ELEMENTS OF

DESIGN
 Elements of Design
Introduction
• Composition
• Take a Music: Instrumental
• Building Blocks are Sounds
• The sounds are arranged in some pattern
• The arrangement of these sounds put us in

emotion: Please, Excited, Sadness, Depression

• is arrangement of things to express something
 Elements of Design
Introduction (cont…)
• Composition
• Take a Poem
• Building Blocks are words
• The words are selected & arranged in a pattern
• The arrangement of these words put us in

emotion: Please, Excited, Sadness, Depression

• is organization of things to convey concept
 Elements of Design
• Elements of Design
• Like music & poem, design is composition
• Technically the Building Blocks are
• Wall, Floor, Roof, Windows etc
• Aesthetically the building blocks are
• Colour, Texture, Point, Line, Shape, Form
• are building blocks of visual design like words of

literature or sounds of music

 Elements of Design (cont…)

• What makes these buildings as pleasant as we see?

 Elements of Design (cont…)

• What makes these buildings as pleasant as we see?

 Elements of Design (cont…)
• What makes these buildings as pleasant as we see?
 Elements of Design (cont…)
• What makes these buildings as pleasant as we see?
 Elements of Design (cont…)
• What makes these buildings as pleasant as we see?
Point
 Elements of Design(cont…)

1. Point
• The first & simplest element
• Generator of other element
• No Dimension
• No length, width, height
• Conceptual Design Element
THEREFORE

• Point: the simplest and most minimal of the

casual elements used in art, architecture and
design. It is considered the prime generator of
form and can be used to determine and define
location in space.
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
• Static
• Alone motionless
• Centralized
• Self centered
• Dominant
• attract attention
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
• In a field it tries to

indicate its presence

• At the Center
• Dominate the field
• Organize elements around it
• At rest and stable
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
• Off centered
• the field start to dominate
• tension b/n point & field
• dynamic composition
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
• series of points
• create direction
• show motion
• a single point

• static
• motionless
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
• Points in combination may represent
• idea
• concept
• shape
• form
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
• Points to consider in preparing a composition
• colour
• size
• location
• shape
• arrangement
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point
• Examples
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
• Examples
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
• Examples
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point
• Examples
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point
• Examples
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point (cont…)
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point in Architecture
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Point in Architecture
 Elements of Design(cont…)
Point (cont…)
• Exercise I

• Using points as design element create a composition

with a theme ( movement, rest, fun…….)
• Paper size: A4
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: Tues. next week
Line
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line
• A point in motion creates line
Lines in your piece can:
• • Convey a mood or an emotion.
• • Organize the design.
• • Establish columns of text.
• • Create a texture.
• • Create movement.
• • Define shape.
• • Call attention to a word.
• • Connect pieces of information in your layout.
• • Frame an image or a word.
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line Type (cont…)

• Vertical Line
• over powering
• loftiness
• greatness
• gentleness
• spiritual
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line Type (cont…)

• Horizontal Line
• rest
• calmness
• stability
• quite
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line Type (cont…)

• Diagonal Line
• dynamic
• motion
• active
• speed
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line Type (cont…)

• Curved Line
• comfort
• relaxation
• pleasure
• natural
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line (cont…)

• Out line of
• shapes
• forms
• spaces
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line (cont…)

• Creates sense of
• movement
• direction
• height
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line (cont…)

• Creates patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Patterns
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Lines in Architecture
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line(cont…)
• Lines in Architecture
 Elements of Design(cont…)
Line(cont…)
• Lines in Architecture
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Line (cont…)
• Exercise II

• Using lines as design element create a composition

with a theme ( movement, freedom, peace…..)
• Paper size: A4
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: next week
Plane/ Shape
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes
• a line in motion produces plane
• A flat, clearly defined area
• area of color, texture
• be defined by lines/ edges
• Two dimensional
• has length & width
• no depth/ thickness
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Types of Plane/ shape
• Geometric
• found in Math
• man made
• has straight edges
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Organic/ Natural
• found in nature
• curved edge
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Abstract
• symbolic version
of objects
• used as symbol
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Character of Plane/ Shapes
• size
• color
• texture
• shape
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Perception of Planes/ Shapes
• Round Shapes
• elegant
• flowing
• growth
• movement
• reminder of nature
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Perception of Planes/ Shapes
• Geometric Shapes
• strength
• stability
• calmness
• dignity
• constructed
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Perception of Planes/ Shapes
• Geometric Shapes
• sharpness
• energetic
• explosive
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Primary Planes
• a composition can be break down

to simple shapes
• a regular simple shapes include circle, square

and triangle
• these are called Primary Planes
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Circle
• when a point moves around

a center with equal distance

• centralized
• self centered
• organize things
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Triangle
• an area bounded by three

edges
• seat on one side
• stable
• spiritual
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Triangle (cont…)
• seat at vertices
• unstable
• dynamic
• motion
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Square
• an area bounded by four

equal edges
• seat on its side
• static
• neutral
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Square (cont…)
• seat on its vertices
• dynamic
• in motion
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Rectangle
• a derivation of square
• stable at edge position
• in motion at vertices position
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of

Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/ Shapes (cont…)

• Example of Plane Compositions
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Plane/Shape (cont…)
• Exercise III

• by using the design element discussed earlier design a

logo for the Ethiopian civil service college .(make your
composition simple and attractive )
• Paper size: A5
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: with in two weeks
Form
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Form
• when a plane moves
• Form is three dimensional
• length, width, height
• Form is composed of
• Points: corners
• Lines: edges
• Planes: surfaces
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Form (cont…)
• The primary planes

generates regular forms

• Circle : Sphere & cylinder
• Triangle: Cone & pyramid
• Square: Cube ……
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Form (cont…)
• Form can have diff. character
b/c of its
• Corner: point
• Edge: line
• Surface: plane
• Round, Organic, Geometric, Angular forms
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Form (cont…)
• Round Form
• Edges, Surfaces & corners

are round
• Elegant
• Growth
• Smoothness
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Form (cont…)
• Organic Form
• Curved Edges,

Surfaces & corners

• Natural
• Dynamic
• Active
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Form (cont…)
• Geometric Form
• from Math
• man made
• strength
• stability
• construction
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Form (cont…)
• Angular Form
• Edgy
• sharpness
• energetic
• explosive
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Basic Forms
• Sphere
• centralized
• like point & circle
• retains its circular shape

from any view

 Elements of Design(cont…)

Basic Forms
• Cone
• rotated equilateral triangle
• seat at base: stable
• seat at vertices: dynamic
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Basic Forms
• Cylinder
• centralized about its axis
• seat at base: stable
• axis inclined: dynamic
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Basic Forms
• Pyramid
• a cone with straight surfaces
• seat at base:
• stable & spiritual
• seat at vertices
• unstable & dynamic
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Basic Forms
• Cube/ Rectangular Prism
• has six straight surfaces
• seat at surfaces:
• stable
• seat at vertices
• dynamic
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Transformation of Form
• Cube/ Rectangular Prism
• Other forms are
• transformation of

basic forms

• Dimensional Transformation
• increase or Decrease
• length, width, height
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Transformation of Form
• Subtraction Transformation
• cutting out parts of
the basic forms
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Transformation of Form
• Addition Transformation
• adding parts on
the basic forms
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Example
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Example
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Example
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Example
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Example
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Example
 Elements of Design(cont…)
Exercise IV

• create a composition using transformation of

forms(subtraction and addition) on a single element
• Paper size: the base should be an A4 paper and the back
ground and the foreground should be in good scale
relationships
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date:
 Elements of Design(cont…)

Quiz I
• Using primary design element create a composition
which reflects the character of sadness
• Paper size: A4
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: