Universal Design Principles: Symmetrical Balance

My art led me to my career in graphic design. I’d been making art for years before I decided to change careers, but reviewing my early work, I can see how much design school leveled up my art skills through an understanding of universal design principles. They allowed me to understand and articulate why the great masters were...well...great. Design school allowed me to see where I should focus my efforts at improving my art in a focused and impactful way I hadn’t considered. I’m going to share some of those insights with you.

Balance: Symmetrical

The arrangement of graphic elements in a composition is referred to as “balance”.  The goal is to ensure that the visual weight is evenly distributed either symmetrically or asymmetrically.

When elements are evenly distributed on both sides of a composition, it is considered symmetrically balanced. An excellent example of this style of composition is Leonardo Di Vinci’s The Last Supper (pictured below).

Notice how Jesus is centered in the painting with an even number of panels, windows, and disciples on either side of the centerline. See how the balance extends from figures to furnishing, floors, walls, windows, and even color? Oftentimes, symmetrical balance generates feelings of comfort and security.

The attribute of symmetry is defined as having equivalent or similar parts in a form or forms. There are three ways to achieve this:

1)        Reflection: elements are exactly mirrored around a center line

2)        Rotation: a duplicate element is rotated around a common center

3)        Translation: location of a duplicate element. The duplicate can go anywhere as long as the orientation is the same as the original.

How does Di Vinci achieve symmetrical balance in The Last Supper?

• Reflection
• Rotation
• Translation

Have questions? Comments? Examples? Let me know!

Next week, we’ll look at asymmetrical design and how to create harmony without the symmetry that provides balance in pieces likeThe Last Supper.