QUICK REVIEW
THE ELEMENTS OF
DESIGN
The elements of design
are the ingredients that
go into a recipe, while
the principles of
design are the recipe
telling you what to do
with the ingredients. In
other words, the
principles are the rules
by which you arrange
the elements.
THE PRINCIPLES
 BALANCE
 CONTRAST (VARIETY)
 EMPHASIS
 PROPORTION (SCALE)
 UNITY
 RHYTHM
 MOVEMENT
 PATTERN
BALANCE
 Balance is the consideration of visual weight and
importance.
Photo by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
SYMMETRICAL BALANCE
 The butterfly by itself is
essentially
symmetrical. Both
sides are similar in visual
weight and almost
mirrored. Because
symmetrical balance
often looks more stiff and
formal, sometimes it is
called formal balance.
ASYMMETRICAL
BALANCE
Asymmetrical
balance can be
more interesting. In
this photo both sides
are similar in visual
weight but not
mirrored. It is more
casual, dynamic,
and relaxed feeling
so it is often called
informal balance.
ASYMMETRICAL
BALANCE
In this Edward
Hopper Painting,
the balance is
clearly informal
(asymmetrical).
The colors are
being balanced
from left to right,
and top to
bottom.
RADIAL BALANCE
Radial balance is
not very common in
artist's
compositions, but it
is like a daisy or
sunflower with
everything arranged
around a center.
Rose windows of
cathedrals use this
design system.
RADIAL
This tessellation
has multiple
radial points at
the nose and tail
of each fish
making an
interesting
pattern.
CONTRAST
Contrast is achieved by
using opposite elements
in an artwork to create
interest. Such opposites
include, but are not limited
to:
• SIZE
• SHAPE
• COLOR
• VALUE
• TEXTURE
CONTRAST
Sometimes,
we simply
need contrast
to be able to
see things
better.
Photo by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
EMPHASIS
Emphasis is the
focal point in an
artwork, or the
most important
part. The water
lily is the focal
point in this photo
because it is so
bright and
centered.
Photo by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
EMPHASIS
Andrew Wyeth uses placement and size to emphasize
the girl in his painting entitled, “Christina’s World”
PROPORTION
Photo by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
Proportion is the
comparative
relationship of one
part to another,
such as the size,
amounts, or
number of
elements in an
artwork. Here, the
obvious
comparison is the
size. The
proportion of the
people compared
to the canyon is
small.
PROPORTION
Here, the large
amounts of
people are out
of proportion
compared to
the number of
people the
building can
hold.
Photo by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
UNITY
Photo by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
UNITY is when elements
work together to create
harmony (mood or
theme).
How do you create
harmony? By using
similar elements such
as color. texture, and
shape. This creates a
sense of unity which
shows that all the parts in
the artwork belong
together as a whole.
UNITY
This has unity
because it is
made up of
similar warm
colors, textures,
and shapes.
UNITY
This painting has unity,
because ALL the
shapes are geometric
and overlap each
other. The shapes
seem to belong
together even though
there is a variety of
shapes.
Variety can be used to
make an artwork more
interesting. Too much
sameness can be
boring.
RHYTHM
Rhythm is created
when similar elements
repeat, creating a
sense of movement.
Repeating elements
do NOT have to be
exactly alike. It can be
a color, shape, or line
that repeats within the
composition creating a
beat, like music.
Photo by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
RHYTHM
What is
repeating in
this painting
that is
guiding our
eye in one
direction?
“Mt. Fuji”, Katushika Hokusai
MOVEMENT
Movement is the way
the human eye travels
through an artwork in a
particular direction.
Typically, elements
repeat or point to lead
your eye around the
artwork, in order for
you to appreciate the
whole picture.
Photo by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
MOVEMENT
Here are more examples of movement.
Photos by: Mrs. Vejar-Olwert
This painting also has Movement. Can you guess
what is leading your eye in one direction?
PATTERN
Created when identical elements repeat sequentially.
Tessellations by: M.C. Escher