Visual Balance

The sense that a design is equally weighted on both sides of its emphasized center

Why it matters

Balance is why some layouts feel settled and others feel like they are about to tip — the eye weighs both sides of a composition whether you asked it to or not. Symmetry is the easy win and reads formal; asymmetric balance, a large element countered by several small ones, reads dynamic but takes deliberate weighing. When a design feels vaguely wrong and nobody can say why, check the scales before you check the colors.

See it

Both compositions weigh the same to the eye — one mirrors, the other counters one heavy shape with three light ones.

Go deeper in Learn UX

Visual design principles Prototyping & Visual Design

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