Principles of Design

1
Principles of Design

• The Principles of Design are the guiding concepts
  or rules of how to put together a design to
  achieve a pleasing result.

2
Artwork is constructed with rules or concepts
that are referred to as the principles of art.
They are

• Composition
• Balance
• Unity/Harmony
• Repetition/Pattern
• Dominance/Emphasis
• Rhythm/Movement
• Variety /Contrast
• Proportion/Scale
• Focal Point
• Perspective

3
Composition

• Composition is the rule of thirds, leading lines,
  focal point, center of interest and format.
• To show depth in your work, put your cool colors
  behind or in the back of the warm colors and
  overlap your shapes.
• To get something to come forward use bright, warm
  colors and large shapes.
• Interesting positive and negative shapes help the
  design be visually pleasing.
• The rule of thirds is to divide an area into
  thirds. Put the focus on one of the lines. Our
  eyes are naturally drawn to that area.

4
Balance-formal, informal, symmetrical,
asymmetrical, visual balance or physical balance

• Balance is a quality of having an equal weight of
  elements on both sides of a design.
• Visual balance refers to how all elements are
  used in a design to equal each other and make a
  pleasing design.
• Any design or shape that may be cut down the
  middle and makes two equal halves is said to have
  symmetrical balance.
• Any design or shape that can not be cut down the
  middle and makes two unequal halves is said to
  have asymmetrical balance.
• We might see a set of scales in our mind weighing
  out amounts of weights, this is called physical
  balance.

5
Unity/Harmony is oneness.

• Unity /Harmony is a condition of oneness or
  totality or related parts-all parts belonging
  together.
• Unity in art is where the artist uses the
  elements of art so skillfully in a work of art
  that to take one element away or to add another
  would drastically change or even ruin the
  artwork.
• Unity in art is achieved by another principle of
  art called harmony. Harmony is vital to create
  unity in an artwork. Harmony is achieved by
  using one or more elements more than once
  (repetition) in the same artwork.
• Harmony in art could be shown by using the same
  line quality throughout-all curved lines, using
  all geometric shapes, making the artwork all in
  low key, or even using one main color throughout
  the piece.

6
Repetition/Pattern-motif, alternation,
similarity, layout

• Repetition/pattern is using the same element
  quality throughout an artwork. Repeating
  objects at regular intervals is a pattern.
• Repetition is very important in an artwork.
  Repeating the elements give a work of art a sense
  of harmony.
• In a composition the artist can use the same type
  of lines, same type of shapes or repeat colors.
• One of the easiest ways to make a pattern is to
  make a layout design by constructing a grid.
  Then fill in the grid with your pattern shapes.
  You can add a lot of visual interest by
  alternating the shapes within your pattern.

7
Dominance/Emphasis-strength, influence or focus

• Dominance/Emphasis is having control of the
  importance in a picture, the idea, which is the
  focus.
• Successful works of art almost always include the
  principle of dominance. Usually a particular
  element or principle of art is emphasized to help
  the artist get their idea or meaning across. The
  artist may work with a dominant color or a
  feeling of perfect balance may dominate their
  work.
• Some artists use a dominant motif or theme
  throughout the whole series of artwork.
• Dominance as a principle of art is closely
  related to the principle of repetition. To
  obtain a dominant effect in a work of art an
  artist will often repeat the elements or
  principles that they wish to have dominate the
  artwork.

8
Variety/Contrast

• Variety is the spice in a design. In order to
  achieve unity a design must have harmony plus
  just the right amount of variety. Variety is
  achieved through contrast.
• Contrast is achieved by presenting opposite
  elements.

9
Proportion/Scale

• Proportion has to do with the relative sizes or
  amounts in a design.
• In a design where all the shapes are about the
  same size, the principle of proportion would
  suggest that some larger shapes and smaller
  shapes could be added for variety.

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Focal Point

• Focal point means establishing one part or an
  area of a picture as the most important.
• Try the rule of thirds.
• Remember in the rule of thirds the subject or
  focal point of a design should be placed about
  one third of the way across from any edge to the
  other edge of a design.

11
A good design takes time, use the principles as a
guide to develop a strong visual statement.