Asettelut

Asettelut is a Finnish term that refers to the arrangement or layout of elements within a space or medium. The concept covers how items are positioned, aligned, spaced, and scaled to achieve functional goals, readability, and visual balance. It is used across design disciplines as a general description of how components are organized.

Fields and applications

In graphic design and publishing, asettelut describe the layout of text blocks, images, margins, and guides on a page. In web and user interface design, the term covers the structure and grid-based arrangement of screens, panels, and controls, including responsive behavior. In interior design, asettelut pertain to the placement of furniture, lighting, and decor to create flow and usability. Event planning and stage design also use the term to describe the arrangement of stands, seating, signage, and props.

Etymology and usage

The word derives from the verb asettaa, meaning “to set” or “to place.” Asettelut is the plural form used when referring to several layouts or to the concept of layout as a field of practice. The term is common in Finnish design, media production, architecture, and planning discourse.

Principles and considerations

Effective asettelut rely on design principles such as grids, alignment, visual hierarchy, rhythm, and proportion. They must balance aesthetics with function, accessibility, and the constraints of the medium, whether that medium is print, digital, or physical space. Adaptability, especially in responsive or flexible environments, is often a key objective.

Examples

Creating a magazine page layout, organizing a product page in a website, staging a living room, or planning the layout of a trade show booth are typical tasks described with the term asettelut.