Composition is all about arranging elements so that people know where to look.
There are a number of different ways of organizing information and creating differences in importance.
Why Visual Hierarchy Matters
Hierarchy is a way to organize information. Hierarchy is used in nearly every type of visual communication, such as drawings, posters, layouts, photographs, illustrations, etc. There are four main components of hierarchy used to organize visual elements: size, position, contrast, and white space.
By using these four different methods of composition, you’ll be able to control and organize your visual information. People will know where to look, and how important each element is in relation to the whole.
Size Creates Immediate Differences
Size is the easiest way to show difference. The bigger something is, the more people will look at it. However, if everything is big, everything will compete, and it will be unclear what people should look at first.
When working with size to organize a composition, make the most important elements larger, and the less important elements smaller. Make the scale differences large enough so that it’s easy to see.
Contrast Directs Attention
High-contrast elements will also draw the eye. When people view a visual, they will look first at the most intense areas. Contrast can be made in color, brightness, shape, texture, density, etc. However, if everything contrasts, the composition will suffer. Too much difference can cause all elements to compete for the viewer’s attention.
By creating strong contrast, the most visually intense elements of a composition can become focal points. Use color, value, shape, texture, and form to create a hierarchy that leads people’s eyes to the most important elements first.
Position Influences What We Notice
An element’s position changes the way people perceive its importance. The closer elements are, the more they seem related. The farther apart they are, the more separate they seem.
Moving elements around can greatly change how your composition is read. Try playing with element placement to see if relationships can be made clearer. Sometimes moving things around can strengthen a composition without using any flashy special effects.
When all else fails, space. White space makes elements stand out by removing visual clutter. It makes them important because there is nothing nearby competing for attention.
Think about a minimalist style of photography or graphic design. The reason these works can be so strong is simply that they limit the amount of information on display at once. They often make a few elements large, bold, and contrasting. This gives the image a strong focal point. However, it also leaves a lot of negative space. This allows that element or subject to shine.
Test Your Composition
Make sure that people will know where to look and what to think about in your work. Use size, contrast, position, and white space to create a visual order that makes the most important elements stand out.
Take a step back from the image. Where will people look first? Where will they look next? Does the composition make it easy to figure these out, or are people going to glance randomly?
Test yourself by answering these questions about your composition:
- What element gets my attention first?
- Where will my eyes travel next?
- Is there a strong focal point or focal points? Are they competing too much?
- Is there enough white space? Am I overwhelming viewers?
Once you understand that visual hierarchy is created to guide people through your ideas with clarity, it will become easier to design compositions that have a clear focus.
The ultimate goal of composition is to create a clear path for people to follow. A clear hierarchy is the first step to achieving that goal.
Use the four elements of hierarchy, namely size, position, contrast, and white space, to organize your work in the clearest way possible.
A visual hierarchy is the organization of elements through difference to create importance and lead people’s eyes through the work. There is no one best hierarchy. The ideal composition is based on purpose and style. The elements of the work, its medium, message, and subject will dictate what the visual hierarchy needs to be.
Use size, contrast, position, and white space to create a direction. These elements all create differences. Size, contrast, repetition, and position can all lead the eye, as can lines and directions.