What principle involves organizing the visual weight within a design?

The principle that involves organizing the visual weight within a design is balance. Balance is essential in graphic design as it ensures that elements within the layout are distributed in a way that creates a sense of stability and harmony. When a design achieves balance, it feels more aesthetically pleasing and inviting to viewers because it doesn't overwhelm one side of the composition with too much weight or attention.

Balance can be achieved through symmetrical arrangements, where elements on either side of a central axis mirror each other, or through asymmetrical arrangements, where different elements carry equal visual weight despite not being identical. This effective distribution of visual elements helps guide the viewer's eye throughout the design, making the overall message stronger and clearer.

In contrast, alignment refers to the way elements are positioned relative to each other and to the overall edge of the design, which primarily enhances organization and clarity rather than the overall visual weight. Proximity deals with how close elements are placed to one another, impacting the perceived relationship between those elements but not specifically their overall balance. Lastly, contrasting focuses on differences in color, size, shape, or texture to create emphasis but does not directly address the distribution of visual weight.