If the principles of design were a single-parent family, balance would be the mother (or father), and proximity and alignment would be two brothers (or sisters) close in age. If proximity were a pair of sweatpants, alignment would be the elastic band that holds them up. The other children would be repetition and white space, but we’ll get there. Alignment, like proximity, is a means of organization. It is the strengthener of relationship for proximity.

The idea of alignment is that everything in a layout, whether it’s a design of a graphic, or a design of a physical space, should be visually connected to something else on the graphic or in the space. It is evident in text layout – take a gander at the newspaper, the way in which your picture frames are hung on your walls, the organization of your living room furniture, and even in our genetics, for instance – your face.

Your face, yes yours, is a great example of nature showing off alignment. Draw a straight line from the outside corner of your right eye directly to the side of your head (use your finger, not a pen.) The outside corner of your eye aligns with where the ear meets your head. Now draw a straight line from your pupil downward. The very center of your eye aligns with the corner of your mouth. Now, draw a straight line downward from the inside corner of your eye. That aligns with the corner of your nose. Every element on your face is visually connected to something else on your face. Subtle, but true. Hence, alignment.

Poor alignment signifies messy design. What if the corner of your nose aligned with the middle of your eye? Or you’re eyes were truly on your forehead, where most youngsters tend to place the eyes when drawing a face? Or each picture frame hung in a straight row was slightly crooked? Strong alignment creates successful connections.

Alignment is a very important aspect in exhibit design. It can help unify a space, create connections, and help communicate important information. Alignment is a design underdog – you don’t typically notice it unless it’s done poorly.

Take a look at the two page layouts below. The first is lacking alignment. The second is not. What differences can you spot? Which design feels more complete and polished?