Elements and Principles of Design: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Elements and Principles of Design What are they?

2. Elements • The elements of design are all of the most basic structural parts of art or design. • These are things we take for granted: • Point • Line • Form, shape and space • Movement • Color • Pattern • Texture • Value

3. Point The most basic element. Combining points can create every other element listed. Shapes, textures, lines, etc.

4. Line • Line creates direction for the eye to follow. It also is created by natural things like trees, or the edge of a shape, etc.

5. Form, Shape, Space • Form and shape are area’s of masses that essentially define an object in space. This can be 2-D or 3-D.

6. Movement • Visual movement (using lines, points, etc.) is used to direct viewers through their work, typically to a focal area. You can see this in photographs as well as artwork.

7. Color The use of color must be balanced. Typically the best choices are to choose colors Opposite one another on the color wheel. They contrast completely and look the best together

8. Texture • Texture can be achieved through repeated lines or dots, etc. You can make scales, bricks, fur, wood through using these basic elements.

9. Pattern – Geometric, Organic, Abstract • Combination of elements or shapes repeated in a recurring and regular arrangement. • (Recurring – repeating indefinitely. Regular – having equal times or spaces between. Symmetrical, happening frequently.)

10. Value • This is the lightness or darkness of a color.

11. Principles • The principles of design describe the ways that artists use the elements of art in an actual work of art. • Pattern • Contrast • Emphasis • Balance • Proportion/Scale • Harmony • Rhythm/Movement

12. Contrast – Color, texture, value • This is when we juxtapose things that are completely opposite one another.

13. Emphasis • An area of interest that first attracts a viewers attention.

14. Balance • Visual equilibrium. Can be a balance of colors, shapes, lines, etc. Three types: Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Radial.

15. Proportion/Scale • Proportion is the relationship of two or more elements in a piece of art, and how they compare with one another with respect to size, number, etc. and how this relationship affects the whole image.

16. Harmony • Harmony happens when you use the effective proportions in a design and reduce randomness. Its typically seen in grouping similar things together to create a coherent whole.

17. Lack of Unity/Harmony

18. Unity/Harmony

19. Rhythm/Movement • Repeating elements like lines and points to direct the eye through the artwork. There are five kinds: • Regular • Progressive • Flowing • Random • Alternating

20. Regular/Flowing/Progressive

21. Random • Pebbles at the beach, Snowflakes, Traffic jams. All seem un-orderly up close, but from far away create order.

22. Alternating • Two or more elements are alternated. Like black and white squares on a checkers board. Must create a regular rhythm though.