Oftentimes, we take a look at some visual and go, “Everything looks just in place.” And most of the time, it is thanks to the rule of thirds in design, a simple yet effective guideline for designers to make everything balanced and dynamic. So, let’s go into it!
What is The Rule of Thirds?
By using a grid that is three rows tall and three columns broad, the rule of thirds is a well-known technique for breaking up a picture or design into thirds. In this way, a canvas is evenly divided into rows and columns, which helps with typical problems like text alignment, photo placement, and the general arrangement of all the components to help direct the viewer’s eye to more readily absorb the information. A great example of this is the grid on your phone’s camera every time you take a picture.
Four “intersections” in the middle of the page, which are placed on the scene’s main highlights, are where the lines meet when the rule of thirds is applied in design. Since the odd number three is used instead of four rows and columns, the asymmetry that results from the human eye produces precisely the right amount of tension to give the piece a dynamic sense of flow.
The Rule of Thirds’ Role in Design
There are rarely any strict “rules” in design because most things are subject to change depending on the designer’s intuition. As a result, it is better to use the rule of thirds as a guideline rather than a rigid rule when applying it to design.
Having said that, designers can apply the rule of thirds in a variety of ways. It is typically used as a guide to align text, arrange elements, and place icons and images in a way that is easy for the user to understand.
By using the central intersections as a guide for your work, the rule of thirds helps eliminate structural guessing. Viewers won’t need to visually scan around to find the main element of focus as long as it closely matches at least one of the four major intersections.
The grid’s natural asymmetry produces designs that are dynamic and flowing rather than symmetrical, which can be rigid. It is clear that symmetrical has a great sense of balance but at the cost of flow and movement. This is where the rule of thirds comes in handy.
Ways to Implement The Rule of Thirds in Design
Designers can take the following actions to create compositions that fit to the rule of thirds:
1. Create Grid
On their design canvas, designers should arrange a simple grid that separates the area into nine equal halves. They will use that grid as a starting point to arrange the design components effectively. In order to achieve a balanced layout, it is crucial to ensure that the grid lines are evenly spaced both horizontally and vertically.
2. Placing Important Elements
Designers need to focus on placing important elements at the intersections of these grid lines, such as CTAs, logos, and any other vital information. These elements usually draw the biggest attention from viewers and can significantly increase the visual impact of the design. For instance, at almost 40%, the intersection on the top-left receives the most eye attention. For the most crucial information or interactive components, it is therefore the perfect location.
3. Maintain Visual Balance
To maintain visual balance, designers should scatter items throughout the grid. Keep the grid from being overcrowded in any one area, particularly at crossings. The rule of thirds promotes positioning pieces along the lines themselves as well as at intersections. That can assist them in creating a design that is both aesthetically beautiful and well-proportioned.
4. Practice Makes Perfect
The rule of thirds in design is best learned by constant practice and experimentation. Applying this guideline to various projects will allow designers to observe how it alters both the visual appeal and user interaction of their designs. To improve their placement of items in tune with the rule of thirds, they could use post-production methods like cropping and re-aligning. Additionally, this can teach their designer’s eye to instinctively spot these balance spots in future projects.
Limitations and When to Break the Rule
While it’s an excellent design principle, it’s important to be mindful of any limitations that might affect a design. For instance, a designer’s creativity may unintentionally be limited by using too much the rule of thirds. It could result in designs that are lacking of individuality and a personal touch. Because of that, layouts may come to feel identical, boring, and uninspired.
That is why it is important to focus on intent. If the rule of thirds doesn’t serve this purpose, other design approaches may be more effective. And remember that design rules are guidelines, not strict laws. Breaking them may lead to innovative and unique results that stand out from conventional designs. Keep experimenting and being innovative in your design to gain the best result.
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