The Elements and Principles of Design

1
The Elements and Principles of Design
2
What Are They?

• Elements of design are the parts or tools,.
• They structure and carry the work.
• Principles of design are concepts.
• They affect content and message.

3
Line

• A line is the path of a moving point.

4
Direction

• Direction is the course along which a line moves.

5
Value

• Value is how dark or light a color is.

6
Texture

• Texture is the visual surface quality of an
  object.

7
Form and Space

• Form is an area surrounded by space.
• Space can be positive or negative.

8
Color

• Color is the hue, shade, or tone of an object.
  Hue is the name of the color, a shade adds black
  and a tint adds white.

9
Balance

• Balance relates to our physical sense of balance.

10
Movement

• Movement leads the eye from one direction to
  another.

11
Proportion

• Proportion is the relative size and scale of
  elements in a design.

12
Repetition

• Repetition is one, or similar elements that are
  repeated.

13
Rhythm

• Rhythm is a measured movement through space. It
  is a regular repetition of elements.

14
Center of Interest

• Center of Interest is when one object is
  emphasized more than another.

15
Contrast

• Contrast is when elements are different.

16
Unity and Variety

• Unity is a set of elements from the same family.
  Variety is elements that are similar, but not the
  same.

17
Harmony

• Harmony is when elements are related.

18
Your Turn!

• What elements and principles do you see being
  used in this image?

19
Sources

• Jirousek, C. (1995). Elements of Design. In Art,
  Design, and Visual Thinking. Retrieved September
  28, 2009, from
• http//www.char.txa.cornell.edu.
• Lovett, J. (1999). Elements and Principles of
  Design. In John Lovett Watercolor and Mixedmedia
  Artist. Retrieved September 28, 2009, from
  http//www.johnlovett.com/test.htm
• Line Mike Chaput-Branson, Line Up The Color
  January 19, 2008 via Flickr, Creative Commons
  Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike License.
• Form and Space Ntr23, Ice Form August 19, 2006
  via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution,
  Noncommercial, Share Alike License.

Image Sources
20
Image Sources

• Movement Ed Schipul, Orange Line _at_ eTech 2007
  March 28, 2007 via Flickr, Creative Commons
  Attribution, Share Alike License.
• Color Nasplayer, Rainbow Colored Milk Drop
  Splash (Explore 108) June 11, 2009 via Flickr,
  Creative Commons Attribution, No Derivative
  Works License.
• Texture Lucy Nieto, Tapete de Plástico 2007
  November 24, 2007 via Flickr, Creative Commons
  Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike License.
• Direction Jeff Bauche, Abstract Life Line
  January 21, 2008 via Flickr, Creative Commons
  Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works
  License.
• Proportion Alper Çugun, Disproportion July 4,
  2007 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution,
  Noncommercial License.

21
Image Sources

• Balance Terence T.S. Tam, Space Needle and
  Pacific Science Center October 6, 2008 via
  Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution,
  Noncommercial, Share Alike License.
• Gradation Natrium Chlorine, IMGP4383a2 October
  18, 2008 via Flickr, Creative Commons
  Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike License.
• Repetition Kevin Dooley, Angles, Lines, Light,
  and Shadows November 7, 2007 via Flickr,
  Creative Commons Attribution License.
• Contrast Cataline Olavarria, Al Fondo a la
  Derecha September 2, 2006 via Flickr, Creative
  Commons Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike
  License.

22
Image Sources

• Harmony Kris De Curtis, Christmas in Love
  December 12, 2007 via Flickr, Creative Commons
  Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works
  License.
• Dominance Toshihiro Oimatsu, Emphasis June 23,
  2009 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution
  License.
• Rhythm ZeroOne, Spiral Staircase July 2, 2007
  via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution, Share
  Alike License.
• Variety Ross Orr, Series VI September 26, 2007
  via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution,
  Noncommercial, No Derivative Works License.
• Your Turn! Romnick Simplicio, Africa Fighting
  Below the Line - Print Ad (Education) June 24,
  2008 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution,
  Noncommercial, No Derivative Works License.