The Elements &

Principles of Design

ASTU- DEPARTMENT OF ARCH.

.
 Introduction

Basic overview about the Elements

and Principles of Designing.

 The presentation will give you a

good understanding about the
significance, meaning and the
types of designing elements and
principles .

What are
they??
Why they
were used??
 Significance of the Topic
Sometimes we have to give our
opinion about likes or dislikes on a
piece of art or a design, and it’s easy to
say just “ I like this, or I don’t like
that…”. But if we are asked to give the
reasons for it , then it proves to be a
very difficult to find out the reason.

This generally happens because we

judge the designs on its appeal rather
than on its articulate sub-factors.

Therefore it’s imperative to know the

meaning and the types of the designing
elements and principles. Can you evaluate this piece of art???
 A designer can express his thought &
intentions with the elements of
Designer who knows the
design and does it effectively along
design Elements & Principles
with the design principles, i.e. they
can evaluate
serves as an expressing tool for
the design/page in terms of
designers.
line, color, balance, texture,
etc.

Designing Elements and

Principles proves to be an
Now, let us discus these
analyzing frame for Elements & Principles!!!
the designers.
Elements
Of
Design
 Meaning

“Elements of Design are the components or part which

can be isolated & defined in any visual design or work of art.
They structure and carry the work.”
 Basic Elements of Design

 Following are the eight basic elements of design which are common
throughout the field of designing.

1. Point / Mark Can someone tell

us about the
2. Line Elements of
3. Shape Design???

4. Forms
5. Space
6. Color
7. Texture /material
8. Light and shadow
 Point (Mark)

 A point or mark is the smallest and most basic element . It can vary in size,
value, regularity or irregularity, and can be used alone as a unit in a group.
 Marks can be used to form a value or pattern ( placed close together forms
a darker value, further apart forms a lighter value), or to delineate space
( larger means closer, etc.)
 Line

 A line is a form with width and length, but no depth.

 Artist use lines to create edges, the outlines of objects. The direction of a
line can convey mood.
 Produces a sense or movement.
 Broadly lines can be categorized into three types
1. Horizontal
2. Vertical
3. Diagonal
# Curved
Example of Horizontal Lines
 Horizontal lines are calm and quiet.
 Increases length.
Example of Vertical Lines
 Vertical lines suggest more of a potential for movement.
 Increases height.
Example of Diagonal Lines
 Diagonal lines strongly suggest movements and give more of a
feeling of vitality to a picture.
 Shows a transition
 Shape
 can be described by basic
geometry objects such as a
set of two or more points, a
line, a curve, a plane, a plane
figure (e.g. square or circle),
or a solid figure (e.g. cube or
sphere).
 Implies a flat image
 Representations which have
shape but not form are two
dimensional
 shadows and reflections are
flat – have shape but no form
 The outline of an image or
object gives it it’s shape
 Shape
 Shape is defined as an area that stands out from the space next to or
around it due to a defined or implied boundary, or because of differences
of value, color, or texture.
 A shape is formed when a line encloses an area.
 Shapes have two dimensions, length and width and can be geometric or
free-form.
 Forms
"Architectural
Form Is The Point Of
Contact Between Mass And Space.
It May Refer To An External
Appearance That Can Be
Recognized.
Forms are shaped by the space
they occupy
Forms are shaped and sized
according to their ability to fill
space with their material
dimensions
 Forms
 Forms describes volumes and mass, or the 3D aspects of objects that take
up space.
 Forms can and should be viewed from any angles.
For example: When you hold a baseball, or a small sculpture, you are
aware of their curves, angles, indentations, & edges i.e. their forms.
Visual propertForms
 visual properties of Form
 Shape: The characteristic outline or surface configuration
of a particular form. Shape is the principal
aspect by which we identify and categorize
forms.
 visual properties of Form
 Size : The physical dimensions of length. width. And depth
of a form. While these dimensions determine the
proportions of a form, its scale is determined by its size
relative to other forms in its context.
 visual properties of Form
 colour :A Phenomenon Of Light
And Visual Perception That May
Be Described In Terms Of An
Individual's Perception Of Hue,
Saturation, And Tonal Value.
Colour Is The Attribute That Most
Clearly Distinguishes A Form
From Its Environment. It Also
Affects The Visual Weight Of A
Form .
 Texture :The Visual And
Especially Tactile Quality Given
To A Surface By The Size. Shape,
Arrangement, And Proportions
Of The Parts. Texture Also
Determines The Degree To
Which The Surfaces Of A Form
Reflect Or Absorb Incident Light.
 Space
is defined as the unlimited expanse in which
everything is located or an empty area usually
bounded in some way between things.

The space between these two

hedges is given shape by outline of
the form which each hedge takes.
 Space
 Space is a 3D volume that can be empty or filled with objects. It has width,
height, and depth.
 Space that appears three- dimensional in a 2D painting is an illusion that
creates a feeling of actual depth.
 Several techniques can be used to show such visual depth or space, for
example, overlapping, linear perspective, etc..

Example for Overlapping

 Other Examples

Detail (aerial or atmospheric perspective) Linear perspective ( converging lines )

 Other Examples

These hands by August Rodin occupy space but also contain space (held
between them).
 FORM and SPACE
Objects and figures which have body or
three dimensionality, are said to have form
Forms are shaped by the space they
occupy
Forms are shaped and sized according to
their ability to fill space with their
material dimensions
Objects and figures which have form
occupy space in the world
Space is lost when a form takes up that
space
Space is shaped by the bodies which
occupy it .
This two-part Andy Goldsworthy sculpture is
an example of form and space. The egg form
on the left appears to be the perfect opposite
 Color
 Color has three properties. The first is hue, which is the name of the colors.
- the primary hue are Yellow, Red, and Blue.
- secondary colors are made by mixing two primaries.
- intermediate colors are mixtures of a primary & adjacent secondary
color.
 The second property is Value, which refers to the lightness or darkness of
hue.
 The third property is Intensity, which refers to the purity of the hue also
known as “Chroma”.
 Examples

Color Wheel Value Scale

 Texture

 Texture refers to the surface quality, both simulated and actual, of

artwork.
 Light and shadow

 By using various combination of light and shadow we can create a sense of

depth.
 Meaning

“The Principles of Design are the artistic guidelines

used to organize or arrange the structural elements
of design.”
 Basic Principles of Designing
 Following are the basic principles of effective design which are common throughout the
field of designing (i.e. from print design to lithography, typography, & industrial design).

1. Balance
2. Contrast
Principles
3. Emphasis
??????
4. Pattern
5. Rhythm/Movement
6. Unity
7. Proportion
8. Repetition
9. Subordination
10.Transition
11.Creativity
 Balance
 Balance refers to the appropriate arrangement of objects in a design to
create the impression of equality in weight or importance. Balance
provides stability and structure to a design.
 Balance may be symmetrical and asymmetrical, but the goal should be to
achieve equilibrium.

 Symmetrical Balance can be described as having equal “weight” on equal

sides of a centrally placed fulcrum. It is also known as formal balance.

 Asymmetrical Balance is more complex and difficult top envisage. It

involves placement of objects in a way that will allow objects of varying
visual weight to balance one another around a fulcrum point. It is also
known as informal balance.
 Examples

Balance is formal when both sides are

symmetrical in terms of arrangement.
 Examples

Asymmetrical/ informal balance

 Rhythm

 Rhythm or movement is regarded as a visual temp or beat. It refers to a

regular repetition of elements to produce the look and feel of a movement.
 Rhythm can be achieved through the careful placement of repeated
components. It can be directed for example, along edges & by means of
shape and colour.
 Rhythm can be categorized Random, Regular, Alternating, Progressive, and
Flowing.
 Emphasis

 The term emphasis literally means to give importance.

 Emphasis in designing refers to give special attention to one part of a work of
art.
 It can be achieved through placement, contrast, colour, size, repetition, etc.
For example: A dark shape in a light composition
 Contrast/opposition

 Contrast refers to the juxtaposition

of different elements of design (for
example: rough & smooth textures,
dark & light values)in order to
highlight their differences or create
visual interest , or a focal point.
 Contrast allows us to emphasize or
highlight key elements in your
design.
 Pattern/repetition

 Pattern in a design simply refers to keeping your design in a certain format.

 It is often described as a regular arrangement of alternated or repeated
elements (shapes, lines, colors) or motifs.
For example: One could plan to have curved lines all around a design as
a pattern.
 Unity

 Unity refers to the arrangement of elements to give the viewer the feeling
that all the parts of the design or piece form a coherent whole i.e. designs
must be in harmony in which all sections of the pattern make other
sections feel complete.
 It enables the design to be seen as one complete piece of art or design.
 proportion
 Golden rectangle: the comparative relationship b/n things with respect to
size.

5*8
4*7
3*5
 subordination
 Not all design parts have the same rank or value. Some are important
than other. The less important are subordinate, nut they stilll are
necessary for an effective design.

transition
 Change from one aspect of the design to another.

creativity
 Being imaginative or innovative, stimulating inventive powers.
Absolute examples of Designing Elements & Principles!!!

One can create such aesthetic piece of art if he strictly

adhere to all Elements & Principles of Designing.

Paintings by student of ADMEC

Elements of architecture
The floor
The wall
The ceiling
The roof
The door
The window
The façade
The balcony
The coridor
The fire place
The toilet
The stair
The escalator
The elevator
The ramp ….