50 things I’ve learned: 2. Symmetry vs Balance
A few years ago I was redecorating my living room. Kate and I had chosen three pictures to hang on the main wall. One large picture in the center and two smaller pictures, one on either side, in perfect symmetry. The couch was centered, the end tables were centered and so were the lamps. It was all centered on the wall and centered in the room. My brother-in-law Brett (more about him later) saw what we were doing and said… “things don’t have to match so perfectly. It’s boring. Strive for balance, not symmetry. Balance is more interesting.”
Quick description in this context: Symmetry being a mirror image across a vertical plane. Balance is more of a visual effect. You can have an interesting aesthetic by having different elements that appear equally weighted on either side of a vertical center.
That comment stuck with me. Strive for balance, not symmetry. I have become keenly aware of design elements that are well balanced, even if not perfectly symmetrical. I have noticed this is not just a matter of shape and size, but includes color, texture, patterns, words, and symbols.
This concept is not limited to visual arts either. You can see it in urban planning- skyscrapers, streets, parks, and stadiums can all be beautifully balanced without being perfectly symmetrical.
This concept can be applied in the theater — think plays and concerts- through creative stage design, lighting and special effects.
This concept is especially helpful in composing beauiful, interesting photographs.
What if we used THIS translation of “balance” to talk about the balance in your life?
It is not possible to spend exactly equal amounts of time on all the things in your life (let’s call that symmetry). But can you acheive balance by giving equal weight (energy, focus, passion, or generosity) to the things and people most important to you?
Brett Hautop (my brother-in-law) is the Sr Director of Global Design and Build — Curator of Exceptional Workplace Experiences at LinkedIn.
