Principles of Design

Emily Lents

Interior Design

A4

HarmonyWhen all parts of the

visual image relate to and complement each other, the design is harmonious.

The purpose of harmony is to pull the pieces of a visual image together.

All of the natural tones in this image work with each other well, so it is harmonious.

Harmony

In this picture, all of the different greens in the trees, as

well as the blue sky, work well together and blend with

one another to give off a natural vibe.

Here, the faded green fence complements the vibrant

color of the leaves growing on it, thus pulling the image

together.

BalanceBalance is the

distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space.

This is done to make the image feel symmetrical and even.

The boots in the picture are placed in almost the same spots (asymmetrical) on both sides of the picture, making it feel more even. The similar colors all over the rest of the image help with this as well.

*There are, however, two types of balance. Asymmetrical balance is when two sides of a picture are not completely identical, but the elements are arranged in a way that suggests so. Symmetrical balance is when two halves of a picture are completely identical.

Balance

The two doors above are congruent in size, shape and

color and are completely balanced on both sides.

In this picture, the smaller trees on either side are

proportionate, while a larger tree is centered in between.

Even with the fountains as accents, the setup is very even

and balanced.

Proportion & Scale

Proportion is the feeling of unity created when all parts (sizes, amounts, or number) of an image relate well with each other.

Scale, however, is the relative size of one object to another.

The purpose of both of these principles is to make all of the bits and pieces of an image feel connected and evenly sized.

All of the stones on this wall may be different shapes and sizes, but they fit together in a proportionate pattern.

Proportion & Scale

With the set of stepping stones,

the pieces are in different shapes and

sizes, yet still fit well together

aesthetically. This makes the image

proportionate, because all of the

individual stones are placed so that they

complement each other.

The tree on the left has about

four large, different branches, and the

two in the center seem thinner than the

rest of the tree. The size of those certain

branches compared to the rest of the tree

can be used as an example of scale.

ContrastContrast is the state of

being strikingly different from something else.

Contrast is mostly used to attract the attention of the eye to specific points of an image.

The bright greens in the image stand out completely against the rest of the picture, which is in black & white.

Contrast

The distinct difference between the bland, cracked

wall and the beautiful flowers is an example of

contrast because they differ from each other greatly.

Here, the leather boots have a nice, bright color compared to the dingy stairs. Because of this, they

really stand out against the old wood.

EmphasisEmphasis is the part of a

design that catches the attention of the viewer. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different in things like size, color, texture, etc.

The purpose of this is to make certain parts of the design the main focal points.

The water protruding from the fountain is clearly the focal point of the entire picture.

Emphasis

In both pictures, the designs have unusual colors that really make them pop. On the left, you can see the turquoise walls that make the black & white bed the focal point of the room. On the right, there is a bright teal

building between two very pale ones. Both of these have the ability to catch the eye automatically.

RhythmRhythm is created when

one or more different elements of design are used over and over in a way that creates organized movement (flow).

Making a design with a certain rhythm allows it to give off a mood, just like music or dancing.

The continued stream of the creek, plus the occurrence of the lily pads in the water, makes the image look very calm and relaxed.

RhythmIn both walkways below, there are repeated patterns that create a sense of movement. Both have a

certain kind of flow, like how was mentioned before.

RepetitionThis principle works

with patterns to create movement for the viewer’s eye to follow.

The reason that artists might use this technique is to create unity within a design.

The stairs made from bricks have repeated lines throughout them, which creates movement within the design.

Repetition

The train tracks have a repeated pattern with the wooden bars going down the rails. The picture on the right,

especially, really makes your eyes want to travel down the rest of the picture, moving up the railroad.

Works Cited Principles of Design – The Getty:

https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design.pdf

Contrast in Art – Arthistorry.about.comhttp://arthistory.about.com/cs /glossaries/g/c_contrast.htm

*Besides the interior design photo here, all pictures used in this slideshow are my own.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

Emily Lents

Interior Design

A4