Composition Rules for Designers

How well you compose the elements in your design can make or break its impact.

Here are three important rules to apply to everything you create:

1.  Triangles & the Rule of thirds.

The rule of thirds dictates that if you divide any composition into thirds, vertically and horizontally, and then place the key elements of your image along these lines or at the junctions of them, the arrangement achieved will be more interesting, pleasing, and dynamic.

The rule of thirds is the most well-known composition guideline. It helps draw the viewer’s eye into the image and places more emphasis on the subject. Ideally, the empty space that’s left should be in the direction the subject is looking or heading into.

Here are some samples from around the web:

 

2.  Scale, Alignment & Hierarchy.

Balance, one of the key principles of design, refers to the way visual elements are arranged so that their visual weight harmonizes with the other elements in the design, and the composition gives an appearance of properly distributed elements.

Some examples from around the web:

3.  Complement or Contrast?

Look at these images that clearly show the way contrasting elements can improve your design plan.

Inspired by: This article @Canva.com