Design Principles: Balance

Lecture notes:

Balance


Visual balance comes from arranging elements on a page so that no one section is heavier than the other.

On the contrary, a designer may intentionally throw elements out of balance for a specific reason such as creating tension or a certain mood.

When designing my boards for submitting my projects, I tried to keep a consistent balance between the amount of imagery and text. This resulted in fluid and clearly laid out design boards that looked professional and successfully displayed my work.



Proximity/Unity

In design, proximity or closeness creates a bond between elements on a page. 

How close together or far apart elements are placed suggests a relationship (or lack of) between what are otherwise disparate parts. 

Unity is also achieved by using a third element to connect distant parts. Are title elements together? Is contact information all in one place? Do frames and boxes tie together or separate related elements in your document?



Alignment 

Alignment brings order to chaos. How you align type and graphics on a page and in relation to each other can make your layout easier or more difficult to read, foster familiarity, and/or bring excitement to a stale design. 

Have you used a grid? Is there a common 
alignment - top, bottom, left, right, or centered - between blocks of text and graphic elements on the page? Does your text alignment aid or hinder readability? 

If certain elements are out of alignment, was it done purposefully with a specific design goal in mind?



Repetition/Consistency

Repeating design elements and consistent use of type and graphics styles within a document shows a reader where to go and helps them navigate your designs and layouts safely. 

Ensure that your document utilises the principles of repetition, consistency, and unity in page design. 

Do page numbers appear in the same location from page to page? Are major and minor headlines consistent in size, style and placement?