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Visual Design-Composition and Layout Principles

The document discusses six key principles of composition and layout: balance, proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, and white space. It provides examples and brief descriptions of each principle. Balance can be achieved symmetrically, asymmetrically, or radially. Proximity refers to how items are grouped and spaced, and the rule of thirds is an example of using proximity effectively. Alignment involves lining up elements horizontally or vertically. Repetition uses consistent colors, styles or shapes. Contrast leverages differences between page elements.

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397 views

Visual Design-Composition and Layout Principles

The document discusses six key principles of composition and layout: balance, proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, and white space. It provides examples and brief descriptions of each principle. Balance can be achieved symmetrically, asymmetrically, or radially. Proximity refers to how items are grouped and spaced, and the rule of thirds is an example of using proximity effectively. Alignment involves lining up elements horizontally or vertically. Repetition uses consistent colors, styles or shapes. Contrast leverages differences between page elements.

Uploaded by

Rady
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Six Key Composition and Layout Principles and Selected Examples

Although there are others, 6 design components of good composition are balance, proximity,
alignment, repetition, contrast, and white space. A brief description of these composition and
layout principles follow:

• Balance – The placement of elements on the page such that text and graphic elements are evenly
distributed. There are three basic ways to achieve balance:

–Symmetrical: Balance is achieved by making all elements visually equal on all


sides.

– Asymmetrical: Balance is achieved by creating an odd number of elements or where the


elements are off-center.
– Radial: Balance is achieved by making the elements radiate from a central point.
• Proximity – Proximity refers to how items are grouped and spaced on a page. When you're talking
about proximity, you want to group like items together.

We know from Gestalt theory (a psychological framework which emphasizes the relationship
between the parts and the whole of a
composition) that the law of proximity (on the left of the graphic below) is among the design
principles that are important to understanding good composition and layout concepts.

Proximity and the Rule of Thirds

Speaking of proximity the desktop publishing section of About.com points out that the rule of thirds
says that most designs can be made more interesting by visually dividing the page into thirds
vertically and/or horizontally and placing our most important elements within those thirds. The rule of
thirds can come into play compositionally within various areas of design from scrapbooking to
photography.

In the photo below, for example, the School of Digital Photography website informs us that rule of
thirds could be used as a guideline for placing horizons right. The site goes on to tell us that often
what determines the placement of horizon is the type of sky you have. If you have a dramatic sky
and need to emphasize it, place your horizon lower down in your composition and if what you have
is a boring sky and very interesting foreground, then place your horizon higher up in your
composition.

Interestingly enough the photo below also is an example of the stark use of contrast, which is
yet another compositional technique that is mentioned below.

• Alignment – Alignment refers to lining up the top, bottom, sides, or middle of text or graphic
elements on a page. Horizontal alignment includes flush-left (also called left-justified or ragged
right),flush-right (also called right-justified or ragged left),centered, and fully justified.

• Repetition – Use of the same colors, styles, shapes, or other elements and principles throughout a
document.

• Contrast – Differences between items on the page.

Early Manifestations of Contrast

The use of contrasts have been around a long time. For example Johannes Itten, as part of his work
at the Dessau school of art, design, and architecture in Bauhaus Germany singularly emphasized
the concept of contrast in the 1920s. Some representative items on Itten’s Contrast List follow:

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