Elements of Design Line. Line Most basic element of design Most basic element of design Line forms the edges or outlines of objects and areas Line forms.

Elements of DesignElements of Design

LineLine

LineLine

Most basic element of designMost basic element of design Line forms the edges or outlines of objects and Line forms the edges or outlines of objects and

areasareas Shows direction and causes the eye to move Shows direction and causes the eye to move

from one point to anotherfrom one point to another

Types of line Types of line

StraightStraightVerticalVerticalHorizontalHorizontalDiagonalDiagonal

CurvedCurved

Vertical LinesVertical Lines

Causes the eye to move Causes the eye to move up and downup and down

Communicates – height, Communicates – height, strength, dignity and strength, dignity and stabilitystability

Examples : Lines in Examples : Lines in window treatments, window treatments, striped wallpaper. striped wallpaper. Grandfather clocks, Grandfather clocks, highboys, armoires, tall highboys, armoires, tall picture frames.picture frames.

Horizontal LineHorizontal Line

Parallel to ground Parallel to ground directs your eyes across directs your eyes across the spacethe space

Communicates feelings Communicates feelings of relaxation, calmness of relaxation, calmness and restfulness.and restfulness.

Examples: fireplace Examples: fireplace mantels, bookcases, mantels, bookcases, long sofas, shelving, long sofas, shelving, and fabricsand fabrics

Horizontal linesHorizontal lines

Diagonal LinesDiagonal Lines

Levels of activity Levels of activity ranging low to high – ranging low to high – level of energylevel of energy

Transition from one Transition from one level to anotherlevel to another

Feeling of excitementFeeling of excitement

Curved LineCurved Line

Can be part of a circle, or Can be part of a circle, or free-form shape. Range free-form shape. Range from slightly to very curvedfrom slightly to very curved

Curved lines reflect Curved lines reflect organization, eternity, organization, eternity, uniformity, femininityuniformity, femininity

Slightly curved – free form Slightly curved – free form lines – natural and flowing lines – natural and flowing movement, softness, movement, softness, freedom and opennessfreedom and openness

Combination of linesCombination of lines

What Line is this room?What Line is this room?

What line is this room?What line is this room?

What line is this room?What line is this room?

What lines do you see here?What lines do you see here?

FORMFORM

Form is the physical shape of objects. It Form is the physical shape of objects. It outlines the edges of a three-dimensional outlines the edges of a three-dimensional object and contains volume and mass. Form object and contains volume and mass. Form also has height, width and depthalso has height, width and depth

4 Types of Form4 Types of Form

RealisticRealistic AbstractAbstract

GeometricGeometric Free forFree formm

Realistic FormRealistic Form

Communicates a Communicates a lifelike traditional lifelike traditional and familiar feelingand familiar feeling

For example: this For example: this couch has realistic couch has realistic form because of its form because of its specific form. It is specific form. It is easily recognized as easily recognized as a coucha couch

Abstract FormAbstract Form

Rearranges or stylizes a Rearranges or stylizes a recognizable objectrecognizable object

The abstract form has traits The abstract form has traits that look like the real item, that look like the real item, but altered.but altered.

Abstract form Abstract form communicates a communicates a contemporary, changing contemporary, changing creative, and artistic feelingcreative, and artistic feeling

Geometric formGeometric form

Uses squares, rectangles, Uses squares, rectangles, circles, and other geometric circles, and other geometric figure to create form. figure to create form.

It communicates It communicates organization, order, organization, order, planning, and tailored lookplanning, and tailored look

Found in home furnishings, Found in home furnishings, such as square tables, round such as square tables, round lampshades, and various lampshades, and various shapes of pillows.shapes of pillows.

Free formFree form

Random and flowingRandom and flowing Found in nature - in plants, Found in nature - in plants,

stones, and woodstones, and wood Does not have geometric Does not have geometric

design.design. Communicates a sense of Communicates a sense of

freedom, free form is freedom, free form is untraditional, unfamiliar, untraditional, unfamiliar, and different from realistic and different from realistic formform

Using form in housing decisionsUsing form in housing decisions

Forms follow functionForms follow function Related forms are more agreeable than Related forms are more agreeable than

unrelated formsunrelated forms A gradual change in form smoothly directs the A gradual change in form smoothly directs the

eye.eye.

Forms follow functionForms follow function

The function of an object should be considered The function of an object should be considered first in the design process. Then the form first in the design process. Then the form should be chosenshould be chosen

Example: Chairs in a family room should have a form that lets Example: Chairs in a family room should have a form that lets people sit comfortably and relax. Which form is better for people sit comfortably and relax. Which form is better for relaxation?relaxation?

Related forms are more Related forms are more agreeable than unrelated formsagreeable than unrelated forms

Your eyes feel comfortable looking at similar Your eyes feel comfortable looking at similar forms. Example: Rectangles are used forms. Example: Rectangles are used throughout the room to give it a crisp, throughout the room to give it a crisp, organized lookorganized look

A gradual change in form A gradual change in form smoothly directs the eyessmoothly directs the eyes

Seeing an abrupt change in form or too many Seeing an abrupt change in form or too many different forms together may be unpleasant different forms together may be unpleasant and confusing.and confusing.

SpaceSpace

Refers to the area around a form and Refers to the area around a form and the area inside a roomthe area inside a room

Consider 2 factorsConsider 2 factors

The size of the roomThe size of the room Its arrangementIts arrangement

Size of roomSize of room

Affects who will use the space and how they Affects who will use the space and how they will use it.will use it.

Example: Bedroom 10X12ft. – too small for 2 Example: Bedroom 10X12ft. – too small for 2 teens who need 2 beds, 2 dressers, 2 desks and teens who need 2 beds, 2 dressers, 2 desks and chairs. But for 2 small children lnly needing 2 chairs. But for 2 small children lnly needing 2 beds and 1 shared dresser the room could be beds and 1 shared dresser the room could be adequate.adequate.

Size of space communicates Size of space communicates positive and negative feelingspositive and negative feelings

Large space – Large space – communicates communicates openness, grandeur openness, grandeur or freedomor freedom

Small space – feel Small space – feel cozy, intimate or cozy, intimate or comfortablecomfortable

Arrangement of spaceArrangement of space

First need to evaluate the space and decide First need to evaluate the space and decide what design effect you wantwhat design effect you want

You can arrange space to make large spaces You can arrange space to make large spaces look smaller, small spaces to look larger look smaller, small spaces to look larger

Expanding spaceExpanding space

Windows, use of Windows, use of mirrors or remove mirrors or remove wallswalls

Decrease sizeDecrease size

Divide space into Divide space into separate areas – separate areas – using area rugs, or using area rugs, or cluster furniturecluster furniture

MassMass

The amount of pattern or objects in a space. It The amount of pattern or objects in a space. It refers to how crowded or empty a space refers to how crowded or empty a space appears. appears.

Two types of massTwo types of mass High MassHigh Mass Low MassLow Mass

High MassHigh Mass

Refers to a space that Refers to a space that is visually crowded – is visually crowded – a lot of pattern or a lot of pattern or lines – room has lines – room has many items in it.many items in it.

Low MassLow Mass

Refers to space that Refers to space that is simple and sparse is simple and sparse – only essential – only essential furnishings are usedfurnishings are used

Communicated clean Communicated clean and airy feelingsand airy feelings

TextureTexture

Tactile texture - How the surface feels to the Tactile texture - How the surface feels to the touch. You can see and feel tactile texturetouch. You can see and feel tactile texture

Visual texture – texture that you see, but Visual texture – texture that you see, but cannot feel. Ex. Scenic wall paper or fabric cannot feel. Ex. Scenic wall paper or fabric patternspatterns

Use specific textures to communicate different Use specific textures to communicate different feelings in a roomfeelings in a room

Rough textures – textured plaster Rough textures – textured plaster or paint treatments create a more or paint treatments create a more

casual feelingcasual feeling

Smooth surfaces – glass, polished Smooth surfaces – glass, polished wood or brass, elegant feelingwood or brass, elegant feeling

Glass walls and shiny Glass walls and shiny floors. Smooth surfaces floors. Smooth surfaces communicate both communicate both strength and elegancestrength and elegance

Texture affects of visual size of Texture affects of visual size of roomroom

Heavy or rough textures absorbs light – room Heavy or rough textures absorbs light – room looks smallerlooks smaller

Hard smooth textures – reflect light creates Hard smooth textures – reflect light creates illusion of a larger spaceillusion of a larger space