Design Fundamentals

Elements of Design

The elements are  components or parts which can be isolated and defined in any visual design or work of art. They are the structure of the work, and can carry a wide variety of messages.

The elements are :

• Point
• Line
• Form, shape and space
• Movement
• Color
• Pattern
• Texture

Principles of Design

The Principles are concepts used to organize or arrange the structural elements of design. Again, the way in which these principles are applied affects the expressive content, or the message of the work.The principles are :

• Balance
• Propotion
• Rhythm
• Emphasis
• Unity

Point

The point is the first and the simplest element of visual design.

Example of Point :

Line

A line is a mark made by a moving point and having psychological impact according to its direction, weight, and the variations in its direction and weight. It is an enormously useful and versatile graphic device that is made to function in both visual and verbal ways. It can act as as a symbolic language, or it can communicate emotion through its character and direction.

Different kind of line :

Example of Line :

Shape

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



Types of Shapes

There are two general categores that are use to describe shapes.Geometric and Free-Form or Organic Shapes.

Positive and Negative Shapes

In most forms of art shapes may be considered positive or negative depending on how they are used. Positive shapes are usually those which are the subject matter withing a work of art. Negative shapes (or space) are those in the background or around the positive shapes. By viewing images as silohouettes, it is easier to understand what the positve shapes and the negative shapes are. See if you can identify the positive and negative shapes (space) in the silhouette images below.

Geometric Shapes

• Can be described using mathematical terms
• They are very regular or precise
• They are more often found in man-made things because they are easier to reproduce and make things with
• Examples of geometric shapes are: squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, oval, pentagons and so on.

Free-form or Organic Shapes

• are difficult to describe using definitons
• are irregular or uneven
• are more often found in nature
• example coule include the shape of clouds, puddles, trees, leaves, rocks and so on.

Combination of Geometric shapes Positive and Negative :

Combination of Organic shapes Positive and Negative :

Combination of Geometric and Organic shapes Positive and Negative :

Texture

Texture refers to the surface quality in a work of art. We associate textures with the way that things look or feel. Everything has some type of texture. We describe things as being rough, smooth, silky, shiny, fuzzy and so on. Some things feel just as they appear; this is called real or actual texture. Some things look like they are rough but are actually smooth. Texture that is created to look like something it is not, is called visual or implied texture.

 Texture may be used in a work of art to:

• create visual interest or a focal point in a compostion
• to create contrast within a design compostion
• to help visually balance a design compostion

Real Texture :

Visual or Implied Texture :

Value


The term value is used in the language of Art to refer to the "value" of light. The more light, the higher the the value. White is the highest or lightest value.On the other hand , black is the lowest or darkest value. Colors have value as well. Yellow for example has a relatively high (light) value, while violet has a relatively low value (dark).




Value scales :

 Example Picture colored with value of color :