Principles of Design

The process of selecting and organizing visual elements and the product of that process

In two-dimensional arts, this organization is referred as to composition.

Design

Unity and Variety

Balance

Emphasis and Subordination

Directional Forces

Contrast

Repetition and Rhythm

Scale and Proportion

7 Key Principles of Design

Unity and Variety are complementary with

each other

Unity is the appearance or condition of

oneness.

It describes the feeling that all the elements

in a work belong together and make up a

coherent and harmonious whole.

Unity and Variety

Variety provides diversity, acts to counter

unity

Balance between unity and variety creates

life.

Pattern refers to a repetitive ordering of

design elements.

Unity and Variety

Going Home by Jacob Lawrence

Interior of a Dutch Houseby Pieter de Hooch

Chariotby Alberto Giacometti

The achievement of equilibriumA painting can depict an act of violence or

imbalance-a frenzied battle or a fall from a tight rope

Two types of balance: Symmetrical (formal) and Asymmetrical (informal)

Balance

Balance is both a visual issue and a structural

necessity.

It is the achievement of equilibrium, in which

acting influences are held in check by

opposing forces

Balance

Symmetrical BalanceThe near or exact matching of left and right sides

of a three-dimensional form or a two-dimensional

composition.

It is useful in architecture because it is easier to

comprehend than asymmetry.

It imposes a balanced unity and connotes

permanence and poise.

Two General Types of Balance

A President’s House By: James Hoban 1793-1794

Portrait of the Hung-Chih Emperor

Asymmetrical BalanceThe left and right sides are not the same instead,

various elements are balanced—according to their

size and meaning—around a felt or implied center

of gravity.

Two General Types of Balance

Evening Glow of the Ando by Suzuki Haranobu

The Holy Family on the Stepsby Nicolas Poussin

Emphasis is used to draw our attention to an

area or areas.

If that area is a specific spot or figure, it is

called focal point.

Emphasis and Subordination

Through subordination, an artist creates

neutral areas of lesser interest that keeps us

from being distracted from the areas of

emphasis.

Emphasis and Subordination

The Holy Family on the Stepsby Nicolas Poussin

Directional Forces influence the attention we pay to parts of an artwork.

These are “paths” for the eye to follow provided by actual or implied lines.

Directional Forces

Bullfightby Francisco Goya

It is the juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar elements.

Without contrast, visual experience would be monotomous.

Contrast

Luster-Painted Bowl

The repetition of visual elements give a composition of unity, continuity, flow and emphasis

Rhythm is created through the regular recurrence of elements with related variations.

Repetition and Rhythm

Madonna of The Chairby Raphael Sanzio

Cranesby Ogata Korin

Zapatistasby Jose Clemente Orozco

Scale is the size relation of one thing to another.

Proportion is the size relationship of parts to a whole

Format refers to the size and shape of a two-dimensional picture plane

The use of unnatural proportions to show the relative importance of figures is called Hierarchical scale

Scale and Proportion

ShuttlecocksBy Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

Rembrandt van Rijn’s self-portrait

Pietaby Michelangelo Buonarroti

PietaSt. Mary’s Church, Poland

Sistine Chapel: Creationby Michelangelo

Thank You!