Rhythm in Design Composition

You’re probably already familiar with the concept of rhythm from music: it’s the pattern created by the arrangement of notes and the space in between them. In design, the concept is similar. Rhythm is the arrangement of elements at regular or random intervals that create a sense of movement. 

Successful design rhythm is much like musical rhythm. It’s not just about the arrangement of the elements themselves, but also the negative space in between them. Rhythm also relies on the repetition of certain elements, tying the entire composition together.^[1]

External rhythm is the rhythm that exists between different groups of elements. In design, the external rhythm — the repetition of content groups and the negative space between them — creates the flow and leads users’ eyes throughout the page. Rhythm, when done well, is also used to create harmony within the composition.

Internal rhythm is created within groups of elements. It’s the repetition of parts and spacing between them within a component. Designers can repeat elements inside components or more complex content blocks, such as a menu, photo gallery, or footer, to direct users’ natural eye flow and make the content easy to scan and navigate.

The core difference between rhythm and repetition is that rhythm implies movement, progress, and sometimes surprising variations. Waltz is all about rhythm and includes a step, slide, and step in 3/4 time. On the contrary, marching is a repetition of monotonous footsteps without any irregularities.

That said, rhythm should always include some element of repetition. It creates a pattern that keeps users feeling grounded on the page. Compositions with entirely random elements don't create a sense of rhythm or repetition.^[2]

A nested list is an excellent example of external rhythm. It contains categories — colors or brands in this example — placed at equal intervals from each other. However, each category includes a different amount of items that have, in turn, their own internal rhythm.

The card here contains pricing information, where each element, such as a title, body text, and the CTA, is a part of an internal rhythm. Take note that some elements, such as the pricing card in this example, communicate with surrounding elements, creating an external rhythm.

When designing, rhythm can help establish the mood and make a composition more dynamic and exciting. Here, we use rhythm to break up the monotony and make things pop a bit more. It also creates a focal point within the composition, guiding the user toward the largest image and text.

When designing a pricing page, we may want to differentiate each plan with more than just words and numbers! Instead of making the height the same, we can increase it for each subsequent plan, creating a progressive rhythm.^[3] This external rhythm creates not only a unique layout but also highlights how each pricing plan increases in importance.

How do you set the internal rhythm designing something as necessary as a sign-up form? You add spaces between inputs, titles, and CTAs, making sure users can quickly scan them without being distracted or confused.