How To Get The Balance Principle Of Design Right

The Balance Principle of design is a concept that's been around as long as humans have been creating things. In fact, it's probably one of the most fundamental principles in design, and yet it's also something that many designers don't really think about.

We're going to talk about what balance is in design and why it matters so much, but first, let's look at the history of this idea and when it came into being.

What is Balance in Design?

Balance is the relationship between elements in a design. When there is harmony between the elements, it’s said that they are balanced.

The balance principle of design is one of the most important principles to understand because it can help you create more cohesive, successful designs. If your composition has poor balance, it will likely feel unbalanced and disorganized. If a design lacks proper alignment or proportionality among its elements, then you’re going to struggle with creating a visually pleasing piece overall.

The history of "balance" in design

Balance has been used in design for thousands of years, and it has become an integral part of modern design.

In fact, the word balance was coined by the Greeks and Romans. In Greek, the word referred to equilibrium or equipoise; also known as stasis or immobility within physics. In Latin, it meant "equilibrium" or "equivalence between parts."

The concept is simple: balance refers to the idea that when you place two objects of equal weight on either side of a scale, they will rest evenly on each side and remain stationary until one object is added (or subtracted) from either side; this will cause them to tilt towards whichever direction holds more weight than before.

The Importance of Balance in Design

Balance is an important concept in design and can be applied to many different areas of your life. In its most general form, balance refers to the idea that there must be an equal amount of something on either side or at opposite ends of an object.

Balance also exists in more practical settings like architecture where it's meant to make sure buildings don't topple over due to uneven weight distribution at certain points along their structure. Balance is also important when people interact with each other because it creates a sense of harmony between two parties instead just seeing one person dominate over another (which would feel more like war than peace).

4 Types of Balance in Design

There are many different types of balance in design, but the two most common are symmetry and asymmetry.

Symmetry is when objects or elements on both sides of a design (or at any other point) look exactly the same.

Asymmetry is when an object looks different from its counterpart on either side of it.

Here’s an example: Let’s say you have a conference table with eight chairs around it—four on one side and four on the other—and you want to create balance using symmetrical elements. To do this, you would place three objects along each side of your table; one thing in center (such as flowers), another thing off-center to one side (like a vase), and then something else even further into an opposing corner (a lamp). This would be an example of symmetrical balance because everything is perfectly aligned in each quadrant around your layout – no matter how many times you rotate around the table!

Managing Colour and Tone

Colour is a powerful tool for creating balance. It can be used to create a sense of order and balance, harmony and balance, or contrast and balance. For example, in the image below you can see that the colors are very vibrant and saturated but they have been carefully chosen so that they work well together. The bright orange really jumps out at you as you look at this design because it is also contrasted with smaller areas of blues and greens which appear to be more muted than their counterparts.

This creates an interesting effect where the eye is drawn from one area to another within this design—the orange pops out but then becomes less intense when compared with the more muted tones around it; once those colors become less intense again you will notice there are plenty more oranges just waiting for your attention!

Creating Symmetry

Symmetry is a principle that uses balance to create a sense of harmony. Symmetry can be achieved by using the golden ratio, which is a mathematical equation that creates visual symmetry. Symmetrical balance can be found in architecture, music, and nature.

In design, symmetry can be used to create balance in your designs.

How to Achieve Asymmetrical Balance

There are two ways to achieve balance in a design, symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetrical balance is achieved when the elements of a design look the same on both sides of a horizontal or vertical line that divides the space evenly. Asymmetrical balance is achieved when the design elements look similar but not identical on both sides of that dividing line.

It’s important to note that achieving perfect precision isn’t necessary when creating visual appeal; imperfection can be part of what makes something beautiful — especially if you have an eye for asymmetry or asymmetrical balance! You can also find inspiration from nature: asymmetry is common in things like flowers, leaves, and trees (the branch off from another branch).

When to Embrace Asymmetrical Balance

Asymmetrical balance is when the visual weight of elements is uneven, but they are balanced by their positioning. This can be achieved through contrast, like white text on a black background, or through alignment and repetition as seen in the example below.

Asymmetry is different than asymmetrical balance because it doesn't have any sort of central axis or the focal point—the design is completely unbalanced. For example, an asymmetric pattern can be created using different sized shapes with no consistency between them (e.g., using circles that are all different sizes).

Asymmetry can be used to create visual interest and add personality to a design by breaking up its symmetry and making it more interesting to look at. It also helps break up monotony when there's too much repetition in your layout/designs--which is why I recommend having at least one asymmetric element per page/layout!

Explore Examples of Great Visual Balance in Design

Visual balance is a key principle of design. It's something that you can use to create a sense of harmony and order in your designs. There are three distinct ways you can use visual balance: symmetry, asymmetry, and rhythm.

Symmetry is when two halves are mirror images of each other. When used correctly it creates a sense of calm and order in the viewer's mind. The opposite of symmetry is asymmetry which means there is no relationship between parts when viewed from any angle or position. This can be used to create interest by breaking up an otherwise static composition or it can cause confusion if not done properly!

Rhythm also helps achieve visual balance by creating a sense of order through repetition (or lack thereof). This means repeating elements over time such as color schemes, shapes/shapes within shapes etc., so that they add dimensionality instead just being flat on paper!

Good design displays an understanding of balance that can be appreciated by everyone, even if you don't know exactly why.

The balance principle is a tool for designers to achieve visual harmony and appeal in their work. It helps you create visual interest by using contrast and variety, which create balance.

When you understand the basic principles of design, such as balance, you'll be able to apply them to your own projects. For example, if you want to make your website or app more visually appealing by adding certain elements of color or style (such as making an element bigger or bolder) without disrupting the overall look of your site or app too much (which would make it seem like a mistake), then understanding the balance principle will help you decide what changes need to be made so they don't ruin everything else that's already been done well on that page/screen/element/etcetera."

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you to understand the importance of balancing your designs. I've seen a lot of designers who struggle with it, but as long as you keep these basic concepts in mind, you can find balance in any project.