elements of design

 Elements of Design

• Line: a fundamental mark of stroke used in drawing in which the length is longer that the width. 2 connected points form a line and every line has a length, width, and direction if it is straight.
• Form, shape and space:  a shape is a self-contained defined area of geometric or organic form. A positive shape in a painting automatically creates a negative shape.
• Color: can play a large role in the elements of design with the color wheel being used as a tool, and color theory providing a body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual impacts of specific color combination.
• Direction: all lines have direction- horizontal, vertical or oblique. Horizontal suggest calmness, stability and tranquility. Vertical gives a feeling of balance, formality and alertness. Oblique suggest movement and action.
• Texture: texture is the surface quality of a shape. Rough, smooth, soft hard glossy etc. texture can be physical (tactile) or visual.
• Value: is the degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all the tones in between.  Value can be used with color as well as black and white. Contrast is the extreme changes between values.
• Space:  an Actual space is three-dimensional volume that can be empty or filled with objects. It

has width, height, and depth. Space that appears three-dimensional in a two-dimensional

painting is an illusion that creates a feeling of actual depth. Various techniques can be

used to show such visual depth or space.

• Shape - is a 2-dimensional line with no form or thickness. Shapes are flat and can be grouped into two categories, geometric and organic.
• Mass/volume: the amount of space that the design takes up.
• Movement/motion: the amount of movement that you are able to move

• Typography: the style and appearance of printed matter.
• Balance: It is a state of equalized tension and equilibrium, which may not always be calm
• Contrast: the difference between two things.
• Repetition: repeating of the same thing.
• emphasis: Dominance is created by contrasting size, positioning, color, style, or shape. The focal point should dominate the design with scale and contrast without sacrificing the unity of the whole.
• Proportion: Using the relative size of elements against each other can attract attention to a focal point. When elements are designed larger than life, scale is being used to show drama
• Rhythm: to be consistent when making a design.
• Unity and variety: your tools that you use and how useful they are to your work.
• Direction: what do you want to accomplish.