The Elements &

Principles of Design

ASTU- DEPARTMENT OF ARCH.

MANAYE T.
The Elements & Principles of Design
 Introduction

Basic overview about the

Elements and Principles of
Designing.

▪ The presentation will give you a

good understanding about the
significance, meaning and
the types of designing elements What are
they??

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

Designing Elements and Now, let us discus

Principles proves to be
an analyzing frame for these Elements &
the designers.
Principles!!!
Elements
Of
Design
 Basic Elements of Design

❑ Following
are the eight basic elements of design which are
common throughout the field of designing.

1.Point / Mark Can someone tell us

about the Elements
1. 2. Line
of Design???
2. 3. Shape
3. 4. Forms
4. 5. Space
5. 6. Color
6. 7. Texture /material
7. 8. Light and shadow
 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.”
 Point (Mark)

- A point or mark is 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.)
 Line

❑A line is 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.
❑ Produces a sense or movement.
❑ Broadly lines can be categorized into three types
1. Horizontal
2. Vertical
3. Diagonal
# Curved
Example of Horizontal Lines

# Horizontal lines are calm and quiet.

# Increases length.
Example of Vertical Lines

❖ # Vertical lines suggest more of a potential for movement.

❖ # Increases height.
 Example of Diagonal Lines

❖# Diagonal lines strongly suggest

❖ movements and give more of a
feeling of vitality to a picture.
❖ # Shows a transition
 Shape
 can be described by basic
geometry objects such as a set of
two or more points, a line, a curve,
a plane, a plane figure (e.g.
square or circle), or a solid figure
(e.g. cube or sphere).
 Implies a flat image
 Representations which have shape
but not form are two dimensional
 shadows and reflections are flat –
have shape but no form
 The outline of an image or object
gives it it’s shape
 Shape

❑ 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.
❑ A shape is formed when a line encloses an area.
❑ Shapes have two dimensions, length and width and can be geometric or
free-form.
Example of shape
 Forms
 "Architectural
Form Is The Point Of
Contact Between Mass And Space.
 ItMay Refer To An External
Appearance That Can Be
Recognized.
 Forms are shaped by the space
they occupy
 Forms are shaped and sized
according to their ability to fill
space with their material
dimensions
 Forms

❑ Forms describes volumes and mass, or the 3D aspects of objects that

take up space.
❑ Forms 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.
 visual properties of Form
 SHAPE : The characteristic outline or surface configuration of a
particular form. Shape is the principal aspect by which we
identify and categorize forms.
 visual properties of Form
 SIZE : The physical dimensions of length, width, and depth of a form.
While these dimensions determine the proportions of a form, its scale
is determined by its size relative to other forms in its context.
 visual properties of Form
 COLOR :A Phenomenon Of Light
And Visual Perception That May Be
Described In Terms Of An Individual's
Perception Of Hue, Saturation, And
Tonal Value. Colour Is The Attribute
That Most Clearly Distinguishes A
Form From Its Environment. It Also
Affects The Visual Weight Of A Form
.
 TEXTURE :The Visual And Especially
Tactile Quality Given To A Surface
By The Size. Shape, Arrangement,
And Proportions Of The Parts.
Texture Also Determines The Degree
To Which The Surfaces Of A Form
Reflect Or Absorb Incident Light.
 Space
 is defined as the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
or an empty area usually bounded in some way between things.

The space between

these two hedges is
given shape by outline of
the form which each
hedge takes.
 Space
❑ Space is 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..

Example for Overlapping

 Other Examples

Detail (aerial or atmospheric Linear perspective ( converging

perspective) lines )
Other Examples

These hands by
August Rodin occupy
space but also contain
space (held
between them).
 FORM and SPACE

 Objects and figures which have body or

three dimensionality, are said to have form
 Forms are shaped by the space they
occupy
 Forms are shaped and sized according to
their ability to fill space with their material
dimensions
 Objects and figures which have form
occupy space in the world
 Space is lost when a form takes up that
space
 Space is shaped by the bodies which This two-part Andy Goldsworthy sculpture is
an example of form and space. The egg form
occupy it . on the left appears to be the perfect opposite
 Color

❑ Color has three properties. The first is hue, which is the name of
the colors.
- the primary hue are Yellow, Red, and Blue.
- secondary colors are made by mixing two primaries.
- intermediate colors are mixtures of a primary & adjacent
secondary
color.
❑ The second property is Value, which refers to the lightness or
darkness of hue.
❑ The third property is Intensity, which refers to the purity of the
hue also known as “Chroma”.
 Examples

Color Wheel Value Scale

 Texture

❑ Texture refers to the surface quality, both simulated and actual, of

artwork.
 Light and shadow
❑ By using various combination of light and shadow we can create a sense of depth.
Principles
Of
Design
 Meaning

“The Principles of Design are the artistic guidelines

used to organize or arrange the structural elements of
design.”
 Basic Principles of Designing

❑ Following are the basic principles of effective design which are common throughout
the field of designing (i.e. from print design to lithography, typography, & industrial
design).

1. 1. Balance Principles
2. 2. Contrast ??????
3. 3. Emphasis
4. 4. Pattern
5. 5. Rhythm/Movement
6. 6. Unity
7. 7. Proportion
8. 8. Repetition
9. 9. Subordination
10. 10. Transition
11. 11. Creativity
 Balance

❑ Balance refers to the appropriate arrangement of objects in a design to

create the impression of equality in weight or importance. Balance
provides stability and structure to a design.
❑ Balance 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

Balance is formal when both sides are

symmetrical in terms of arrangement.
 Examples

Asymmetrical/ informal balance

 Rhythm

❑ 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.
❑ Rhythm can be achieved through the careful placement of repeated
components. It can be directed for example, along edges & by means of
shape and colour.
❑ Rhythm can be categorized Random, Regular, Alternating, Progressive, and
Flowing.
 Emphasis

❑ The term emphasis literally means to give importance.

❑ Emphasis in designing refers to give special attention to one part of a
work of art.
❑ It can be achieved through placement, contrast, colour, size, repetition,
etc.
For example: A dark shape in a light composition
 Contrast/opposition
❑ Contrast refers to the
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.
❑ Contrast allows us to
emphasize or highlight key
elements in your design.
 Pattern/repetition

❑ Pattern in a design simply refers to keeping your 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.
 Unity

❑ Unity refers to the arrangement of elements to give the viewer

the feeling that all the 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.
 proportion
❑ Golden rectangle: the comparative relationship b/n things with respect to size.

5*8
4*7
3*5
 subordination
❑ Not all design parts have the same rank or value. Some are important than
other. The less important are subordinate, nut they stilll are necessary for an
effective design.

transition
❑ Change from one aspect of the design to another.

creativity
❑ Being imaginative or innovative, stimulating inventive powers.
Absolute examples of Designing Elements & Principles!!!

One can create such aesthetic piece of art if he strictly

adhere to all Elements & Principles of Designing.

Paintings by student of ADMEC