Elements of Design

By Sierra MVisual Comp. Part 1

Elements of Design

Tone

Tone is the range of lightness and darkness within a picture. Tone is created by a light source that shines on an object creating highlights and shadows. It also illuminates the local or actual color of the subject. Tone creates depth within a picture making an object look three dimensional with highlights and cast shadows, or in a landscape where it gets lighter in value as it recedes to the background giving the illusion of depth.

I chose these pictures because one displays the water and moon picture displays the depth and darkness that tone creates and the picture of the flowers/graphic design is bright and cheerful

LineAll lines have direction - Horizontal, Vertical or Oblique. Horizontal suggests calmness, stability and tranquility. Vertical gives a feeling of balance, formality and alertness. Oblique suggests movement and action

The underwear straight lines of the tree indicate natural or earthy and the straight lines of the house show man-made or proper

Color

Color comes form light; if it weren’t for light we would have no color. Light rays move in a straight path from a light source. Within this light rays are all the rays of colors in the spectrum or rainbow. Shining a light into a prism will create a rainbow of colors because it separates the color of the spectrum. When the light rays hits an object our eyes responds to the light that is bounced back and we see that color.

These circles are all different colors

Texture

Color is the part of light that is reflected by the object we see

The orange is a rough texture

The apple displays a smooth texture

Shape

Texture is the surface quality of a shape - rough, smooth, soft hard glossy etc. Texture can be physical (tactile) or visual.

This is an outline of a shape that reminds you of a cloud

This is an outline of a shape that reminds you of a house

Form is the three-dimensionality of an object. Shape is only two-dimensional; form is three-dimensional. You can hold a form.

Form

These pictures look 3D although it is a 2D picture.

Space in a two-dimensional drawing or painting refers to the arrangement of objects on the picture plane. The picture plane is the surface of your drawing paper or canvas. You can have a picture plane that is a crowded space with lots of objects or an empty space with very few objects in the picture plane.

Space

This is a picture of a sun and there is lots of space around the sun

This is also a picture of a sun and there is barely any space around the sun

Size is simply the relationship of the area occupied by one shape to that of another.

Size

The bird on the left is smaller than the bird on the right

Visual Comp. Part 2

Principles of Design

BalanceIt is a state of equalized tension and equilibrium, which may not always be calm.

The sun and the giant tree balance the picture out

EmphasisEmphasis 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.

These pictures draw your eye to one point with color and contrast

ProportionUsing 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

This tomato is larger than an actual tomato which makes it look scary

The water bottle looks bigger than normal because

RepetitionRepeating art elements in regular or cyclical fashion to create interest, movement, and/or harmony and unity. Rhythms can be random, regular, alternating, flowing, and progressive.

These photos repeat a pattern that displays repetition

Unity When all elements are in agreement, a design is considered unified. No individual part is viewed as more important than the whole design. A good balance between unity and variety must be established to avoid a chaotic or a lifeless design.

There is unity in this picture because the birds and the sunset are the same amount of importance

This picture displays unity because none of the objects in this picture are amplified

ContrastContrast is the juxtaposition of opposing elements. Opposite colours on the colour wheel - red / green, blue / orange etc. Contrast in tone or value - light / dark. Contrast in direction - horizontal / vertical.

This picture has the opposite colors black and white

This picture has dark and light, opposite colors and horizontal and vertical lines

ProximityThe Principle of Proximity states that you group related items together, move them physically close to each other so the related items are seen as one cohesive group rather than a bunch of unrelated bits.

The pink squares look like one shape when they are close together but they look individual when they are farther apart

It looks like just one shape because they are grouped together but its actually individual shapes

TypographyTypography is, quite simply, the art and technique of arranging type.

The words are the countries of the world and they are also shaped like the countries.

This typography of President Obama uses words to describe him and make the shape and design of his face

The lyrics of a song are printed in the shape of a guitar which the song was written with or played with

A clover represents St.Patricks day and the words that shape the clover describe St.Patricks day