BALANCEA PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN

How symmetry and asymmetry can be used to obtain balance as a principle in design

BALANCE IN DESIGN 2THE PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

BALANCE IS ONE OF THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN WE WILL LEARN ABOUT IN GRAPHIC DESIGN.

◦THE PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: BALANCE EMPHASIS RHYTHM UNITY

BALANCE IN DESIGN 3BALANCE

Balance (defn): Equal distribution of weight.

In design, balance can be achieved through:◦Same sized objects horizontally or vertically.◦Centering elements on a page.◦Several smaller elements are offset by a larger item.◦2 odd shapes (such as circles) against regular

shapes (such as squares).◦Dividing a page into equal number of columns or

rows.

(FILL IN YOUR WORKSHEET WHERE APPROPRIATE)

BALANCE IN DESIGN 4

http://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Welcome_CashControl.aspx

75 lb 75 lb

What could you do to attempt to balance this scale?

50lb 25lb75lb

HINT: Man weighs 125 lbs.

BALANCE IN DESIGN 5

http://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Welcome_CashControl.aspx

75 lb

One possible solution?

25lb75lb

75 lb 50lb

BALANCE IN DESIGN 6

http://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Welcome_CashControl.aspx

Another solution?

50lb 25lb75lb

BALANCE IN DESIGN 7Add or Subtract

Sometimes to attain balance you must add &/or subtract certain entities of a given variable.

In the previous example balancing it would require adding and subtracting weighted objects.

BALANCE IN DESIGN 8ARE THE FOLLOWING BALANCED?

We will now evaluate 7 different figures on whether they are balanced or not.

Remember to look at your notes for hints on how to establish balance from SECTION A of your worksheet.

(MARK YOUR ANSWERS ON YOUR WORKSHEET.)

BALANCE IN DESIGN 9BALANCED?

FIGURE 1 Y-AXIS

X-AXIS

BALANCE IN DESIGN 10BALANCED?

FIGURE 2

BALANCE IN DESIGN 11BALANCED?

FIGURE 3

BALANCE IN DESIGN 12BALANCED?

FIGURE 4

BALANCE IN DESIGN 13BALANCED?

FIGURE 5

BALANCE IN DESIGN 14BALANCED?

FIGURE 6

BALANCE IN DESIGN 15BALANCED?

FIGURE 7

BALANCE IN DESIGN 16ARTISTIC BALANCE

Artistic balance differs from balance on a scale. We don’t empirically weigh it. We view it from a more subjective stance. It’s not so much about perfection, it’s about the feel created. It should produce a harmonic result.

However, using weighted balance as an analogy can give us a platform for understanding artistic balance.

BALANCE IN DESIGN 17SYMMETRY

An easy way to establish balance is symmetry, you have actually seen some examples of this already

Here’s a video on symmetry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfBxNpfWAJA

BALANCE IN DESIGN 18SYMMETRY

So how many of you feel you have a good handle on symmetry after watching that video (show of hands)?

BALANCE IN DESIGN 19ASYMMETRY AS BALANCE

As you can see from examples in the previous video, symmetrical design is exhibited in our world in a number of different ways.

Balance can be achieved through symmetry, but balance isn’t only achieved this way.

Asymmetry is the prevalent means of balancing in design. Asymmetrical balance is more back to the scale model we looked at earlier. Objects may not look the same, but they resemble the weight of each other across a central axis line.

Let’s take a look at some examples of asymmetrical balance now.

BALANCE IN DESIGN 20

http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2007/04/09/vw-print-ads-are-back/

BALANCE IN DESIGN 21

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BALANCE IN DESIGN 22

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/volkswagen_genuine_parts_wiper_blades?size=_original

BALANCE IN DESIGN 23

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/canal_iphone_titanic?size=_original

FIGURE 8

BALANCE IN DESIGN 24

http://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Welcome_CashControl.aspx

50lb 25lb75lb

HINT: Man weighs 125 lbs.

75 lbx

Going back to our weighted balance earlier.

If you actually had to solve for “x” mathematically on paper what would you have to do to balance this scale? (Do this now on your worksheet)

BALANCE IN DESIGN 25ACHIEVING BALANCE IN MATH

Solving an equation is about making both sides balanced.

Solve this equation algebraically:(Make sure to show all your work.)

X + 75 = 125

x 75 lb

BALANCE IN DESIGN 26SOLVING FOR A VARIABLE

WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO TO SOLVE THIS EQUATION?

X + 75 = 125

FIRST OF ALL TO KEEP IT EQUAL YOU HAD TO DO THE SAME THING TO EACH SIDE OF THE EQUATION.

X + 75 - 75 = 125 – 75

X + 0 = 50

X =50

IN THIS CASE WE SUBTRACTED 75

50 + 75 = 125

125 = 125 125 lb 125 lb

BALANCE IN DESIGN 27DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING

Take ◦One 2” x 1.5” post it and◦Three 2” x 0.5” post its and lay them out in the

space on your worksheet denoted “Sticky Note Exercise”, in a way that your overall composition appears visually balanced.

BALANCE IN DESIGN 28FORMAL ASSESSMENT

Using the Photoshop skills you have learned so far this semester, create an 11 x 17” ad that portrays balance.

You need to have one large graphic (at least 7” x 9”)

One large headline 5 words or less (font size 40)

One 8 word or less copy (font size 18)Do NOT use more than two font styles in

your design.

BALANCE IN DESIGN 29

Beatles

For those who are interested, the next slide shows you what the real picture of the Beatles looked like.

BALANCE IN DESIGN 30

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mu-_ssjoNaI/TETfgd1kmLI/AAAAAAAAAe4/Fq9hNCZFLIA/s1600/Beatles8.jpg

BALANCE IN DESIGN 31

Sources

Bernard, T. (n.d.). Lesson #2: The principle of balance. Retrieved August 12, 2010 from http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com/art-lessons-2.asp

Siebert, L. and Ballard, L. (1992). Making a good layout. North Light Books.