Elements & Principle

Elements & Principles of Design
Elements of Design
Elements of Design are the components or parts which can be isolated & defined in
any visual design or work of art. They structure & carry the work.
Basic elements of design are -
i. Line : A mark made by a pointed tool - brush, pencil, stick, pen, etc. & is
often defined as a moving dot. It has length & width, but its width is very tiny
compared to its length. It is created by the movement of a tool & pigment, & often
suggests moving in a drawing or painting. There can be various types of line -
contour, hatching & cross-hatching, gestural, implied & expressive.
ii. Shape : An area that is contained within an implied line, or is seen &
identified due to colour or value changes. Shapes have 2 dimensions, length &
width, & can be geometric or free form. Design in painting is basically the planned
arrangement of shapes in a work of art. There can be various types of shapes -
geometric & organic, positive & negative, abstract, & outlined.
iii. Form : It describes volume & mass, or the 3 dimensional aspects of objects
that take up space. It can & should be viewed from many angles. When one holds a
basketball, shoe , or small sculpture, one is aware of their curves, angles,
indentations, extensions, & edges - their forms. There can be various types of form
- geometric, organic & natural, realistic, abstract, & non-objective.
iv. Colour : It depends on light as it is made of light. There must be light for us
to see colour. A red shirt won't look red in the dark, where there is no light.
The whiter the light, the more true colurs will be. There can be various types of
colour - primary & secondary, warm, cool & neutral, colour value, hue, & intensity.
v. Value : It refers to dark & light. Value contrasts help us to see & understand a
2 dimensional work of art. This type can be read due to the contrast of dark
letters & light paper. It is also evident in colours, which enables us to read
shapes in a painting. There can be various types of value - high key - light - &
low key - dark- paintings, value contrasts, graded values, & values in atmospheric
perspective.
vi. Texture : It refers to the surface quality, both simulated and actual, of
artwork. Techniques used in paintings serve to show texture, i.e. the dry brush
technique produces a rough simulated quality and heavy application of pigment with
brush or other implement produces a rough actual quality. There can be various
types of texture - Actual and simulated texture; textures and fabric ,wood ,metal
and nature.
vii. Space : Actual space is a three dimensional volume that can be empty are
filled with objects. It has width, height and depth. Space that appears three-
dimensional in a painting is an illusion that creates a feeling of actual depth.
Various techniques can be used to show such depth or space.
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
They are the artistic guidelines used to organize or arrange the structural
elements of design.
Following are the basic principles of design -
i. Balance : It refers to the distribution of visual weight in a work of art. It is
the visual equilibrium of the elements that causes the total image to appear
balanced. Balance can either be symmetrical or asymmetrical in a work of art. There
can be various types of balance like - symmetrical and asymmetrical balance; radial
balance; value, shape, colour, and texture balance.
ii. Movement : Visual movement is used by artist to direct viewers through their
work, often to a focal area. Such movement can be directed along lines, edges,
shape and colours within the works but moves the eye most easily on paths of equal
value. There can be various types of movement like linear movement; visual movement
with lines and shapes ,value, and perspective.
iii. Rhythm : Rhythm is the repetition of visual movement - colours ,shapes or

lines. 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. There can be various types of rhythm like Regular, irregular, and
progressive rhythms; repetition of colours, shapes, and lines to create rhythm.
iv. Contrast : Contrast refers to differences in values, colours, textures ,shapes

and other elements. Contrast create visual excitement and and add interest to the
work. If all the art elements - value, for example - are the same, the result is
monotonous and unexciting. There can be various types of contrast like Value
contrast; colour intensity; texture, shape, and warm and cool colour contrast.
v. Emphasis : Emphasis used by artists to create dominance and focus in their work.
Artists can emphasize colour, value, shapes, or other art elements to achieve
dominance. Various kinds of contrast can be used to emphasize the center of
interest. There can be various types of emphasis like Colour dominance, focal
areas, and visual emphasis with shapes.
vi. Pattern : Pattern uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions to
enhance surfaces of paintings or sculptures. Patterns often occur in nature, and
artists use similar repeated motifs to create pattern in their work. Pattern
increases visual excitement by enriching surface interest. There can be various
types of Pattern like Planned or random repetitions of colours, lines, values and
textures to create patterns.
vii. Unity : Visual unity is one of the most important aspects of well designed art
and is planned by the artist. Unity provides the cohesive quality that makes an
artwork feel complete and finished. When all the elements in a work look as though
they belong together, the artist has achieved unity. Colour, texture, shapes, and
value are used to create unity.

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Elements & Principles of Design

iii. Rhythm : Rhythm is the repetition of visual movement - colours ,shapes or

iv. Contrast : Contrast refers to differences in values, colours, textures ,shapes

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