What Is Asymmetrical Design?

Asymmetrical design, the inverse of symmetrical design, creates variation between the left and right sides of a template. Learn about asymmetry's characteristics and how to incorporate them into your graphic and web design.

 

What Is Asymmetrical Design?

Asymmetrical design is a type of symmetry that creates inequality between the two halves of a design by using different color schemes, varying shapes, and irregular layouts. As a result, an asymmetrical design lacks symmetry throughout the visual elements, resulting in an uneven display. Asymmetrical design techniques can be used to create a dynamic and one-of-a-kind arrangement. Asymmetry can be used in graphic design to create visually appealing website layouts, brand logos, and advertisements.

Asymmetry is defined by five design principles: balance, contrast, proportion, white space, and movement. Consider these design elements and how you can incorporate them to create a visually appealing design when creating an asymmetrical design. For example, you can achieve balance in your design by placing a single, large object across from a group of small objects.

 

Tips for Using Asymmetrical Design

With its unique use of space and color, asymmetrical design frequently reflects modernism. Understanding how to pair contrasting elements in a balanced and visually engaging way is essential for implementing asymmetry. Here are a few simple tips to think about:

Include focal points. The areas of a design that draw the viewer's attention are known as focal points. You can create focal points in your design by varying the color, texture, and size of various asymmetrical elements. Including these eye-catching elements in your design can help the viewer distinguish between the foreground and background.

Create visual harmony. Asymmetrical layouts emphasize balance while attempting to create irregular and disproportionate outlines. The visual weight of the varying colors, objects, and textures is stable in a balanced design, allowing the viewer's eye to take in the space without feeling overwhelmed. Balance can be achieved by experimenting with color, juxtaposing a large object with blank space, changing typography, or expressing movement in the design. Consider using a grid to determine whether your digital design is balanced.

Utilize contrasting colors. Using contrasting colors to direct the viewer's attention is another aspect of asymmetrical balance. Colors that contrast are those that are on opposite sides of the color wheel. Red and green, blue and orange, and purple and yellow are some examples of these color combinations. Incorporate light and dark colors to highlight specific areas of your asymmetrical design.

Make use of movement and white space. Another way to direct the human eye to a central point is to incorporate movement into your design. Consider using movement in your design to influence user attention, encouraging visitors to click on additional links and pages, for example, if you're designing a homepage for a website. White space can also be used to help structure movement in your graphic or website design. Instead of using a traditional grid system for UI design, incorporate negative space into your web pages to direct users to key points. Balancing your design with white space is also an excellent way to improve the user experience by preventing site visitors from becoming overwhelmed by extra links, boxes, and web pages.

 

Examples of Asymmetrical Design

Asymmetrical designs can be found in artwork, website layouts, and brand graphics. The following examples show how to apply asymmetry to various platforms:

Art: Asymmetry is frequently used by artists to establish visual weight in a painting or sculpture. A painting, for example, could use asymmetry by displaying a complex scene on one side of the canvas and a subtle image on the other. Asymmetrical layouts are used in famous works of art such as Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Edgar Degas's Dancers Practicing at the Barre, and Yinka Shonibare's Dysfunctional Family.

Website Design: Asymmetrical layouts for web pages can help businesses and blogs stand out from the crowd. An asymmetrical page with distinct colors and patterns is more dynamic and visually appealing than a simple symmetrical layout with matching text blocks and images. Playing with a site's web design is also a great way to establish a distinct brand identity.

Graphics: Asymmetrical design is used in promotional graphics such as flyers, logos, stickers, and infographics to capture the attention of the customer. Asymmetry is frequently used by businesses to create eye-catching advertisements and business cards by using contrasting colors and negative space. Asymmetry in key graphics can be demonstrated by designing a business card with an enlarged brand font on top and a small-font description on the bottom. Contrasting colors can also be used to create balance between the background and typography.

Author

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Poland Web Designer (Wispaz Technologies) is a leading technology solutions provider dedicated to creating innovative applications that address the needs of corporate businesses and individuals.

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