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“Neutral space is a really important element of design that can help you achieve balance in your infographics.”
When designing your infographic, you want the overall design to be balanced - which means carefully considering where you place your elements to ensure parts of the design do not dominate the overall look.
Balance in an infographic refers to the distribution of visual elements in a way that creates a sense of equilibrium and harmony in the design. Achieving balance is crucial for ensuring that the infographic is visually appealing, easy to read, and effectively communicates its message.
Types of balance
There are three types of balance in design :
- symmetrical
- asymmetrical
- radial
Symmetrical balance
Symmetrical balance involves placing elements in a way that approximates a mirror image on both sides of a central axis. Obviously the contents of the sections will be different but the size and formatting of the elements on either side would be pretty much the same.
Some topics lend themselves to this sort of design better than others, such as:
In science and health
Some topics are inherently symmetrical in themselves such as human and animal anatomy, botanical specimens, some chemical or mechanical structures etc.
In business and humanities
Any model that has an even number of elements can usually be displayed in a symmetrical pattern. Anything that compares two things - pros and cons, profits and losses, old and new etc. Timelines can also have a form of symmetrical balance if you evenly balance the number of items on each side of the line.
Asymmetrical balance involves distributing elements in a way that creates a sense of balance without necessarily being symmetrical. It tends to have more energy than symmetrical design. For example, one large thing on one side with several smaller things at the other can balance each other. Purposely alternating the position of things (images and text for example) can make something look more balanced than having all the same type of element on one side or the other.
Examples of asymmetrical balance
Radial balance
Radial balance is another technique that can be used to achieve balance in an infographic. Radial balance involves placing elements in a circular or spiral pattern around a central point. This creates a sense of equilibrium and harmony in the design, as the eye is naturally drawn towards the central point.
Radial balance is particularly effective in infographics that feature circular or cyclical themes, such as lifecycles, reflective cycles, product development processes or biological cycles. By using radial balance, you can create a dynamic and visually interesting design that draws the eye around your information fluidly.
To achieve radial balance in an infographic, you can use techniques such as:
Concentric circles
Placing elements in concentric circles around a central point, with larger elements towards the outside and smaller elements towards the centre.
Spiral patterns
Using a spiral pattern to place elements around a central point, creating a visually interesting and dynamic design.
The Golden Ratio
Using the golden ratio, a mathematical formula that creates a visually pleasing proportion, to determine the placement of elements around a central point. Read about it here - Golden ratio: a beginner's guide.
Divide a circle
Dividing a circle up into segments (even or otherwise) can show the relative relationships in a balanced way - much like a pie chart. You can put images and text into the segments.
Radiate out from a central point
Have a central point, with 'spokes' radiating out can create radial balance. This doesn't have to be completely circular - half circles work well too.
Using white space to provide balance
Another form of balance is the balance of space to content.
White space, also known as negative space, refers to the empty spaces between and around the elements in an infographic. It plays a crucial role in creating balance and harmony in the design. Without adequate white space, an infographic can appear cluttered, overwhelming, and difficult to read.
White space allows the eye to rest and creates a visual hierarchy, guiding the viewer's attention to the most important information. Items surrounded by more white space than other items will naturally stand-out and appear more important. So, by strategically using white space, you can enhance the overall readability and effectiveness of an infographic.
In order to create white space, you need to manage the amount of text you use. Too much text is overwhelming both visually and cognitively - but this too needs a sense of balance to ensure you do not miss important details. Nobody said this was easy!
How and where to add more white space
Headings
One way headings stand out is by having more white space above them. Yes, the text will be bigger, but the spacing plays a role too.
This is a heading with extra white space above
Having more space above the heading than below, ensures a clear visual connection with the content below it too.
Indented text
Indenting information also provides white space to the left (or also right) and makes the indented information stands out from the information around it.
Around images
Always make sure visual elements have a border of white space around them so that they do not get too close to the text or other visual elements.
Bullet points/Numbered lists
- This partly comes from the fact that they are indented
- But also the space around the bullets or numbers makes them stand out from other text.
- You can use icons to act as the equivalent of bullet points - but ones that also convey information.
Tips for using spacing to create balance
Have equal space all around your infographic
Ensuring you have the same margin all around your infographic will ground and balance the design. This is relatively easy to do with something like PowerPoint that has tools to align things. You can also display grids to help with laying things out too.
It isn't always perfect with left-aligned text, but that is fine. Don't be tempted to use fully-justified text with a straight right-edge just to achieve this as it can make your work less accessible to people with dyslexia and some visual impairments.
