Line and Composition

In class we also learned about the importance of line and composition when it comes to visual display.

There are four different types of lines and they all affect displays differently.

• Vertical- Represent strength and stability.
• Horizontal- Long, wide spreading lines. makes objects like wider and shorter. Restful quality.
• Diagonal- Forceful, dynamic.
• Curved- Personifies grace and charm. Eases tension of too many vertical lines.

A very important form of composition is Balance. A display can either be formally/symmetrically balanced, or informally/asymmetrically balanced.

A symmetrical balance creates a mirror image of one side to the other. The weight is even on both sides. It gives the display a clean, formal look. Both sides of this photo are exactly the same. All of the items are displayed evenly on each side of the image.

When a display or an item has asymmetrical balance, both sides are not a mirror image but they appear to be equal in weight. In the picture above, all of the items have an asymmetrical balance. In the dress, the black is on the left side in both he top of the bottom of the dress but the amount of black and white is uneven on both ends.

Dominance is another important composition of display.

• Draws attention to the display by using an object and it's color, size and position throughout the entire composition.
• Merchandise are usually the most dominant in displays.
• Objects are dominant when using a contrasting background

Contrast shows a sharp difference in color, lines, forms, and texture in the display to make the objects stand out.

Proportion represents the relationship between scale or weight of certain elements.

Rhythm is a self-contained movement of a display.

• Leads the viewers eyes from one place to another, gently.
• May be smooth and gentle or jumpy depending on the display

Repetition is the repeating of a certain element in the display. It could be a piece of merchandise, a color, a line, a shape, or many other things.