Visitors to your website will respond best if they feel it has a sense of balance, which is why symmetry is an important consideration when finalising your design.
A Balancing Act
There is a theory known as Gestalism which suggests that humans naturally see beyond individual objects to focus on a wider whole, and central to this is the importance of symmetry.
This means that people are naturally drawn towards a website with a sense of balance – something which dictates the work of many a professional web development company in London and beyond, and would be a primary consideration if you are designing your own site or actively influencing the work of others. You can read all about the principles of Gestalism or Gestalt theory at https://gestaltcentre.org.uk/what-is-gestalt/.
Web designers, whether they are amateurs or work for a professional web development company in London or elsewhere in the world, should therefore place an emphasis on creating symmetrical layouts which please the eye of the visitor.
Types of Symmetry
The idea of symmetry does not have to mean having the same layout on either side of a page, however. In fact, there are several different types of symmetry. These include reflectional, rotational and translational.
Reflectional or bilateral symmetry is the mirroring around what is known as a central axis. Rotational or radial symmetry is the rotation around elements’ common centre, and translation of crystallographic symmetry is the positioning of elements in various areas of space. All of these types of symmetry can be used at any distance and in any direction, as long as basic orientation is maintained.
Translational symmetry can be used to add rhythm to design and is often used to convey motion, dynamic action and speed, as is rotational symmetry.
There is also another important factor to consider: designing a totally symmetrical website would be very hard. What’s more, the results would probably create a tedious experience for the visitor. Therefore, the aim is to produce a design which also has asymmetrical elements.
Asymmetrical elements can help to boost the individuality of your site as well as add movement and will complement symmetrically positioned images and text. The result should be a site that offers a visitor experience which is neat and tidy whilst still being engaging and interesting to use.
