Elements of Design Elements of Design Line Line
Mar 31, 2015
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