VISUAL_

ORDER

content

figure/ground

similarity

proximity

closure

continuance

translation

rotation

reflection

glide/reflection

dilation

structured space

symmetric balance

asymmetric balance

ambiguous balance

neutral balance

figure/ground we tend to see figures with similar characteristics—eg: shape, color, texture, etc. as belonging together

similaritywe tend to see figures Otas idBus modia volentenis sequaecea volo que el minisci aut autem. Con plaborr undsimilarity

similar figures with similar characteristics tend to be seen as belonging together

similar figures located close together are seen as a group; the visual attraction of masses

proximity

the tendency to close or complete incomplete figures or groups

closure

continuance group of figures arranged to imply a direction

translationthe movement of an object from point to point

rotationan object that is moved around a fixed axis

reflectionan object that is flipped or reflected 180 degrees over an axis

glide/reflectionthe object is reflected 180 degrees over an axis and then moved from one point to another

dilationthe object rem

ains the same in all aspects except for size and expands or contracts in relation to a fixed point

structure 1

structure 2

structure 3

structure 4

structure 5

structure 6

symmetric balancecharacterized by a central axis, regularity,

congruency, proportion and stability.

An object that is reflected over a central axis

asymmetric balanceunequal arrangements of objects over a central axis

ambiguous balanceunclear relationship between compositional elements

neutral balancerandomness, lacking emphasis or contrast

© brittany huff, 9/17/2012

completed as a requirement for visual communication in the

graphic design department at the kansas city art institute.

michael kidwell, assistant professor.