The Principles of Design

Principles of Design include:

• Proportion• Scale• Balance• Rhythm• Emphasis• Unity and Variety

Proportion• Refers to the size relationships that can be

found within an object or design.• From experience, designers know that certain

proportions create a more pleasing effect than others.

• People generally prefer rectangles to squares.

• Unequal divisions of space are often more appealing to the eye.

Scale

• Refers to how the size of an object or a space relates to human beings and to other objects or spaces in design.

The Golden Section• A special way of dividing a line, somewhere

between 1/3 and ½, making it more visually appealing.

• Think about tie backs on a curtain, by placing your tie back between the 1/3 and ½ mark, it looks more pleasing.

• Scale and proportion are not the same. A lamp might be in perfect proportion but be the wrong scale for a room (too large or too small).

• Human scale i.e. small scale for a children’s room.

Balance

• Is the design principle that provides a feeling of equality.

• Symmetrical Balance: formal balance, mirror images

• Asymmetrical Balance: a design in which one side is not the mirror image, it’s unmatched but appears to be balanced.

Rhythm• Is the principle that suggests connected

movement between different parts of a design.– Repetition– Radiation–Gradation– Transition–Opposition

• Repetition: the act of repeating, might be as simple as AAAAA or might be a pattern ABABAB

• Radiation: occurs when lines radiate or move outward from a central point.

• Gradation: a gradual increase or decrease of color, size or pattern.

• Opposition: when lines come together to form right angles (square corners, sofas at a right angle)

• Transition: when lines change direction by flowing into a curve (arched doorways, a sofa w/curvy arms or back)

Emphasis• Center of interest or focal point, can be created by one large object or a collection of smaller ones.

Unity and Variety

• Must be combined to create an overall harmonious effect.

• Unity: occurs when all the parts of a design are related by one idea.

• Variety: occurs when different styles and materials are combined. Confusion is when variety is carried too far.