principles of design

Design principles for multimedia applications.

Background study

Outline.

1.       introduction

2.        Design elements

Ø  line

Ø  shape

Ø  forms

Ø  space

Ø  color

Ø  texture

3.       Design Principles

Ø  Balance

Ø  Unity

Ø  Harmony

Ø  Pattern

Ø  Contrast

Ø  Emphasis

4.       Conclusion

                             introduction

The principles of design are the elements that artists user to do a work of art.

There are a lot of principles in the art of design but each artist use his principles attending of his understanding. Inside of the principles there are several of elements that artists use to make the design looks better.

There are also different kinds of elements but each of them has its own functionality.

Design elements

v  Line:

   by Bonnie Skaalid (1999) “The line is a form that has width and length, but has not depth. People use line to make edges, outlines of object.is created because some artists use pen (movement of artist’s pen) .the direction of the line sometimes can convey mood. The horizontal lines are calm and quiet. Vertical lines recommend more of a potential for movement, while diagonal lines strongly suggest movement and give more of a feeling of vitality to a picture” http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/theory/cgdt/designtheory.htm

Characteristics of line:

Width:-thick, thin, tapering, uneven

Length:-long, short, continuous, broken

Direction: - horizontal, vertical, diagonal, curving, perpendicular, oblique, parallel

Focus:-sharp, blurry, fuzzy, and choppy

Feeling:-jagged, graceful, smooth

v  Types of lines

Outlines: These types of lines are made by the edge of an object or its shape

Contour lines: describe the shape of the object and the depth detail.

Expressive: these lines are energetic and catch the movement and signs of an active figure.

v  Shape:

 by Bonnie Skaalid(1999) “Shape is an area that is contained within implied line, or is seen and identified because of color or value changes. Shapes have two dimensions, length and width, and can be geometric or free-form. Design in painting is basically the planned arrangement of shapes in a work of art. In a picture, the shapes that the artist has placed are considered the positive shapes. The spaces around the shapes are the negative spaces. It is just as important to consider the negative space in a picture as the positive shapes” http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/theory/cgdt/designtheory.htm

Ø  Positive and negative space

By Matt Fussell” the Positive and negative space are very important in determining the global structure in a work of art.  By understanding positive and negative space and applying your knowledge, you can become more successful in designing your compositions

Ø  What is positive and negative space?

 Positive space is best described as the areas in a work of art that are the subjects, or areas of interest. Negative space is area around the subjects or areas of interest”.

v  Color:

 “Color has three properties. The first is hue, which is the name of the colors. The primary hues are yellow, red, and blue. Secondary colors are made by mixing two primaries. Intermediate colors are mixtures of a primary and adjacent secondary color. The second property of color is value, which refers to the lightness or darkness of hue. The third property of color is intensity,which refers to the purity of the hue (also called "chroma")” http://www.edb.utexas.edu/minliu/multimedia/PDFfolder/DESIGN~1.PDF.

Categories of color:

There are differences categories of colors as:

Primary colors: red, yellow, blue these colors cannot be mixed they have to be bought in some form.

Secondary colors: orange, violet, green these colors are created by mixing two primaries  

Tertiary colors: red orange, yellow green, blue violet are created by mixing primary and secondary colors   

v  Texture:

“Texture is an obvious and important element in a painting. To save confusion it can be broken into two parts. Physical Texture is the texture you can actually feel with your hand. The build up of paint, slipperiness of soft pastel, layering of collage - all the things that change the nature of the papers surface. Visual Texture is the illusion of physical texture, created with the materials you use. Paint can be manipulated to give the impression of texture, while the paper surface remains smooth and flat. Traditional transparent water color makes little use of physical texture other than the roughness of the paper. Mixed media allows advantage to be taken of physical as well as visual texture” http://www.johnlovett.com/texture.htm.

Principles:

The way in which the artists use the tools to create a work of art is called design principles. Such can be like:

ü  Balance

 J. Paul Getty Trust(2011) “The distribution of the visual weight of all the elements that the author uses to create a work of art such as color, space and texture is what forms balance. And all these elements that uses the author or authors must be balanced so that the work out stable and good looking. different elements can be used on both sides of the design on one side symmetrically balanced elements are equal and secondly asymmetric balance elements differ with the initial side, the elements continue to see balanced due to the radial balance that allows different elements that seem balanced response to a visual perspective” http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design.pdf

this picture showing the balace of two diferents elements

ü  Unity:

 Donna Tersiisky(2007-2013) “One of the most important principles of the design is the drive and maybe others are just escort. A design non-unified is considered an incomplete or unsuccessful design.

We can define the principle of unity as the mixture of all the elements to form a design because they have all be matched or unite for a particular purpose on a visual standpoint the design is considered as a whole or the design itself before each element can be identified individually.

Gestalt theory says "that the viewer sees the design needs all bone unified elements of the whole design. The eye and brain look for associations between the components of any type of organization, unity in the design”.

The theory of Gestalt is created because designer wanted to combine two or more elements to create a new whole. Understanding of these elements they proximity, similarity, alignment and continuation and that help people to understand the unify principle” http://tersiiska.com/design/principles/

                    This picture show the unity of elements.

ü  Proportion

Charlotte Jirousek(1995) “Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design. The issue is the relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole. This means that it is necessary to discuss proportion in terms of the context or standard used to determine proportions”.

ü  Perspective

Charlotte Jirousek “Perspective is created through the arrangement of objects in two-dimensional space to look like they appear in real life. Perspective is a learned meaning of the relationship between different objects seen in space. Is the dark rectangle in front of a circle, or beside a semi-circle? Perspective adds realism to a visual image. The size of a rectangle means little until another object gives it the size of a desk, or the size of a building. Perspective can be used to draw the audience into a visual. Perception can be achieved through the use of relative sizes of objects, overlapping objects, and blurring or sharpening objects.

ü  Emphasis

 Donna Tersiisky(2007-2013) “Emphasis creates a concentration on the most important element of the design done so causes the viewer's attention to him. The emphasis may be formed differently. Various other elements may form an emphasis because when an element differs or different with each other has an easier visual and that attracts the eye the viewer.

Any type of element could be contrasted like colors (the red color on a background of gray and black)etc.

The placement of the elements can also be formed by the emphasis if they are placed in the same position. if two or more lines are placed in the same direction and starting in the same place the formation of a certain place where both lines meet. If you move an item to a certain group of elements of its starting position in space also creates an emphasis” http://tersiiska.com/design/principles/

ü  Variety

 Donna Tersiisky(2007-2013) “We can define the variety as the contrast and unity of them to form a special visual interest for fans or observers. The lack of unity and variety in design leaves it dull and meaningless in fact to get a good design should be the balance between unity and variety” http://tersiiska.com/design/principles/

The variety creates a clash between harmony and variety. The variety provides more visual taste to the design; the range can also be achieved with the use of opposing elements and having a stronger contrast. You can also create the variety with change direction, size, angle and point of view of the objects that you can create in turn a good visual image for viewers.

ü  Harmony

 by JOHN LOVETT (1999) “Harmony in the design can be defined as the connectivity or the relationship between all the elements that make up the design done. These elements have to be balanced to form a compelling visual image. Harmony can be achieved through repetition and rhythm and repetition in turn is subdivided into visual units, parts connection and the creation of a specific area that is known as a place of focus. Flow which visually represents in the design is the rhythm; the rhythm leads the viewer's eye to analyze very well the design. . Patterns or shapes can help achieve harmony. By repeating patterns in an interesting arrangement, the overall visual image comes together” http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm

E. Movement

“Artists have a way to bring the eye in the design and about design through a set composition. The eye follows the path of the elements. Movement occurs when design objects appear to move in a visual standpoint, this movement is made ​​up of elements that is formed by the design and can be curves, lines” http://www.edb.utexas.edu/minliu/multimedia/PDFfolder/DESIGN~1.PDF

ü  Repetition

To do the work of art to have a more active visual image must use the repetition of elements. Repetition of elements in a design creates a unity in the design

ü  Rhythm

 by Charlotte Jirousek(1995) “Rhythm is the repetition of visual movement of the elements-colors, shapes, lines, values, forms, spaces, and textures. Variety is essential to keep rhythms exciting and active, and to avoid monotony. Movement and rhythm work together to create the visual equivalent of a musical beat” ar.txa.cornell.educh

Conclusion:

In conclusion the principles and all the elements of design are created to make the art of design possible. These principles are the roles that an artist has to follow to get a good design and a better visual image.