Design Elements and Design Principles (Study Note)

To create and produce a piece of art work, elements and principles of designs are needed.

From my understanding, design elements :

• are the basic things involved in creating a design, painting, drawing and so on.
• help to increase the uniqueness of designs and can be used to represent anything.
• There are 7 elements which include -

1. Line : - linear mark on a surface which shows a shape/outline.                                                    
               - a border created when 2 shapes meet
               - can create texture, can be thick and thin.







                                                                                                              Lines

2. Colour : - refers to hues which has 3 properties (Chroma,
                     Intensity, Value)
                   - Colour wheel used to show the chromatic scale in a
                     circle based on primary colors (red,yellow,blue)
                    - Represents mood of the design.

                                                                                                                  colour wheel

 

3. Texture : - quality of a surface (smooth, soft, rough etc.)
                     - 2 parts : physical texture and visual texture
                     - appropriate texture enhances distinctiveness of a
                       design.



                                                                                          
                                                                             rough texture

4. Shape : - 2-dimensional line with no form or thickness, flat.
                  - 2 groups : geometric and organic form









5. Value / Tone : - the brightness or darkness of a color.
                             - contrast between black and white tone and
                               other tones.
                             - can be used with color

                                                                 

6. Size : - different proportions of objects, lines or shapes.
               - variation of sizes can be real or imagined.
               - make objects closer look larger, objects further
                  away look smaller.






7. Direction : - all lines have direction
                        (horizontal/vertical/curved/sloped)
                       - can show movements
                       - can be balanced to depict stability, imbalanced
                          to show tension.

From my understanding, design principles :

• are the laws of designing any project.
• arrange and combine the elements carefully to create  a piece of good art work.
• There principles of design  include -

1. Balance : 

    - take into account the weight and equality of a visual. 

      For example, in the form of value, shapes and colours. 

    - It can be symmetrical(balanced evenly) or asymmetrical   

      (balanced un-evenly). 

- 

2. Harmony : 

    - the combination of all elements which are related and have 

       common characteristics to give a sense of visual satisfaction. 

    - It can create different meaning. For example, same elements are 

       interpreted as calm and peaceful (groups of organic shapes like 

       squares and rectangles),while contrasting elements like circles 

       and squares with triangles give a sense of energy or tension.

3. Contrast :    
   - Shows differences in two different parts of a design or show 
      emphasis in any sections of the design.

    - Pictorial elements which stand out as they are not similar 
      (contrasting colours and shapes)

4. Emphasis :    
    - It is the center of interest, showing dominance and  

       influence in a design. 

    - It is being used in certain parts of the design which is 

       considered to be more important and needs to attract   

       attention compared to other parts.

    - It is done through contrasting the values, adding colour  

       or placement in the design.

5. Repetition/ Rhythm : 

    - Repetition is using the same pictorial elements in a 

      design (similar shapes, lines or colours) which can be 

      even or uneven. 

    - Rhythm is the organized movements due to the constant 

       recurrence of some elements. Meaning, it is like patterns 

       of design which has a 'flow'.

6. Variety : 

    - When the elements in the design are done with sufficient    

       differences and changes.
    - It is make up of different objects in a design which helps to   

      add interest to a visual image.

7. Movement : 

    - It is like an illusion of motion in design or painting   

      when we look from one object to the next through the 

      correct placements and position.
    - The visual flow which flow through composition and 

      can be created using patterns.

In conclusion, by learning about design elements and design principles, it made me realize that a piece of simple art work or a design is not merely just a drawing. But, there are many skills, composition, elements, and principles involved in it without us realizing its existence.




References

http://www.incredibleart.org/files/elements2.htm
http://www.jiskha.com/art/visual_arts/ped.html
http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm
http://www.canleyvale.hs.education.nsw.gov.au/Winning%20websites/art/eod.htm
http://www.goshen.edu/art/ed/Compose.htm
http://www.canleyvale.hs.education.nsw.gov.au/Winning%20websites/art/pod.htm
http://www.educ.kent.edu/community/vlo/design/principles/variety/index.html
http://pages.uoregon.edu/surviarc/three.html