The Pocket Universal Principles of Design

011 Area Alignment

Alignment based on the area of elements versus the edges of elements.

• Asymmetrical elements often do not align properly using conventional edge- or center-based methods.

• In such cases, align elements based on their areas or visual weights, not based on their edges or rectangular centers.

• This technique must be applied using the designer’s eye and judgment, balancing elements on the axis of alignment as if they had mass.

• The principle applies to ragged-edge text blocks as well as graphical elements.

• Align based on area when elements are nonuniform and asymmetrical.

See Also Alignment • Closure • Good Continuation Orientation Sensitivity • Uniform Connectedness

The left column is center-aligned using the rectangular ...