PROJECT IV: Balance & Unity
Focal point + Emphasis
Isolation + Dominance
Symmetry
bilateral symmetry divides a composition symmetrically in half either along the vertical or horizontal axis.
biaxial symmetry is a composition that has more than 2 axes of symmetry = vertical + horizontal. This guarantees that the composition has balance, both upper and lower parts of the design AND left and right areas of the design along Horizontal or Vertical axis > providing formal balance, and thus, complete unity.
Biaxial symmetry has the possibility of more than two axes. Snow flakes and kaleidoscopes have three axes of symmetry and are excellent examples of biaxial symmetry.
Inverted symmetry uses symmetry with 1/2 design inverted (flipped horizontally and vertically) to complete the composition.
Inverted symmetry is a variation of balanced symmetry, however this type of design often makes for heavily weighted, awkward balance.
Symmetry
bilateral symmetry divides a composition symmetrically in half either along the vertical or horizontal axis.
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| bilateral vertical symmetry |
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| Ed Ruscha, 2002, Step on No Pets |
This type of design provides for an overall equilibrium in composition and thus, an overall balance + unity, without variety.
biaxial symmetry is a composition that has more than 2 axes of symmetry = vertical + horizontal. This guarantees that the composition has balance, both upper and lower parts of the design AND left and right areas of the design along Horizontal or Vertical axis > providing formal balance, and thus, complete unity.
Biaxial symmetry has the possibility of more than two axes. Snow flakes and kaleidoscopes have three axes of symmetry and are excellent examples of biaxial symmetry.
Inverted symmetry uses symmetry with 1/2 design inverted (flipped horizontally and vertically) to complete the composition.
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| Dutch Queen playing card 1920 |
Inverted symmetry is a variation of balanced symmetry, however this type of design often makes for heavily weighted, awkward balance.
Radial symmetry is a related concept and can use multiple numbers of axes. The image thus radiates outward (or inward) from the center like a star
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Stained Glass window
Symmetrical images have a strong sense of unity because at least 1/2 of their overall image repeats itself to complete the image. Simultaneously, they lack focal point due to the lack of variety, and loads of repetition, and pattern. However, what symmetrical compositions lack in variety they certainly make up in a unified composition. Asymmetrical balance is informal balance without symmetry 
Balance creates visual interest in using the principles of design in effective ways.
From the above examples, balance may exist in a symmetrical composition, or it may exist in an asymmetrical balance.
An earlier assignment sought out to achieve a balance in figure to ground relationships that reversed themselves continually in the pictorial space > figure / ground reversal
This assignment asks you to control the visual interest, thus the distribution of design elements that create a variety of symmetrical and asymmetrical compositions.
Dominance is a focal point that stands out in isolation in relationship to its context.
It is an important principle of design that relates to the visual weight in any composition. Emphasis refers to the object or element which first catches the attention of the viewer. Both elements often work simultaneously. Visual designers create an area of emphasis or a focal point, which is considered as the visual starting point from which the eye will begin the journey of recognizing the whole composition.
Please recall our earlier assignment regarding Gestalt: the sum is greater than its parts
PROCESS
Part #1
Find 2 examples of each balance variety below on the web, in magazines, etc.
Place in your sketch books, naming the compositional type.
Supply the URL, designer's name, medium, title and date
i. bilateral symmetry > vertical axis
ii. bilateral symmetry > horizontal axis
iii. biaxial symmetry
iv. inverted symmetry
v. radial symmetry
vi. asymmetry - focal point shape
vii. asymmetry - focal point visual weight
> At the conclusion of this excretes you should have 14 examples
Part #2
Collage is a technique of composing a work of art by glueing on a single surface various materials, these usually include a variety of papers, parts of photographs, fabrics, theater tickets, and other flat surfaced ephemera.
Using 4 different colored papers (solid or patterned) cut out 4 sets of geometric shapes to include: 1 square, 2 circles, 1 rectangle and 2 triangles, per design.
You may subdivide these shapes and vary their scale.
Each design will remain within the 'palette' of papers you have selected.
You have experienced numerous ideas in color theory and how it optically operates, thus, you need to pick your palette of 4 colors very carefully!
  
1. Using the pieces from Set #1 create a Bilateral (vertical or horizontal) symmetrical composition 5" x 5"
2. Using the pieces from Set #2 create a Biaxial Symmetrical composition 5" x 5"
3. Using the pieces from Set #3 create a Radial symmetrical composition 5" x 5"
4. Using the pieces from Set #4 create an Asymmetrical composition 5" x 5"
5. Cut out each 5" x 5" unit cell and place on a substrate to create an overall 10" x 10" composition.
6. Float composition on your Bristol.
Organize each completed collage in order Upper L (1) > Upper R (2), Lower L (3) > Lower R (4)
Title lower left Balance + Unity
Sign + date on the lower right
Media
Colored craft papers, origami papers, wrapping paper, wall paper, Canson paper, printed newspaper, computer generated paper, newsprint, fabric. Speak to me with other examples.
Ruler, paper cement, scissors, Xacto knife, compass, sketch paper, Bristol or Illustration board > white, black, dark gray
Final image scale = 10" x 10"
Overall design (including matt) floated equally on Bristol
Student work
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