Elements of Design
Essentials of Interior and Textile
Color
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Red –positive, energetic and impulsive
Orange –exciting and glowing
Yellow – cheerful, creative, and intellectual
Green – fresh and restful
Violet – cooling
Purple – soothing, richness, and royal
Blue – calming, peaceful, and conservative
White – innocence and purity
Black – fearful and formal
Brown - earthy
Color Terms
 Primary – red, yellow, blue
 Secondary – orange, green, violet
 Intermediate (tertiary) – combination of
primary and secondary
 Hue – a pure color
 Tint – adding white
 Shade – adding black
 Tone – adding gray
 Value – lightness and darkness
 Chromatic colors – adding hues of black,
white and gray
Color Schemes
 Warm hues- red, orange, and yellow
 Cool hues – blue, green, violet
 Monochromatic – scheme based on one hue
(tints, tones, and value)
 Complementary – opposite on the color
wheel
 Split-complementary – a hue and the 2
adjacent to the complement
 Analogous – 3 to 5 hues connected
 Triadic – equally distant on color wheel
Examples in clothing and
interiors
 Find 2 examples of each of the
following color schemes
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Monochromatic
primary
Warm
Cool
Analogous
Complementary
Triadic
Swatch card for your clothing line
or Paint Sample
 Design and construct a swatch card
for the incoming season, to be used
by the manufacturer, pattern/paint
company, magazine, retail buyer, or
consumer. The swatch care should
include
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An original theme
Color sample, using colored pencils
Color names (be creative)
A written description of color & trends for
the season
Elements of Design
 Definition –
building blocks of
design; line,
shape, space,
texture, and color
Line
 Series of point
connected together
to form a narrow
path
 Gives feeling of
direction and
movement
Types of straight lines
 Vertical –look
taller, slender,
feeling of strength,
add height
 Horizontal – look
shorter, wider,
feeling of stability,
 Diagonal – add
movement and
excitement
Curved Lines
 Circular or gentle
waves add softness
and roundness
Shape and Space
 Shape - Silhouettes –
outer shape
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Natural – follows body’s
proportions
Tubular – rectangular
w/ vertical emphasis
Bell – combine both
vertical and horizontal
line
Full – more horizontal
and curved
 Space – area inside
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Structured lines –
sewing parts together
Decorative lines –
created by adding trims
Texture
 Create illusions
 Soft or clingy fabrics –
hug body, emphasize
figure
 Moderately crisp or
stiff – stand away from
body, conceal
 Extra-crisp fabrics –
stiff out shell, look
larger
 Smooth fabrics – don’t
create size, shape
illision
 Nubby or bulky fabrics
– add dimension, look
larger
 Dull fabrics – absorb
light, look smaller
 Shiny fabrics – reflect
light, add size
Principles of Design
 Artistic guidelines
for using the
various design
elements within a
garment/interior
 Balance,
proportion,
emphasis, rhythm,
harmony
Balance
 Symmetrical
(Formal) – same
on both side
 Asymmetrical
(Informal)- one
side different than
other
Proportion
 Size relationship of each
internal space with in a
garment/interior to one
another and to the total
look
 Proportion and scale to
own size
Emphasis
 Focal point
 Center of attention
 Should highlight
best feature
 Carried out in a
variety of ways
Rhythm
 Flow of the lines,
shapes, space, and
texture
 Carry eye from one
area to another
 Everything works
together
Harmony
 Pleasing
arrangement of all
the parts of a
garment
 All elements work
together