Design elements - Line

About line Design elements - Line Line can show: length direction a flowing sequence of smaller elements. Lines are usually made by strokes or marks, or by the edge of shapes or forms.

Varieties of line Design elements - Line Lines can be: thick thin flowing jagged spiral vertical horizontal diagonal curved solid dashed.

Line can serve many design needs Design elements - Line Line can be used to represent: objects people places ideas in descriptive or symbolic ways.

Design elements - Line Line can be used to describe the appearance of an object, for example, a floor plan or an evening gown.

Design elements - Line Line can be used to represent symbols.

Line can communicate Design elements - Line Line can suggest: emotions feelings ideas.

Design elements - Line Horizontal lines can suggest peace, rest and calm.

Design elements - Line Vertical lines can suggest alertness, strength and formality.

Design elements - Line Diagonal lines can suggest energy and action.

Design elements - Line Curved lines can be associated with nature and flowing movement.

Design elements - Line Straight lines can be associated with structured environments and ordered and controlled movement.

Line can appeal to our senses Design elements - Line Line can create pleasing visual effects or patterns. Line can provide structure in a design.

Line can be functional Design elements - Line Line can create the illusion of movement, flow or direction.

Design elements - Line Letters are formed by lines.

Design elements - Line Line can define areas.

Design elements - Line Line can unite or divide areas.

Design elements - Colour

About Colour Design elements - Colour Colour is a visual sensation produced by light. Colour is usually identified by its name. For example: red green blue.

Colour wheel Design elements - Colour

Primary colours cannot be mixed from other colours. Primary colours are:

Design elements - Colour Two primary colours mixed together produce a secondary colour.

Tone in colour Design elements - Colour Adding black or white to a colour will produce a gradation of that colour.

Design elements - Tone Gradations of colour can produce the illusion of three-dimensional form.

Harmonious colour Design elements - Colour Colours that are side by side on the colour wheel are described as harmonious. For example, orange is harmonious with red because orange has red in it.

Complementary colour Design elements - Colour When two primary colours are mixed together to form a secondary colour, the remaining primary colour will be complementary to that secondary colour.

Complementary colour Design elements - Colour

Complementary colour Design elements - Colour When complementary colours appear side by side, they intensify each other.

Colour can serve many design needs Design elements - Colour Colour can be used to represent: objects people places ideas in descriptive or symbolic ways.

Design elements - Colour Colour can be used to describe the appearance of an object or a person, for example, the colour of a flower or the colour of a person’s skin or clothes.

Design elements - Colour Colour can be used as a symbol for words and numbers.

Design elements - Colour Colour can be used as a symbol to represent numeric information.

Colour can communicate Design elements - Colour Colour can suggest: emotions feelings ideas.

Design elements - Colour Colours such as red, orange and yellow can create an illusion of warmth.

Design elements - Colour Colours such as blue, green and purple can create an illusion of coolness.

Design elements - Colour Bright complementary schemes can suggest energy, loudness, excitement and action.

Design elements - Colour Pale colours can suggest stillness, quietness, peace and calm.

Design elements - Colour Harmonious colours can suggest peace and calm.

Design elements - Colour Some colours are strongly associated with emotions or feelings. For example, red is often associated with passion or anger.

Design elements - Colour Blue and white are often associated with cleanliness and purity.

Design elements - Colour Black may be associated with death. Personal experiences and cultural background can influence the way an individual responds to colour.

Colour can appeal to our senses Design elements - Colour

Colour can appeal to our sense of taste.

Design elements - Colour Colour can create visual effects or patterns.

Design elements - Colour Colour can suggest space. Warm colours tend to appear closer, while cool colours tend to appear further away.

Colour can be functional Design elements - Colour Symbolic colour can help communicate meaning.

Design elements - Colour Darker colours may appear closer, while lighter colours may appear to recede.

Design elements - Texture

About texture Design elements - Texture Texture is a quality experienced through touch, sight or hearing.

Real texture Design elements - Texture Real textures are those that we can touch and feel.

Simulated texture Design elements - Texture Simulated textures are illusions of real textures which are created using elements such as colour, tone or line. Simulated textures are experienced through sight.

Food and texture Design elements - Texture Food textures are experienced in the mouth. The mouth can feel many different qualities, for example, firm, soft, creamy, rubbery, crunchy or crisp.

Qualities of texture Design elements - Texture Textures can have many different qualities. They can be smooth, rough, soft, hard, polished, prickly, slimy or corrugated.

Texture can serve many design needs Design elements - Texture Texture can be used to represent: objects people places ideas in descriptive or symbolic ways.

Design elements - Texture Texture can be descriptive, for example, the smoothness of eggshells or the roughness of timber.

Design elements - Texture Texture can be used to represent ideas in symbolic ways.

Texture can communicate Design elements - Texture Texture can suggest: emotions feelings ideas.

Design elements - Texture Smooth, shiny textures can be associated with surfaces such as metal and glass. They can appear cool, soothing and calm.

Design elements - Texture Soft textures can be associated with surfaces such as flesh or fabric and can appear warm.

Design elements - Texture Rough, spiky or prickly textures can suggest danger or aggression.

Design elements - Texture Texture can evoke memories and strong nostalgic responses in individuals.

Design elements - Texture Texture can evoke strong emotions and psychological responses in individuals.

Design elements - Texture Personal experiences can influence the way an individual responds to texture.

Texture can appeal to our senses Design elements - Texture Texture can create visual or tactile effects.

Design elements - Texture Texture can appeal to our sense of taste, for example, a juicy, soft orange; soft, creamy cheese or a rough, crunchy biscuit.

Texture can be functional Design elements - Texture Texture can be functional, for example, the smooth handle and rough teeth on a grater.

Design elements - Texture Texture can create an illusion of space. Lightly textured areas can create a feeling of open space. Heavily textured areas can appear to advance and fill space.

Design elements - Texture Texture can indicate freshness or quality in food.

Design elements - Shape

About shape Design elements - Shape A shape is a flat, clearly defined area. Shapes can be areas of colour, tone, and/or texture defined by lines or edges.

Qualities of shape Design elements - Shape Shapes can have many different qualities. They can be simple or complex, rounded or angular.

Design elements - Shape Shape can be used to describe the appearance of geometric objects.

Design elements - Shape Some shapes are both rounded and angular.

Design elements - Shape When a shape is created it can be described as a positive or negative shape. The surrounding area is described as the opposite.

Shape can serve many design needs Design elements - Shape Shape can be used to represent: objects people places ideas in descriptive or symbolic ways.

Design elements - Shape Shapes can be used as symbols for words and numbers.

Shape can communicate Design elements - Shape Shape can suggest: emotions feelings ideas.

Design elements - Shape Rounded shapes can have curving, sinuous lines and edges. They can create an illusion of growth and flowing movement, and remind us of the natural world.

Design elements - Shape Geometric shapes can appear to be regular, solid and still. They can suggest calmness, strength and stability. They can remind us of the constructed environment.

Design elements - Shape Angular shapes can appear sharp, energetic and even explosive.

Shape can appeal to our senses Design elements - Shape

Shape can create visual effects or patterns.

Shape can be functional Design elements - Shape Symbolic shape can help communicate meaning.

Design elements - Shape Shape can create the illusion of structure and movement.

Design elements - Form

About form Design elements - Form A form is a three-dimensional shape. A form has: height length depth.

Creating an illusion of form Design elements - Form In two-dimensional design, an illusion of three-dimensional form can be created using other elements such as tone, line or colour.

Qualities of form Design elements - Form Forms can have many different qualities. They are often related to the lines and shapes which define the form.

Design elements - Form Forms can be rounded or angular.

Design elements - Form Forms can be open or closed.

Form can serve many design needs Design elements - Form Form can be used to represent: objects people places ideas in a descriptive or symbolic way.

Design elements - Form Forms can be used to describe the appearance of three-dimensional objects, for example a guitar or a chair.

Form can communicate Design elements - Form Form can suggest: emotions feelings ideas.

Design elements - Form Closed forms can suggest solidness and stability.

Design elements - Form Open forms can suggest lightness and movement.

Design elements - Form Rounded forms can remind us of the natural world, and can suggest a feeling of growth and flowing movement.

Design elements - Form Geometric forms can remind us of the constructed environment and suggest calmness, strength and stability.

Design elements - Form Angular forms can appear sharp, energetic and even explosive.

Form can appeal to our senses Design elements - Form Form can create spaces, visual effects and patterns.

Form can be functional Design elements - Form Form can be functional, for example, a trolley or a scooter.