Strategy: Rule of Thirds

An aesthetic technique that optimizes a composition by using a grid to divide into thirds. One would position the subject in a specific grid to create intrigue and interest.

Sources:

Lidwell, William. Universal Principles of Design: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design. Rockport, 2010.

The Rule of Thirds: Know your layout sweet spots, Interaction Design, Oct 2017. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/the-rule-of-thirds-know-your-layout-sweet-spots

Source Example

Online Example

Source: https://99designs.com/blog/tips/back-to-basics-part-iii-the-composition-of-design-with-photography/

Real Life Example

One Reply to “Strategy: Rule of Thirds”

  1. Jennifer,

    This is one of my all-time favorite design principles due to the severity of its use, and perhaps since I’m a photographer as well, I have the rules of third embedded in my brain when I take photos. As the book mentions in pg. 208: The asymmetry of the resulting composition is interesting to look at, and generally agreed to be aesthetic. Meaning that it doesn’t always have to be pretty or symmetrical, but asymmetrical balance can be as strong or more depending on the overall image. Here’s one of my images using the rule of third design principle.

    http://www.jonatansainephotography.com/family?lightbox=image_139e

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