Scribd
Upload
163 views

Elements of Design

The document discusses the elements and principles of design. The seven elements of design are line, color, texture, shape, form, value, and space. Elements are the basic components used to create principles of design. The principles of design, which result from using the elements, include center of interest, balance, harmony, contrast, directional movement, and rhythm. Together, elements and principles are used to create visual interest, harmony, and unity in artwork.

Uploaded by

zettevasquez8
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
163 views

Elements of Design

The document discusses the elements and principles of design. The seven elements of design are line, color, texture, shape, form, value, and space. Elements are the basic components used to create principles of design. The principles of design, which result from using the elements, include center of interest, balance, harmony, contrast, directional movement, and rhythm. Together, elements and principles are used to create visual interest, harmony, and unity in artwork.

Uploaded by

zettevasquez8
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Elements of Design

Line - is a mark on a surface that describes a shape or outline. It can create texture and can be thick
and thin.  Types of line can include actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal and contour lines.
(note: Ken does not list "psychic line" - that was  "new term" to me)

Color - refers to specific hues and has 3 properties, Chroma, Intensity and Value.  The color wheel is
a way of showing the chromatic scale in a circle using all the colors made with the primary triad. 
Complimentary pairs can produce dull and neutral color.  Black and white can be added to produce
tints (add white), shades (add black) and tones (add gray).

Texture - is about surface quality either tactile or visual. Texture can be real or implied by different
uses of media. It is the degree of roughness or smoothness in objects.

Shape - is a 2-dimensional line with no form or thickness. Shapes are flat and can be grouped into
two categories, geometric and organic.

Form - is a 3-dimensional object having volume and thickness. It is the illusion of a 3-D effect that
can be implied with the use of light and shading techniques. Form can be viewed from many angles.

Value - is the degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all
the tones in between. Value can be used with color as well as black and white. Contrast is the extreme
changes between values.

Space - refers to variations in the perspective, and proportions of objects, lines or shapes. There is a
variation of sizes in space of objects either real or imagined. (some sources list Proportion/Scale as a
Principle of Design)

These elements are used to create the Principles of Design. Principles are the results of using the
Elements.  When you are working in a particular format (size and shape of the work surface) the
principles are used to create interest, harmony and unity to the elements that you are using.  You can
use the Principles of design to check your composition to see if it has good structure.

Principles of Compositional Design

The principles of design are the recipe for a good work of art. The principles combine the elements to
create an aesthetic placement of things that will produce a good design.

Center of interest - is an area that first attracts attention in a composition. This area is more
important when compared to the other objects or elements in a composition.  This can be by contrast
of values, more colors, and placement in the format.

Balance - is a feeling of visual equality in shape, form, value, color, etc.  Balance can be symmetrical
or evenly balanced or asymmetrical and un-evenly balanced.  Objects, values, colors, textures,
shapes, forms, etc., can be used in creating a balance in a composition.

Harmony - brings together a composition with similar units.  If your composition was using wavy
lines and organic shapes you would stay with those types of lines and not put in just one geometric
shape. (Notice how similar Harmony is to Unity - some sources list both terms)

Contrast - offers some change in value creating a visual discord in a composition. Contrast shows the
difference between shapes and can be used as a background to bring objects out and forward in a
design. It can also be used to create an area of emphasis.

Directional Movement - is a visual flow through the composition. It can be the suggestion of motion
in a design as you move from object to object by way of placement and position.  Directional
movement can be created with a value pattern. It is with the placement of dark and light areas that
you can move your attention through the format.

Rhythm - is a movement in which some elements recurs regularly. Like a dance it will have a flow of
objects that will seem to be like the beat of music.

The Principles of design are the results of your working with the elements of art. Use them in every
piece of art you do and you will be happy with the results.

What is Design?
Design is the process of creating something. For example, architects design buildings,
electronic engineers design circuits, and chefs design meals. But more than that, it is
the collection of descriptions, images, and plans, used to create that something. Every
item we see and use has an associated design. Some are very simple, like that of a
pencil, and others are extremely complex, like that of the largest building in your city.
Design takes into account every aspect of the something in question; size, color, weight,
shape, and texture are examples. Good design optimizes each of these characteristics
for utility or use, and visual appeal.

What is a Visual Element?


A visual element is any aspect of something that we can see. This includes a number
of characteristics, which are as follows:

 Line - a mark made by a pen or brush, or the divider between two areas. In a
drawing of a city street, a line would represent the edge of a building, or the
edge of the curb on the street.
 Shape - an enclosed area that can be organic or geometric. In an image of an
orange, the shape would basically be a circle, filled with an orange color.
 Direction - an attribute of a line; horizontal, vertical, or skewed. In a city street
drawing, the building edges would be vertical, and the curb edges would be
horizontal and skewed.
 Size - the area occupied by a shape. In the drawing of a city street, you have
small buildings and large buildings. The area occupied by each would indicate
their size.
 Texture - the visual description of a surface, or the tactile sensation something
presents. In an image, this would be the surface qualities of any shape; dull,
shiny, etc. For something physical, it would be how the object feels to the touch;
smooth, rough, etc.
 Color - the hue from the visible spectrum an object shows or projects. For a stop
sign, the color would be red.
 Value - The shade of a color; how light or dark it is. On a sunny day, the sky is
light blue, or the leaves on the trees are various shades of green.

You might also like