I attended a workshop in Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. The Ikebana concept that impressed me the most was that of visual motion. Ikebana strives to keep the eye engaged by eliminating any element that would stop the continuous scanning motion of the eye. Some examples of such eye stopping elements are:
- Straight lines
- 90 degree angles
- Absence of negative space (space between objects)
The photo to the left shows an Ikebana arrangement.
Example of Ikebana
Notice the following:
- Simplicity, only 3 elements: white calla lilies, pink azaleas and black tray
- Curved lines, no straight lines
- Only 5 upright flowers grouped as 3 + 2, creating negative space between the vertical elements, the stems
- Negative space between the horizontal elements: calla lilies at the top, azaleas and tray at the bottom
Despite the sparse, simple aesthetic, its visual interest pulls you in and keeps you there. Isn’t that what we want for our own web sites?
I gave some thought to how I could apply this to web design. I believe when you drill down and understand your goals and core values and how to realize them, you arrive at a truth that can be expressed simply and effectively.
If you don’t really understand who you are and what you’re doing, what better way to cover it up than to keep piling on more and more until you get a web site that looks like this:
Analysis by Smart Alice Web Design, smart web design for businesses who want a unique and effective presence on the internet.
