Elements of Design

Elements of Design:

The elements of design are parts of any visual design or work of art that can be isolated and defined.

The main elements are:

• Line-used to divide space, direct the eye, and create forms. Often used as the defining elements on a page or the basis for illustrations and graphics.

• Direction- three types: Horizontal (suggests calmness, stability and tranquility), Vertical (suggests a feeling of balance, formality and alertness), Oblique (suggests movement and action). Can have a powerful influence on the atmosphere of a work.

• Type- involves choice of fonts, size, alignment, color, and spacing. Can be used to create shapes and images.The goal is to use it effectively for communication. 

• Movement -the process of relocation of objects in space over time. Two main types: literal (physical movement signaled by symbolic forms that suggest speed and motion), compositional (to design an image on how the viewer perceives the composition-- how the components relate and lead the viewer's attention).

• Size-the relationship of the area occupied by one shape to that of another.
• Color- can be applied to any other element, changing it dramatically; can evoke emotion, cause an image to stand out, etc.

• Shapes- the root of design, often used to establish layouts, create patterns, and build countless elements on the page. A self contained defined area of geometric or organic form. (Note: a positive shape in an image automatically creates a negative shape.)
• Pattern- an underlying structure that organizes surfaces or structures in a consistent regular manner.

                                               

• Texture- can refer to the actual surface of a design or to the visual appearance of a design.

• Value- the lightness or darkness of a color, it defines form and creates spatial illusions. Contrast of value separates objects in space, while gradation of value suggests mass and contour of an uninterrupted surface.