The Pocket Universal Principles of Design

007 Alignment

The placement of elements such that edges line up along common rows or columns, or their bodies along a common center.

• Alignment among elements in a design creates a sense of unity and cohesion.

• Left- and right-aligned text blocks provide better alignment cues than center-aligned text blocks.

• Justified text provides more alignment cues than unjustified text, and should be used in complex compositions with many elements.

• Treat the edges of the design medium (e.g., edge of a page) and the natural positions on the medium (e.g., centerlines) as alignment elements.

• Align every element in your designs with one or more other elements. This will improve the design’s perceived stability and overall aesthetic.

See Also Area Alignment ...