Elements of Design
Key Terms
▫ Visual imagery
▫ Design
▫ Function
▫ Construction
▫ Aesthetics
▫ Line
▫ Horizontal lines
▫ Vertical lines
▫ Diagonal lines
▫ Curved line
▫ Form
▫ Realistic form
▫ Abstract form
▫ Geometric form
▫ Free form
▫ Space
▫ Mass
▫ High mass
▫ Low mass
▫ Texture
▫ Tactile texture
▫ Visual texture
Objectives
▫ List the three characteristics of design
▫ Describe the different types of lines and explain their effects
▫ Demonstrate the different types of form
▫ Explain how space is used in design
▫ Identify high mass and low mass
▫ Describe tactile and visual texture
Visual Imagery
▫ Nonverbal communication
▫ The “language of sight”
▫ Each room’s visual image communicates a certain personality or mood
▫ Based on design – the entire process used to develop a specific project
Design Characteristics
▫ Function
– How a design works
– Usefulness, convenience, organization
– Makes a product or room better or easier to use
– Accommodates ages, sizes and physical abilities
▫ Construction
– Materials (kinds of fabrics, woods, metals, plastics or stones used) and structure (how the materials are assembled)
– Products need to be safe, durable and well made
▫ Aesthetics
– Pleasing appearance
– Communicates a message or stimulate an emotion
Elements of Design
▫ Designers use tools to create designs
▫ Line, form, space, mass, texture and color
Line
▫ Most basic element of design
▫ Form edges or outlines
▫ A space can appear larger, smaller, calmer, or busier just by using different types of lines
▫ Show direction and movement (eyes move from one point to another)
▫ Two types of lines
– Straight Lines
• Horizontal
• Parallel to ground
• Direct eyes across
• Communicates relaxation, calmness, restfulness
• Widens a space
• Vertical
• Perpendicular to ground
• Directs eyes up and down
• Suggests height, strength, dignity and stability
• Diagonal
• Angle between horizontal and vertical
• Different levels of activity, low to high
• Communicates action, excitement and agitation
• Provides gradual transition
– Curved Lines
• Part of a circle
• Softens a room
• Reflects organization, eternity and uniformity
• Natural and flowing movement
Form
▫ The physical shape of an object
▫ Outlines edges of a 3D object and contains volume and mass
▫ Has height width and depth
▫ Types of Form
– Realistic
• Lifelike, traditional and familiar feeling
• A chair is a chair and easily identifiable
– Abstract
• Rearranges or stylizes a recognizable object
• Has traits like real object, but altered
• Communicates contemporary, changing feeling
– Geometric
• Uses squares, rectangles, circles and other geometric figures
• Communicates organization and tailored look
– Free form
• Random and flowing
• Found in nature
• A sense of freedom
• Using Form
– Guidelines
• Form follows function
• Consider function first
• Related forms are more agreeable than unrelated
• Eyes feel comfortable looking at similar forms
• A gradual change in form smoothly directs the eye
• Abrupt change in form or too many different forms may be unpleasant and confusing
Space
▫ The area around an object
▫ Area inside a form
▫ Size of the space
– Length, width, height
– Who will use the space and how?
– Positive or negative feelings
• Large – feelings of openness, grandeur or freedom
• Small – cozy, intimate, comfortable or crowded
▫ Arrangement
– Arrange space for different effects
– Mirrors and windows open a small room
– Creating separate areas
– Be careful – confusion and disorganization
Mass
▫ Amount of pattern or objects in a space; how crowded or empty a space appears
– High mass – visually crowded
– Low mass - simple and sparse
Texture
▫ The way a surface feels or appears to feel
– Tactile texture – how surface feels to the touch
– Visual texture – texture you can see but not feel
– Rough textures can create a casual feeling; absorb light and make room look smaller
– Smooth surfaces communicate an elegant feeling; light reflects creating a larger space
