stacks up” evenly on both sides
- Play with scale, color saturation, and white space to distribute weight
- Use radial lines subtly to direct attention to a focal point
- Break symmetry with asymmetry for added dynamism and contrast
Balance takes practice and a keen designer’s eye. Start by looking for it in designs you admire. Analyze visual weight distribution across the page. Then apply lessons from those designs in your own compositions.
Why Live in Harmony with Balanced Design?
Creating balanced designs brings a sense of equilibrium and stability for viewers. Their eyes can flow smoothly across the composition. Information has hierarchy, sections have purpose, and contrasts grab attention.
Just like a balanced diet or lifestyle brings health benefits, balanced design creates:
- Aesthetic appeal and visual harmony
- Functional layouts that communicate clearly
- Hierarchy and focus to guide the viewer
- A polished, professional look and feel
In addition, finding balance in design encourages the designer to practice principles of restraint and structure. This leads to clarity in visual communication.
So in both form and function, pursuing balance brings harmony. It creates compositions aligned with design objectives and viewer needs. And it’s a fundamental practice that all skilled designers live by.
Frequently Asked Questions About Balance in Design
What are the 3 types of balance in design?
The 3 main types of balance in design are symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance. Symmetrical balance distributes equivalent visual weight on both sides of a composition. Asymmetrical balance has uneven visual weight that balances out across the layout. Radial balance emanates outwards or inwards from a central point.
How do you achieve balance in design?
Some tips for achieving balance include: map out element placement based on visual weight, offset dense areas with lighter ones, reflect elements for symmetry, make sure weight “stacks up” evenly, play with scale/color/white space to distribute weight, use radial lines subtly, and break symmetry carefully with asymmetry.
Why is balance so important in design?
Balance is important because it creates visual stability, directs focus, establishes hierarchy, unifies compositions, and distributes weight evenly so layouts feel harmonious. It gives order and aesthetic appeal. Without balance, designs can feel chaotic, uncomfortable, or stressful to look at.
What are some examples of balanced design?
Examples include symmetry like a reflective logo, asymmetry like a homepage layout with uneven sections that balance, and radial balance like a poster with elements emanating from a focal point. Website navigation, brochures, posters, and more use principles of balance.
How can you balance a design with asymmetry?
To balance asymmetry, distribute visual elements of differing sizes, shapes, colors and weights so they counterbalance each other across the composition. For example, a large graphic on one side can balance a densely-packed section of text on the other side.
What makes a layout feel unbalanced?
Layouts can feel unbalanced if visual weight is unevenly distributed, e.g. if graphics are cluttered on one side with empty space on the other. Lack of white space around dense areas, and elements that don’t align to any layout grid or axis can also cause imbalance.
Conclusion
Balance creates equilibrium and order in designs. The three main types – symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial – distribute weight and establish hierarchy. Balanced compositions are cohesive, guiding the viewer through the visual narrative.
Balance takes practice to perfect. Analyze designs you like to see how they employ principles of weight distribution. Map out placements based on visual weight as you create layouts. Use techniques like symmetry, asymmetry, and radial focus skillfully.
Creating balanced designs brings harmony and appeal. so strive to “live in harmony” with every new composition. With balance, you build designs that not only look beautiful, but also communicate effectively.
