Principlesof

DESIGN

Composition• Composition is the placement or arrangement of

visual elements or ingredients in a work of art, as distinct from the subject of a work. It can also be thought of as the organization of the elements of art according to the principles of art.

“Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws

of gravity before going for a walk.”

- Edward Weston

Principles of Design (8)•Pattern•Variety•Emphasis•Contrast•Proportion & Scale•Rhythm & Movement•Balance•Unity

The principles of design can be best described as the way things are arranged in an artwork. Think of the principles of design as the words and sentences that are made up by letters of the alphabet - the elements of design.

Pattern

• Pattern is repeated colors, lines, shapes, or textures in an artwork. Pattern can be used to help unify a composition.

Variety• Variety refers to combining elements of design

in ways to create added interest within a composition. An artwork which makes use of a diversity of many different hues, values, lines, textures, and will increase the amount of variety. Too much variety and an artwork will not become unified; but when there is too little variety, the result is monotony (monotonous or boring).

Emphasis• Emphasis is the importance given to certain

objects or areas in an artwork. Color, texture, shape, and size can be used to create emphasis. Emphasis can be used to create dominance within a composition - where one object stands out from everything else.

Contrast

• Contrast offers some change in value creating a visual discord in a composition. Contrast shows the difference between shapes and can be used as a background to bring objects out and forward in a design (brighter objects will often appear closer and darker objects will look further away). It can also be used to create an area of emphasis.

Proportion & Scale• Proportion is the relation of one thing to another with

respect to size and placement. Proportion is a word often used interchangeably with scale although there is one subtle difference between the two definitions. While the word scale implies the comparison of objects where the actual size of one object is known (i.e. 1:5), proportion relates to the general size of two objects without information regarding their actual sizes (or scales). Proportion can be exaggerated to change the way an object or composition is perceived.

• For most artists, it’s a difficult thing to explain exactly when objects are in or out of proportion – this is what is referred to as having “an eye for design”.

Rhythm & Movement• Movement is a visual flow through the

composition. It can be the suggestion of motion in a design as you move from object to object by way of placement and position. Movement can be created with a value pattern. It is the placement of elements that bring attention throughout the composition.

• Rhythm is a movement in which some elements recurs regularly. Like a dance it will have a flow of objects that will seem to be like the beat of music.

Balance

• Asymmetrical Balance - is achieved by the careful arrangement and/or juxtaposition (placing opposite elements next to each other) of different elements. For example, a large area of dull color can be balanced out by a much smaller area of bright color. And a small, very complex shape can be balanced by a large, simple shape.

• Symmetrical Balance - refers to balance that is achieved by arranging elements on either side of the center of a composition in an equally weighted manner. Symmetrical balance can be thought of as 50/50 balance or like a mirror image.

• Radial Balance - is any form of representation that achieves a visual balance through circles. This is achieved where parts of an object or picture are regularly arranged and radiate from the central point.

• Balance is a feeling of visual equality in shape, form, value, color, etc. Balance can be symmetrical or evenly balanced or asymmetrical and un-evenly balanced. Objects, values, colors, textures, shapes, forms, etc., can be used in creating a balance in a composition. There are three types of balance; asymmetrical balance, symmetrical balance, and radial balance.

(Visual) Unity

• Unity, which is also referred to as harmony, combines elements of design in a composition to stress similarities of separate but related parts. When an artwork is visually unified, all elements are brought together to create a an aesthetically pleasing design.

principles of design

Pattern

Variety

EMPHASIS

Contrast

Rhythm & Movement

Balance

PROPORTION &

SCALE

Unity