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I'm creating my own avatar with letters V and K. Now, I like the idea that I have used but I'm finding it difficult to "balance" the logo. Please see image. Left part is for V and right part is for K. (See explanation on right in image: Yellow colored area is for V, Red is to represent K)

The 1st design has equal widths for both shapes (x units), so mathematically seems fine, but I find the K part is little "heavy / thick" as compared to V.

I tried to fix it by slightly decreasing the width (x-1 units) and now it seems "balanced" (at least to me) as widths "seem" equal.

I'm really confused which design is better.

enter image description here

Which design is aesthetically looks better? Is it okay to break such a rule (by decreasing widths) to balance something and make it look aesthetically better?

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    Take the ruler that you use for this and throw it away. There are no rules in graphic design is the only "rule" you must keep in mind. Which one do YOU like?
    – Stan
    Jul 13, 2018 at 14:43

3 Answers 3

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I think both options are kind of ok, but your reasoning is fine: the mathematical version is slightly tilting to the right, so an optical correction is good to decrease the width of the K part. I would choose the second, adjusted version. See:

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    Do professional designers do such adjustments and break rules? I'm a beginner and really interested to know this.
    – Vikas
    Jul 13, 2018 at 12:37
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    I just read this article. logogeek.uk/logo-design/optical-corrections I guess I'm facing the same problem? That's what optical correction?
    – Vikas
    Jul 13, 2018 at 12:43
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    Yes optical corrections are found in commercial fonts and probably well known logos. Go for it.
    – Lucian
    Jul 13, 2018 at 12:50
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I think the second option is better, but...

You can add a bit of interest to your logo with a typographic resource: stroke modulation

The V lacks a stroke, which suggests that it is a typography with modulated strokes like Optima Extra Black

Optima

If we look the K of the same typography, the modulation is in the upper inclined stroke

Optima K

Following this, the construction could be something like this:

logo

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    Happy to learn this technique but I feel 2nd looks better. If you scale down the logo you suggested, it wouldn't look cool. Hope you understand. Still many many thanks :)
    – Vikas
    Jul 13, 2018 at 13:02
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    Yes, it depends what you are looking for, I am not so fan of symmetry. Actually I will exaggerate more the modulation. Sometimes I prefer the uniqueness than looking "cool". Good job!
    – user120647
    Jul 13, 2018 at 13:07
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There are several ways you could correct the illusion that the K is too thick. But there are no rules for this. Do what you think looks best.

One way is to cut into the inner angle of the K.

For example:

enter image description here

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