Asymmetrical Designs

A5 format,  140 fluo/white paper, 32 pages.

Our brain is naturally addicted to symmetry, so whenever we encounter something that is even slightly not symmetrical, something immediately gets triggered inside of us and that’s when we start losing our minds. When something is asymmetrical looking at it always makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s low key a subtle form of torture that you can feel in your soul.

Symmetry is also a type of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) that causes individuals to focus on symmetry and perfectionism. Individuals with symmetry OCD often have difficulty coping with any type of asymmetry or deviation from perfection, which can often lead to obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

In OCD, symmetry obsessions are characterized by the need for things to be perfect, exact or “just right,” symmetrical, or correctly aligned, and related compulsions include ordering and arranging, evening up or aligning things, and touching or tapping.

People who suffer from Symmetry OCD become fixated on the position and arrangement of certain objects and will feel uncomfortable and distressed when encountering items that are not aligned correctly or that or appear somehow incomplete. People with symmetry concerns may be more likely to have other anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

According to the American scientist Alan Lightman, human brains actually strive to see things symmetrically. “The reason must be partly psychological,” he says. “Symmetry represents order, and we crave order in this strange universe we find ourselves in helps us make sense of the world around us”.