Balanced design

Balanced design is used mainly by engineers or designers but in broad sense also by managers and by anybody who creates visual output. To create successful design usually are used: intuition, heuristics and scientific knowledge. Some basic rules which people often use intuitively are: balancing visual weight, playing with simetry, the focal point, proportions and disproportions. Flemisch F. O. notices that to reach balanced design, sometimes it is important to connect opposite perspectives, for example:

• technologic orientation versus human centred,
• constructive versus critical,
• intuitive versus analytical,
• quantitative or qualitative.

Basic rules of balanced design

Draze D. recommends to use below in achieving the proper balance:

1. Types of balance - there are two types of balancing which might be used: simetrical so that on the both sides of middle vertical line design looks like in the mirror or asimetrical so that the both elements seems to have the same weight.
2. The visual weight - darker and larger things are perspected as heaveier than smaller and lighter elements. The weight is also affected by size, color, texture and form. The heavy element on one side of the design should be balanced by another element on the other side with something of similar visual weight.
3. The focal point - the goal of focal point is to make some part more noticeable by bigger size, many colors, bolds or adding space around the focal point element. The focal point is something that catches the eye of the viewer for example large headline, colorful part, picture.
4. Proportions and disproportion - it is generally advised to use proportion in designing but sometimes when some element should focus the attention, there might be use disproportion instead.

Areas of using balanced design

The balanced design may refer to many areas, some examples are below:

• Advertisement. In advertisement especially the focal point is important which will draw the attention of viewer.
• Documentation. Balanced design might be used in designing documents. Within one page, the visual weight should be balanced as well. It is not about having elements of page centered but rather about amount of types of data and sizes of pictures, both taking into account horizontal and vertical distances. Elements of page that might be balanced are: headlines, border color, text, photos and logo.
• Constructions. For example, in choosing block sizes.
• Logo. Should be simplified, clean, with basic shape, not detailed and symbolic.
• Systems. For example, human - machine systems balancing advanced engineering areas.

Author: Anita Bernacka

Examples of Balanced design

• Symmetry: Symmetrical balance is one of the most common designs used in visual arts. It is created when the elements of a design are arranged in a way that either side of the composition is mirrored. An example of this can be found in the Taj Mahal in India, where the iconic structure is designed in a symmetrical way.
• Proportion: Proportion is the relationship between the size and the number of elements in a design. A good example of this is the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci, where the proportions between the body and the head are perfectly balanced.
• Focal Point: A focal point is an element in a design that draws attention to itself. In web design, a focal point is often used to draw attention to a particular element, such as a headline or a call-to-action button. A good example of this is the homepage of Apple, which uses a large image of a product as the focal point of the page.
• Visual Weight: Visual weight is the amount of space that an element takes up in a design. Elements with more visual weight will appear more prominent than elements with less visual weight. A good example of this is the homepage of Google, which uses a large logo and search bar as the focal point of the page.

Advantages of Balanced design

Balanced design is a way of creating visual output that is aesthetically pleasing, easy to understand and can be used to convey information effectively. There are many advantages to using balanced design, which include:

• Creating a sense of harmony and stability - Balanced design uses asymmetry, space and scale to create a sense of visual harmony and stability. This helps to create a pleasing visual aesthetic and can also be used to effectively convey information.
• Improving readability - Balanced design can be used to improve the readability of a design. By balancing elements and using the correct proportions, it is easier for viewers to process and understand the information presented.
• Enhancing visual appeal - Balanced design can also enhance the visual appeal of a design. By creating a pleasing composition, it is easier to attract and hold the viewers attention.
• Increasing engagement - Balanced design can be used to increase engagement with viewers, as it is more likely to hold their attention and inspire them to take action.

Limitations of Balanced design

Balanced design, while effective in creating visually appealing designs, has its own limitations. These include:

• Lack of creativity: Balanced designs can become repetitive and monotonous when used in the same context too often.
• Difficulty in achieving: Balanced designs can be difficult to achieve, as the design must be carefully crafted to ensure all elements are in equilibrium.
• Lack of emphasis: Balanced designs can sometimes have a lack of emphasis on certain elements, as all elements are given equal consideration.
• Unnatural look: Balanced designs can sometimes look unnatural, as the design looks too perfect and symmetrical.

Other approaches related to Balanced design

• The Rule of Thirds: This approach divides the image into three sections horizontally and vertically, creating nine sections. This allows the subject of the image to be highlighted and in the center of the viewer's attention.
• The Golden Ratio: This approach uses the Fibonacci sequence to determine the best proportions for an image. It is based on the idea of creating harmony and balance by following the mathematical proportions.
• Positive and Negative Space: This approach is concerned with the amount of space the subject takes up in the image and how much is empty. It suggests that a good balance of both can create a more dynamic and interesting image.
• Harmony and Contrast: This approach suggests that a combination of similar elements and contrasting elements can create an interesting visual.

In conclusion, balanced design is an important concept for creating visually appealing and effective designs. It involves principles like the Rule of Thirds, the Golden Ratio, Positive and Negative Space and Harmony and Contrast to create a visually balanced image or design.

Footnotes

Balanced design — recommended articles

Knowledge map — Information richness — Stereotypes in advertising — Ascii text — Gestalt theory — Box diagram — Fact sheet — Decision tree — Decision table

References

• Arunachalam R., Sivasubramanian M., Ghosh D. K. (2016), Construction of Efficiency-Balanced Design Using Factorial Design in "Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods", Vol. 15, Iss. 1, Article 13
• Flemisch F. O., Schindler J., Kelsch J., Schieben A. (2008), Some Bridging Methods towards a Balanced Design of Human-Machine Systems, Applied to Highly Automated Vehicles , Applied Ergonomics International Conference, USA
• Gupta A, K., Kabe D. G. (2013), Design and Analysis of Experiments, World Scientific Publishing Company, USA* Draze D., Palouda A. (2005), Design Studio: Integrating Art & Thinking, Prufrock Press Inc., USA
• Sibley T. Q. (2015), Thinking Geometrically: A Survey of Geometries, The Mathematical Association of America, USA
• Stern A. D. (2014), Balanced Design in Information Systems Security Planning, The Proceedings of the International Conference in Information Security and Digital Forensics, Greece