The Principles of Design Design rules for the elements

The Principles Include:  Proportion  Scale  Balance  Rhythm  Emphasis  Unity and Variety

#1 Proportion  The size relationships that can be found within an object  Proportions are expressed as ratios (2:3)  This principle was developed by the ancient Greeks. They discovered that some proportions are more pleasing than others

For example, imagine an area rug. When you consider its proportions, you think about…  The length compared to the width  The size of a border area compared to the middle of the design  The size of the middle of the design compared to the rug as a whole  The rug’s area compared to the entire floor area  The amount of each different color in design

What proportions are more pleasing to the eye?  Most people prefer rectangles to squares

Pleasing Proportions continued…  Unequal divisions of space are often more appealing to the eye than equal divisions  How would you use a patterned throw to create unequal distribution?

The Golden Section  Ancient Greeks studied proportion and developed the theory of the Golden Section  It is the division of a line between one-half and one-third of its total length  Ex. curtain tiebacks

The Golden Rectangle  Use this sequence to approximate a golden rectangle: 2,3,5,8,13 (notice how each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers).  A rectangle with dimensions based on two consecutive numbers in the sequence – 3:5 or 8:13 – will be close to the ideal shape

Continued…  Look around for examples of rectangular shapes, such as desktops, windows, or picture frames  What items come close to being a golden rectangle?

Calculating Proportions…  A ratio of 2 to 3 (2:3) is ideal  For example…if a coffee table is 2 feet wide it should be 3 feet long  How long should a rug that is 8 feet wide be then?

Identifying Proportion  Choose a basic piece of furniture or an accessory (such as a lamp, and end table, a chair, etc.) to illustrate proportion.  Draw various examples of the item to illustrate both good an poor proportion.  Exchange your drawing with a classmates and have them identify whether the form has good proportion or not and why.