Balance is the most important principle of design. Balance aims at symmetry in any design to create order, harmony and unity. Nature is filled with balanced objects that please our aesthetics. The human brain is designed to like natural, even, and stable objects and becomes tense when it views scattered unorganized objects. Asymmetric objects tend to break the balance and sometimes yield interesting results.
When applied to a website design, visual balance is what makes a beautiful web design. A balanced web design greatly adds to the functionality of the website. Since visitors relate things to those present in nature, a balanced web design will let them focus on the important elements. A visually disorganized website layout would make the users feel uncomfortable and annoyed. It would be similar to staring into a sink filled with dirty dishes. It is essential for a sites web design to appear inviting to visitors so that they can stop by and have a look at what your website has to offer. The best way to attract your visitors to stay on your website is by incorporating a visual balance.
What Exactly Is Visual Balance?
Visual balance is the even distribution of visual weight throughout a web page design. A visual balance is usually achieved around a vertical axis, with the visual weight of an object being the same on both sides of the axis. Balance is the visual interpretation of the concept of gravity in a web design.
There are different types of visual balance that good web designers need to be familiar with. Web developers can play around with the web page elements’ gravitational pull to create that balanced look that makes visitors at ease. There are different ways in which you can arrange and organize design elements in a setting.
Balance can be obtained in five different ways:
- Vertical Balance: Elements are weighed top to bottom of the axis.
- Horizontal balance: Elements are balanced right and left around the axis.
- Symmetrical Balance: Design elements are same on both sides of the axis.
- Asymmetrical Balance: Elements are not mirror images of each other on both sides of the axis.
- Radial Balance: Elements are balanced about a central point.
Web designers should understand these types of balance and how they add up to a beautiful web design. A centralized layout should be perfected to start adding balance to web designs. It consists of a central content area and even white space on both sides. The navigation bar should be placed above the content area and it should be darker so as to stand out. Master the horizontal balance before you move on to vertical and radial balances.
There are certain guidelines that web developers can follow to create a perfect balanced website.
- Large areas create an impact than small areas.
- Dark areas create an impact than light areas.
- A broad border creates an impact than a thin border.
- Saturated colors/ heavier textures create an impact than unsaturated/no texture.