Principles of Principles of DesignDesign

Floral DesignFloral Design

The Principles of Design The Principles of Design are…are…

• Focal PointFocal Point• ProportionProportion• ScaleScale• BalanceBalance• RhythmRhythm• HarmonyHarmony• UnityUnity

Focal PointFocal Point

• The center of interest in a designThe center of interest in a design• Draws the most attention and directs Draws the most attention and directs

the viewer’s eye to a specific the viewer’s eye to a specific location within a design.location within a design.

• Located slightly above the rim of the Located slightly above the rim of the container and extends slightly out in container and extends slightly out in front of the container to give depth.front of the container to give depth.

Where is the Focal Where is the Focal Point?Point?

ProportionProportion

• Concerns the relationship between the Concerns the relationship between the flowers, foliage, and container.flowers, foliage, and container.

• To attain proper proportion:To attain proper proportion:– Smallest flowers should be positioned at Smallest flowers should be positioned at

the top and edges of the design and as you the top and edges of the design and as you work towards the focal point gradually work towards the focal point gradually increase the flower size. increase the flower size.

– Plant material should be 1 ½ to 2 times the Plant material should be 1 ½ to 2 times the size of the containersize of the container

ProportionProportion

• Do these Do these arrangements arrangements achieve proper achieve proper proportion?proportion?

ScaleScale

• The relationship between the The relationship between the completed arrangement and its completed arrangement and its location or surroundings.location or surroundings.

• Arrangement should “fit in” where it is Arrangement should “fit in” where it is placed.placed.

• Example: A small arrangement on a Example: A small arrangement on a large table shows improper scale.large table shows improper scale.

In Scale or Out of Scale?In Scale or Out of Scale?

BalanceBalance

• Provides an arrangement with the Provides an arrangement with the impression of being stable and self-impression of being stable and self-supporting.supporting.

• Gives “visual weight” to the arrangement Gives “visual weight” to the arrangement and makes it more pleasing to the eye.and makes it more pleasing to the eye.

• Can have symmetrical balance or Can have symmetrical balance or asymmetrical balanceasymmetrical balance

Symmetrical BalanceSymmetrical Balance

• Formally balancedFormally balanced• Same on each side, Same on each side,

appears to be an appears to be an imaginary vertical imaginary vertical line running line running through the center through the center of the arrangement.of the arrangement.

• Passive and restful Passive and restful tonetone

Asymmetrical BalanceAsymmetrical Balance

• Informal and more Informal and more natural design.natural design.

• The two sides are The two sides are completely completely different, but, different, but, visual weight visual weight appears equal and appears equal and balanced.balanced.

Overall BalanceOverall Balance

•Top to BottomTop to Bottom– The bulk of the weight should The bulk of the weight should

on the lower half of the on the lower half of the arrangement near the rim of arrangement near the rim of the container to achieve the container to achieve proper balance.proper balance.

•Front to BackFront to Back– Smooth and gradual flow from the Smooth and gradual flow from the

top flower to the bottom outermost top flower to the bottom outermost flowers.flowers.

– Tip the top rear flower slightly Tip the top rear flower slightly backward to produce depth and backward to produce depth and visual balance (flowers toward the visual balance (flowers toward the top should not lean over the flowers top should not lean over the flowers positioned below).positioned below).

RhythmRhythm

• The apparent flow of lines, textures, The apparent flow of lines, textures, and colors that express a feeling of and colors that express a feeling of motion rather than confusion.motion rather than confusion.

• Rhythm provides a sense of beauty.Rhythm provides a sense of beauty.

• Can be achieved through repetition, Can be achieved through repetition, radiation, and transition.radiation, and transition.

Achieving Rhythm through Achieving Rhythm through RepetitionRepetition

• Accomplished by repeating one or more Accomplished by repeating one or more of the design elements such as color, of the design elements such as color, line, pattern, shape, space, or texture.line, pattern, shape, space, or texture.

• Repetition allows the eye to move Repetition allows the eye to move smoothly from one area to another so smoothly from one area to another so the viewer can “see” the entire design.the viewer can “see” the entire design.

Achieving Rhythm through Achieving Rhythm through RadiationRadiation

• Placing flowers Placing flowers with their stems with their stems originating from originating from the focal point so the focal point so the flowers appear the flowers appear to radiate from the to radiate from the center of the center of the design.design.

Achieving Rhythm through Achieving Rhythm through RadiationRadiation

• Creates emphasis at the center of Creates emphasis at the center of interest and provides visual interest and provides visual movement throughout the movement throughout the arrangement.arrangement.

• Gives strong sense of unity and Gives strong sense of unity and grace to arrangement.grace to arrangement.

Achieving Rhythm through Achieving Rhythm through TransitionTransition

• Creates a sense of motion within the Creates a sense of motion within the design that leads the eye to the center design that leads the eye to the center of interest.of interest.

• Produced by repeating similar shapes Produced by repeating similar shapes in a systematic size progression or in a systematic size progression or spacing identical shapes in a systematic spacing identical shapes in a systematic space gradiation to achieve transition.space gradiation to achieve transition.

HarmonyHarmony

• For harmony to be achieved, all the For harmony to be achieved, all the parts of the design must be blended parts of the design must be blended in a pleasing relationship. in a pleasing relationship.

• The flower shapes, colors, textures, The flower shapes, colors, textures, and sizes should “fit together” to and sizes should “fit together” to express a central theme or idea. express a central theme or idea.

UnityUnity

• Achieved when all parts of the Achieved when all parts of the design combine w/o noticeable design combine w/o noticeable separation.separation.

• The arrangement should be a The arrangement should be a complete unit, not just a group of complete unit, not just a group of flowers thrown together.flowers thrown together.