Asymmetrical Design Tips

If you are more comfortable with symmetry and order in your jewelry design, branching off into asymmetrical design can seem overwhelming and a little scary. Asymmetrical design can seem deceivingly effortless. But it actually takes quite a bit of planning to balance an asymmetrical design.

Don’t fear! Here are 5 simple tips to successful asymmetrical design.

1.  Layout your beads and arrange them before stringing them, this will help you see any unbalanced areas or where you may need to add in more color.

2.  Balance is the key to asymmetrical design. Each part of your design should be counterbalanced by another element on the other side.

3.  Mix up the colors. Mix in lights and darks along with an accent color so that your creation pops and to avoid the blah coloring that can happen with monochromatic designs. Value is the term in color theory for lights and darks, watch your values and make sure you have a good mix of both.

4.  Alternative the size and shape of the beads to add visual interest to your design. Play with the balance of the beads until everything evens out and no part of the design looks out of place.

5.  Play with texture. A good asymmetrical design will use a variety of finishes and textures as part of the design elements. Mix shiny with matte, rough with smooth, faceted with curved.

There are no right and wrong answers with asymmetrical design; it’s whatever pleases your eye. Remember these 5 tips when taking that leap and you’ll soon be confident in beading without a pattern and mixing up those basic design elements.