1. Elements of Design

2. Elements of design
6 Elements of Design 1. Space 2. Line 3. Shape 4. Form 5. Texture 6. Color These factor into any part of design, whether it is a home’s exterior, specific room or a piece of furniture

3. Space Area provided for a particular purpose
May have 2 dimensions (length and width) like a floor
May have 3 dimensions (length, width and height) like a room
Walls, dividers or other objects can define residential space (like furniture in an open floor plan)
Divisions can occur in any space
Division of space can provide a sense of privacy and security
Too little space can create a feeling of being exposed
Too much room can create a feeling of being lonely
Space is affected by the number and size of objects in it
When it changes gradually then it is more pleasing

4. line The visual direction of a design 4 types of lines
1. Vertical: lead the eye up, adding height, formality and strength. Make a room feel more spacious
2. Horizontal: lead the eye left to right, suggesting informality and restfulness. Make a room seem wider and shorter
3. Diagonal: suggest action, movement and excitement. Can be overpowering and tiring, should be used sparingly
4. Curved: add a softening, graceful effect to designs. Too many can create a busy look
In design one type of line should dominate and others added for interest

5. Vertical lines

6. Horizontal lines

7. Diagonal lines

8. Curved lines

9. shape A flat or silhouette image
Element with two dimensions: length and width
Created by intersecting lines that form squares, rectangles and triangles
Connecting one continuous line to make a circle is also shape
Perfect or imperfect geometric shape

10. form The outlined edges of a three-dimensional object
Length, width and depth
Cubes, pyramids, cones and spheres are geometric forms
Forms, like furniture and accessories, should be chosen after considering how they will relate to interior spaces and with the other forms
Ex: placing a table in an empty changes the space, then adding a chair changes the space and affects the relationship of the table to the space
Thin, delicate forms appear fragile, while large heavy forms provide stability
Related forms look better than unrelated forms

11. texture Surface’s tactile quality (perception of touch)
How a surface feels to the touch and how it appears it feels
Appeals to sight and touch
Ex: ribbed, crinkled, rough and smooth
Sometimes colors and patterns are used to create the illusion of texture
Affect color
Smooth surfaces reflect more light, making them look lighter and brighter
Rough surfaces absorb more light, making them look darker and duller
Balance of textures is needed, same texture =monotonous, too many textures=disjointed and distracting

12. textures

13. color
We will talk about color for two weeks after this unit More info to come 