Elements of Design

The elements of design are the tools use to create or design.

Elements of Design
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Line Color Texture Shape Space Form

 The color wheel is divided into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. These colors are considered to be foundation colors because they are used to create all other colors

Secondary
secondary colors are green, orange and violet (purple). A secondary color is made by mixing two primary colors. Each secondary color is made from the two primary colors on either side of

COLOURs

it in the color wheel

2 primary colours giving one secondary

1primary +1primary= secondary.

Red+yellow giving orange.

COLOUR WHEEL.
This wheel carries Both the Secondary & Primary colours.
MIXTURE of TWO PRIMARY COLOURS

TER COLOUR MIX.

MIXTURE of TWO Secondary Colours Gives ONE Ter COLOUR.

TERTIARY COLOURS.
Tertiary or
colors Intermediate

Intermediate colors, sometimes called tertiary colors, are made by mixing a secondary and a primary color together. Some examples of tertiary colors are yellow-green, blue-green, and blueviolet.

COLOUR WHEEL.
Color wheels show how visible colors are related.primary,secondar y, and tertiary colors are organized on a circular chart. Color wheels help artists remember how to

mix and think about pigments.

Colour placement.

Properties of Color:
Hue-the name of a color. The primary hues are red, yellow, and blue. Value-refers to the lightness or darkness of an object. Intensity-refers to the brightness and dullness of a color.

SHADES of COLOURS.
Shades are dark values of a color. One usually makes shades by

mixing a color with different amounts of black.

WARM COLOURS.
Warm colors are made mostly of red, orange and yellow. This family of colors is called warm because they remind you of warm things like the sun or fire. Warm colors can even make you feel warmer because they can slightly increase your circulation and body

temperature!

Colors are also divided into cool and warm categories. The cool colors are green, blue and violet. Warm colors are red, orange and yellow.

 A tint of a color is made by adding white. A shade is made by adding black

NEUTRALS.
Neutral colors Neutral colors or earth tones are not seen on most colour wheel . Black, gray, whites are neutral. Browns, beiges and tans are sometimes neutral too. Neutral colors can be made by mixing: black and white

COMPLEMENTARY colours
Complementary pairs contrast because they share no common colors. For example, red and green are complements, because green is made of blue and yellow. Complementary colors can appear very exciting and seem to vibrate when placed side by side

Triadic -

This scheme also uses three colors. They are evenly spaced from each other. (example: red, yellow, and blue)

Alternate complement This scheme uses four colors: a triad and a complement to one of the hues. (example: red, yellow, blue and violet)

Double complement This color scheme uses two pairs of complements. (example: yellow and violet, blue and orange)

Tetrad This scheme uses four colors evenly spaced on the color wheel. A primary, secondary and two tertiary colors are used. (example: red, green, yellow-orange, and blue-violet)

Split complementary
This color scheme uses three colors: any hue and the two adjacent to its complement. (example: red, yellowgreen, and bluegreen)

Monochromatic is where one color is used but in different values and intensity.

Point
A point is an element that has position, but no extension. It is a single mark in space with a precise, but limited, location. Alone it can provide a powerful relation between negative and positive space,

Line or form is a natural result of multiple points in space.

Line
Line - the path of a point. A line is an element characterized by length and direction. Lines creates, contours and form, and are often used to convey a specific kind of feeling or point to an important feature in a design. Lines are also used to create perspective, and dominant directional lines are often adopted to create a sense of continuance in a composition. In addition, lines that are grouped together often create a sense of value, density or texture.

Organic

Rigid

Differing weights

Line is the basic element that refers to the continuous movement of a point along a surface, such as by a pencil or brush. The edges of shapes and forms also create lines. It is the basic component of a shape drawn on paper. Lines and curves are the basic building blocks of two dimensional shapes like a house's plan. Every line has length, thickness, and direction. There are curved, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, zigzag, wavy, parallel, dash, and dotted lines.

Types of Line:
Outlines- Lines made by the edge of an object or its silhouette. Contour Lines- Lines that describe the shape of an object and the interior detail. Gesture Lines- Line that are energetic and catches the movement and gestures of an active figure.

Sketch Lines- Lines that captures the appearance of an object or impression of a place.
Calligraphic Lines- Greek word meaning beautiful writing. Precise, elegant handwriting or lettering done by hand. Also artwork that has flowing lines like an elegant handwriting. Implied Line- Lines that are not actually drawn but created by a group of objects seen from a distance. The direction an object is pointing to, or the direction a person is looking at.

Characteristic of Line are:

Width- thick, thin, tapering, uneven Length - long, short, continuous, broken Direction- horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curving, perpendicular, oblique, parallel, radial, zigzag Focus- sharp, blurry, fuzzy, choppy Feeling- sharp, jagged, graceful, smooth

 Horizontal line

Vertical lines

PLAY OF CURVED LINES

Straight lines

Form a three-dimensional object with height, width, depth, and contour Form is the element of design that includes objects that have three dimensions. Form has height, width, and depth

Form is any three dimensional object. Form can be measured, from top to bottom (height), side to side (width), and from back to front (depth). Form is also defined by light and dark. There are two types of form, geometric (man-made) and natural (organic form). Form may be created by the combining of two or more shapes. It may be enhanced by tone, texture and color. It can be illustrated or constructed.

Space the open area around objects

Space, or negative space, is the element of design that refers to the emptiness or area between, around, below, or within objects. Shapes are defined by space around and within them.

Categories of Shapes:
Geometric Shapes- Circles, Squares, rectangles and triangles. We see them in architecture and manufactured items. Organic Shapes- Leaf, seashells, flowers. We see them in nature and with characteristics that are free flowing, informal and irregular. Positive Shapes-In a drawing or painting positive shapes are the solid forms in a design such as a bowl of fruit. In a sculpture it is the solid form of the sculpture. Negative Shapes-In a drawing it is the space around the positive shape or the shape around the bowl of fruit. In sculpture it is the empty shape around and between the sculptures.

Static Shape-Shapes that appears stable and resting.

Dynamic Shape-Shapes that appears moving and active.

A 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. Shapes can also show perspective by overlapping. They can be geometric or organic. Shapes in house decor and interior design can be used to add interest, style, theme to a design like a door. Shape in interior design depends on the function of the object like a kitchen cabinet door. Natural shapes forming patterns on wood or stone may help increase visual appeal in interior design. In a landscape, natural shapes, such as trees contrast with geometric such as houses

Geometrical shapes

Organic or natural shapes

Non objective shapes

 Texture is the element of design that refers to how things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched. Texture can be: hard, soft, rough, smooth, slippery, sticky, scratchy.

Texture the way something feels or looks like it feels.

Texture
Texture is both a visual and a tactile Texture is used to create surface appearance, and relates to the physical make-up of a given form. Texture often refers to the material that something is made of, and can be created using any of the elements previously discussed.

Organic texture

Rough texture

On fabric & wood

The ways in which these elements can be used are called principles:-

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

repetition, rhythm, graduation and radiation, contrast, harmony, balance and proportion.

REPETITION
Repetition with variation is interesting, without variation repetition can become monotonous

Can also be
Is repeated elements which is varied in size, shape or color. Also known as Pattern

Asymmetrical
Asymmetrical balance occurs when the weight of a composition is not evenly distributed around a central axis. It involves the arranging of objects of differing size in a composition such that they balance one another with their respective visual weights. Often there is one dominant form that is offset by many smaller forms. In general, asymmetrical compositions tend to have a greater sense of visual tension. Asymmetrical balance is also known as informal balance. Horizontal symmetry

Rhythm
2. Created by repetition, radiation, progression and transition.

Proportion
Maximum dimensions depend on the background space and the weight of the material to be used.

Proportion
Proportion is the comparison of dimensions or distribution of forms. It is the relationship in scale between one element and another, or between a whole object and one of its parts.

Emphasis
A. Closely related to focal point. Focuses the attention on one feature and keeps everything else secondary. B. Can be created by texture, color, and kind of flower and movement.

Principles of Design
Unity Repetition Rhythm Gradation Repeats Emphasis /Focal Point Contrast Balance Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Radial All over pattern Contrast & Harmony Proportion /Scale Space Rhythm

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Balance

Balance is the concept of visual equilibrium, and relates to our physical sense of balance. It is a reconciliation of opposing forces in a composition that results in visual stability. Most successful compositions achieve balance in one of two ways: symmetrically or asymmetrically. Symmetrical balance can be described as having equal "weight" on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum. It may also be referred to as formal balance Asymmetrical balance, also called informal balance, is more complex and difficult to 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.

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Balance in design is similar to balance in physics

A large shape close to the center can be balanced by a small shape close to the edge. A large light toned shape will be balanced by a small dark toned shape (the darker the shape the heavier it appears to be)

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Proportion

Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design. The issue is the relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole. This means that it is necessary to discuss proportion in terms of the context or standard used to determine proportions.

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Rhythm
Rhythm can be described as timed movement through space; an easy, connected path along which the eye follows a regular arrangement of motifs. The presence of rhythm creates predictability and order in a composition. Visual rhythm may be best understood by relating it to rhythm in sound. Linear rhythm refers to the characteristic flow of the individual line Repetition involves the use of patterning to achieve timed movement and a visual "beat". This repetition may be a clear repetition of elements in a composition, or it may be a more subtle kind of repetition that can be observed in the underlying structure of the image. Alternation is a specific instance of patterning in which a sequence of repeating motifs are presented in turn; (short/long; fat/thin; round/square; dark/light). Gradation employs a series of motifs patterned to relate to one another through a regular progression of steps. This may be a gradation of shape or color. Some shape gradations may in fact create a sequence of events, not unlike a series of images in a comic strip.

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REPETITION Repetition with variation is interesting, without variation repetition can become monotonous.

The five squares above are all the same. They can be taken in and understood with a single glance.

When variation is introduced, the five squares, although similar, are much more interesting to look at. They can no longer be absorbed properly with a single glance. The individual character of each square needs to be considered.

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GRADATION

Gradation of size and direction produce linear perspective. Gradation of of colour from warm to cool and tone from dark to light produce aerial perspective. Gradation can add interest and movement to a shape. A gradation from dark to light will cause the eye to move along a shape.

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Contrast
Contrast is the juxtaposition of opposing elements eg. opposite colours on the colour wheel - red / green, blue / orange etc. Contrast in tone or value - light / dark. Contrast in direction - horizontal / vertical. The major contrast in a painting should be located at the center of interest. Too much contrast scattered throughout a painting can destroy unity and make a work difficult to look at. Unless a feeling of chaos and confusion are what you are seeking, it is a good idea to carefully consider where to place your areas of maximum contrast.

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Harmony
Harmony in painting is the visually satisfying effect of combining similar, related elements. eg.adjacent colours on the colour wheel, similar shapes etc.

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Dominance
Dominance gives a painting interest, counteracting confusion and monotony. Dominance can be applied to one or more of the elements to give emphasis

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Unity
Relating the design elements to the the idea being expressed in a painting reinforces the principal of unity.eg. a painting with an active aggressive subject would work better with a dominant oblique direction, course, rough texture, angular lines etc. whereas a quiet passive subject would benefit from horizontal lines, soft texture and less tonal contrast.

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MOTIFS
In creative work: Motif (narrative), any recurring element in a story that has symbolic significance Motif (textile arts), a recurring element or fragment that, when joined together, creates a larger work Motif (visual arts), a repeating theme or pattern

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African motifs Victorian motifs

Celtic Motif

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REPEAT
Repeat is the Repetition of floral or geometric print in a fabric design. And Repetition is use of same form again and again

Block Repeat

Half Drop Repeat

All Over Repeat

Ogee
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Pattern
Pattern is an underlying structure that organizes surfaces or structures in a consistent, regular manner. Pattern can be described as a repeating unit of shape or form, but it can also be thought of as the

"skeleton" that organizes the parts of a composition.

Flowing

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Spiral

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