Basic Overview of 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???

Designer who knows the design Elements & Principles can evaluate the design/page in
terms of line, color, balance, texture, etc. Designing Elements and Principles proves to
be an analyzing frame for the designers. A designer can express his thought &
intentions with the elements of design and does it effectively along with the design
principles, i.e. they serves as an expressing tool for 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

Seven basic elements of design 

1. Point / Mark -  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.)

2. Line - 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.
        
Three Types of Lines
1.  Horizontal lines are calm and quiet.
2. Vertical lines suggest more of a potential for movement. 3. Diagonal lines strongly
suggest movements and give more of a feeling of vitality to a picture.
 1.

3. Shape - 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.
               - have two dimensions, length and width and can be geometric or free-
form.

4. Forms - describes volumes and mass, or the 3D aspects of objects that take up
space. It 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

5. Space - 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.. 
Other Examples Detail (aerial or atmospheric perspective) Linear perspective
( converging lines )

6. Color - 
Three properties

 1. hue, which is the name of the colors.

 primary hue: Yellow, Red, and Blue.
secondary colors are made by mixing two primaries. - intermediate colors are mixtures
of a primary & adjacent secondary color.
 2. Value, which refers to the lightness or darkness of hue.
3. Intensity, which refers to the purity of the hue also known as “Chroma”.
             Color Wheel Value Scale

7. Text - refers to the surface quality, both simulated and actual, of artwork.

Meaning “The Principles of Design are the artistic guidelines used to organize or
arrange the structural elements of design.”

Basic Principles of Designing

2.

Six 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 refers to the appropriate arrangement of objects in a design to create the

impression of equality in weight or importance. It provides stability and structure to a
design. It 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 of Balance
              FORMAL when both sides are symmetrical in terms of arrangement
              INFORMAL when sides are not exactly symmetrical, but the resulting
image is still balanced

2. 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.
         It can be achieved through the careful placement of repeated components;
directed - along edges & by means of shape and color; categorized - Random,
Regular, Alternating, Progressive, and Flowing

3. Emphasis - to give importance;  to give special attention to one part of a work

of art.
         It can be achieved through placement, contrast, color, size, repetition, etc.
For example: A dark shape in a light composition

4. Contrast - 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. It allows us to emphasize or highlight
key elements in your design.

5. Pattern - keeping the 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

6. Unity - the arrangement of elements to give the viewer the feeling that all 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

Absolute examples of Designing Elements & Principles!!! One can create such
aesthetic piece of art if he strictly adhere to all Elements & Principles of
Designing.