Chapter Five: Balance

         

 Givenchy Spring 2010 collection

What is Balance?

Balance is the visual distribution within a composition or design.

What is a Vertical Axis and Equilibrium?

Vertical Axis helps the design have an EQUAL weight from both sides of a design/composition. The vertical axis allows the two sides to have equilibrium. Equilibrium is another word for balance. Equilibrium will help a design have a satisfying result.

Symmetry= Beauty... unless it's uneven!

Bilateral Symmetry are repeated shapes in the same position of either sides of the vertical axis. Bilateral symmetry can provide a positive sense of unity when it reveals natural features. When shapes aren't in the same position of the vertical axis it can cause an unwated static effect.

Katy Perry Photography; Getty Images.

What are Asymmetrical and Informal Balance and why are they important for a designer?

Asymmetrical Balance: different objects that have equal visual weight.

Informal Balance: keeping with the delicate sense of balance in the lives of real people and also another term for asymmetrical balance.

Having an asymmetrical and informal balance design is more difficult to achieve but it can leave an unforgettable design for a designer.

Picture and more on asymmetry

THREE WAYS TO ACHIEVE BALANE IN DESIGN:

1. Balance by Value and Color: a contrast of light and dark.

H&M Photography

2. Balance by Texture and Pattern: smaller, rough-textured area balances the larger and vise-versa

Milan Fashion Week: Roberto Cavalli

3. Balance by Position and Eye Detection: a large item placed closer to the center can be balanced by a smaller item placed out toward the edge.

How can eye direction of figures in a design affect balance?

Eye detection pulls you to a certain part of an image or design causing an imbalance. Although eye detection usually have connecting factors to the other side of the vertical axis.