COMPOSITION SUGGESTIONS & IDEAS

BE WELL COMPOSED
When you’re designing, you’ll often be asking yourself questions like: Where should this thing go in the frame? How big should it be? How
can I make my viewer look at it? Composing elements in your frame is one of the trickiest aspects of design, especially when you have to
balance creating a beautiful image with the need to establish hierarchy (telling your viewer what’s important and what’s not). Here are some
guidelines and tips to help you get manage this difficult task.

Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is the most commonly used grid based design theory. By dividing your design into thirds (a series of
even horizontal and vertical lines), wherever those lines intersect is considered to be a focal point, and a pleasing
spot to place elements of your design. Keep in mind, though, it’s more of a Rule than a Law. Things don’t HAVE to be
exactly on that focal point.

Laura Alejo / Buck Ants Kuntzel + Deygas

Symmetrical & Radial Balance

Symmetrical balance uses symmetry to compose your design. By reflecting certain design elements from left to right or
top to bottom, you can create a strong sense of Balance. Using this technique in your design can help direct your eye to
the center of the composition.

Radial balance is a composition layout where elements radiate from a center point. Rays of sunlight and ripples in a
pond are examples of radial balance. The focal point is always the center of the frame. Because everything radiates
from a center point, everything also leads to that center, making it a strong point of attraction.

Danny Yount / Prodigal Pictures Joe Donaldson / Buck Buck

(this is an example of radial balance)
COMPOSITION
Composition SUGGESTIONS
Suggestions & IDEAS
& Ideas

Designing with Grids

Using a grid based system as a foundation for your designs can turn out to be very helpful. Grids help create a
structure that allows you to align multiple elements, and because of this, you can easily manage and create
organized compositions that work. They aren’t a magic-composition-bullet, but can help you create consistent
and balanced spacing and sizing in your boards. Grid systems are primarily used in print and web design, but
can be real handy if you want to create a unique design board.

Gretel Gretel Gretel

Repeating Elements
Take a single element from your design and apply it liberally throughout your compositions. Repeating
elements from one frame to another in your design board, helps each frame flow into the next, creating a
cohesive set of frames.

Gretel Trollback + Company Viewpoint Creative

Mosaic Balance
Mosaic balance (or crystallographic balance) results from balanced chaos. The composition lacks distinct
focal points, and the elements share a uniform emphasis. The lack of hierarchy leads to visual noise at first
glance, though somehow it all works together. This one takes a lot of practice.

Oddfellows Elastic Andrew Vucko

COMPOSITION
Composition SUGGESTIONS
Suggestions & IDEAS
& Ideas

Hierarchy & Dominance (Eye Trace in Animation Terms)

Deliberately choosing what you want someone to look at first. What’s the most important thing in the frame.

Hierarchy by Size
You can direct the viewer’s eye by creating
a contrast in size. Making an element of the
composition larger than other elements
creates a focal point.

Capacity

Hierarchy by Contrast
Emphasis can be created by contrast in size,
color, and value. An element in contrast with
something else is more easily seen and
understood; something different attracts
the eye.

Tip: Squint at the image. What do you see first?

Jay Quercia / Gloss Creative

Hierarchy by Isolation
If most of the elements in a work of art are
grouped closely together, an object by itself
stands out as a focal point.

Timothy Haldeen

Hierarchy by Eye Trace

You can also direct the viewer’s eye by creating
an element that leads your eye through the
frame.

Yuki Yamada