Be careful of a symbol that becomes too interesting in itself. Symmetrical balance has its place, but can be monotonous and predictable. Color can affect balance. Usually, color should not be used in one single spot. It should be echoed elsewhere, not necessarily in equal amounts.
Equal proportion is obvious and less interesting.
Designer should depend on his intuitive sense of proportion more so than a mechanical approach, although the latter should not be ruled out. Depending on the nature of the design, stress is gained through shape, lettering, illustration, white space, color, or a combination of these elements. Only one thought or element should prevail. A composition without unity falls apart, giving a spotty effect. To achieve unity, the designer studies all elements to see if he can somehow combine related units, such as headline with sub-headline, optically reducing two units to one.