Summary
Face-ism Ratio states that ratio of the face to the body in an image can affect viewer’s perception. If the body takes up most of the picture, viewers focus would be more on the physical and sensual aspect of the person in the image, while the larger face in comparison to body portrays intellectual and personality traits of the person in the image. This ratio is calculated by dividing the size of the head in the image to the total size of the body shown.
Original example
“The effect of face-ism is evident in these photographs. The high face-ism photograph emphasizes more cerebral or personality-related attributes like intelligence and ambition. The lower face-ism photographs emphasize more physical attributes like sensuality and physical attractiveness.”
Source: Universal Principles of Design
Online example
(Left) Intellectual and personality traits of the person in the image.
(Right) A physical and sensual aspect of the person in the image.
Mathematical ratio of face-ism index
Real example
My experiment; Linkedin profile picture is a good example for representing one’s personality and intellect. Zoomed in picture is more appropriate in this case, in order to deliver a message about intelligence and personality
This design principle is found on the cover of magazines related to female demographics that need to show physical attributes like Vogue magazine(Left) or other magazines that need to portray intellectual attributes like Time, Life magazine(Right).
