Key Words and Concepts
It is your responsibility to learn and understand the following vocabularies when you are
taking the Beginning Design I. The best way to practice these terms is that you read through
these texts before going to a new topic. Then you will be familiar with them and use them
properly.
Point:
Point is the simplest and most minimal of the visual element used in art, architecture and
design. It is considered the prime generator of all form and can be used to determine and
define location in space. According to Euclidean geometry a point or "dot" is infinitely
minute and has no dimensions. However, a representational point on paper, no matter how
small, must have shape, tone, and size if it is to be seen.
Grid:
1. A framework of parallel or crisscrossed bars; gridiron
2. A pattern of horizontal and vertical lines forming squares of uniform size on a map,
chart, or aerial photograph, used as a reference for locating points
Abstract:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Considered apart from concrete existence
Not applied or practical; theoretical
Impersonal, as in attitude or views
Having an intellectual and affective artistic content that depends solely on intrinsic
form rather than on narrative content or pictorial representation
5. To take away; remove
6. To summarize; epitomize. The concentrated essence of a larger whole
Figure:

The outline, form or silhouette of a thing
Ground:

A surrounding area; background
Positive:
1. Moving in a direction of increase, progress or forward motion
2. Explicitly or openly expressed, irrefutable
Negative:
1. Indicating opposition or resistance
2. A thing or concept considered to be the counterpart of something positive
Space:
1. 1.The intuitive three-dimensional field of everyday experience characterized by
dimensions extending indefinitely in all directions
2. An interval or area between or within points or objects
3. An interval of time; period, while
Line:
Line is conceptually, a point in motion, having only one dimension, length. Line has
both a position and a direction in space. A line may be thought of as a set of points extending
in two directions without end. According to Euclidean geometry, a line segment is a set of
points that lie between distinct points. No matter how close together the end points of a line
segment are, an infinite number of points still lies between them. Lines can represent the
boundaries of a shape or plane or the edges of a volume. In visual studies, it is necessary to
understand these abstract concepts and relate them to the form generation process.
Line:
1. The locus of a point having one degree of freedom
2. A thin, continuous mark, as that made by pen, pencil or brush applied to a surface
3. An indentation or crease in the skin; a wrinkle
Balance:
1. A weighting device consisting of a horizontal beam with pans of equal weight on each
end
2. A stable state characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces
3. A stable mental or psychological state
4. Equality of totals in the credit and debit sides of an account
Dominance:
1. Preeminence in position or prevalence; ascendancy
2. The tendency for one element or group to command greater attention than another
Economy:
1. The careful or thrifty use of resources
2. The management of the resources of a country, community or business
Plane-Tone:
We have learned that point is the generator of line. Line in a very similar way is the
vehicle for understanding the generation of a plane. Plane conceptually is a two-dimensional
expression of length and width. A plane is a line that is stretched in two-dimensional space in
a direction other than that of its length. A plane is further defined in Euclidean geometry as
formless, representing an infinite expanse of flat surface area that stretches twodimensionally in all directions. For our purposes, a plane can be defined as a two-dimensional
expression of length (or height) and width - connecting three or more points. Tone is the
intensity of lightness or darkness reflected from figures and forms. Tone makes possible the
perception of dimension and depth.
Plane:
1. Any flat or level surface
2. A level of development, existence or achievement
3. In the visual arts, an imaginary flat surface that unifies or at least describes a series of
points
Proximity:
1. Being near or next to; closeness
2. Referring to the closeness of elements
Scale:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A system of ordered marks at fixed intervals used as a reference
An instrument or device used in such measurement
A calibrated line, as on a map or architectural drawing
A progressive classification of size, amount, importance, or rank
Relative proportion, degree
Transition:
1. The process of changing from one form, state, activity, or place to another
2. Passage from one subject to another
3. (music) A passage connecting two themes
Value:
1. The relative lightness or darkness of color in a picture
2. That aspect of color by which a sample appears to reflect more or less of the incident
color
3. Lightness or darkness; the amount of white or black
Figure/Ground Ambiguity:
When two fields have a common border, it is the figure, which seems to have shape
while the ground does not. The ground seems to extend behind the figure. The figure appears
to be object-like (even though it may be an abstract shape) while the ground does not. The
ground tends to be perceived as farther away and the figure nearer the observer even though
both are obviously at the same distance. The common border between figure and ground is
called contour, and the contour appears to be a property of figure. Figure/Ground ambiguities
are images created in such a way that either can function as the other (visually reversing their
roles) in a composition.
Organic:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Related to growth in nature or representative of that process
Simple, basic, and close to nature
Having properties associated with living organisms
An integral part of something; fundamental; constitutional; structural
Pattern/Symmetry:
Pattern is composed through the repetition of one or more visual elements and attributes
within a single composition. Symmetry consists of a number of concepts, transformations,
and operations that describe relationship of parts within a composition and that are used to
generate patterns in one, two and three dimensions, Symmetry relationship provide an
important basis for relative grouping and figure organization.
Pattern:
1.
2.
3.
4.
An archetype; an ideal worthy of imitation
A plan, diagram or model to be followed when making things
A representative sample; specimen
To cover or ornament with a design
Symmetry:
1. An exact correspondence between the opposite halves of a figure, form, line, or
pattern
2. Beauty or harmony of form resulting from a symmetrical or nearly symmetrical
arrangement of parts
3. Due or right proportion
4. Creates harmony, balance, and order, but risks being boring
Kinds of Symmetry:
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

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Horizontal--Using an imaginary horizon or left-to-right line as the divider, top and
bottom sections mirror
each other. A landscape that reflected in a still pond is an
example of horizontal symmetry.
Vertical--This type uses a top-to-bottom line as a meridian, with identical images on
either side of the line.
Radial--Through radiant, the word implies an outward direction. Radial lines are just
as likely to draw attention inward, as for instance in a mandala.
Intuitive--Images that approach symmetry but are not exactly the same on the
opposing parts. they "feel" symmetrical, but aren't. The human face is a good example.
Gestalt Theory:
The Gestalt Theory is concerned with issues in visual perception, memory and
association, thinking and learning, social psychology and psychology of art. Gestalt does not
translate exactly into English, but it loosely means "whole," "configuration," or "form."
Gestalt can also be defined as a whole that has properties that transcend the sum of its parts.
The major emphasis of this theory deals with the way humans perceive things. We need to
consider more than just the separate elements that make up an experience, object, or design,
but also the total effect of the accumulation of all the separate parts.
General perception:
In determining how individuals perceive forms, several generalizations have been made.
1. The form or shape configurations perceived are influenced by the physical shape
characteristics of the form in a given field of view.
2. Individuals have a tendency to modify the actual qualities of perceived forms,
especially when the field of view consists of so-called "meaningless" or abstract
shapes.
3. In the process of differentiating, describing, and classifying forms, the observer will
perceive only the details necessary to perform the task of seeing and interpreting and
will ignore the rest of the details.
Grouping Laws:
Mentally grouping visual information according to certain characteristics. Humans have a
tendency to see and remember visual stimuli in the simplest form. As the eye and brain
experience an object or environment, they remember the image by grouping visual
information. The most common of these grouping laws are similarity, proximity, closure, and
good continuation.
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Similarity--Viewers tend to see similar shapes as belonging together and similar
figures as a group. When surface variation are added to figures such as color, texture,
value and pattern they are seen as more dominant and perceived as a group.
Proximity--When similar figures are located in close proximity to each other, viewers
tend to see them as belonging to the same group of figures.
Closure--The property of both perceived shapes and the proximity of similar shapes.
Viewers have a tendency to "close" or complete incomplete figures and grouping
configurations.
Good Continuation--A figure or group of figures is arranged in such a way as to have
direction and seem to continue. This can be a property of figures, or a property of
group of figures.
Gestalt:
1. A unified physical, psychological or symbolic configuration having properties that
cannot be derived from its part
2. A branch of psychology developed in the 1920's that says patterns can only be
understood as unified wholes and not by examining their part
Texture:
Texture is the characteristic of a surface that is experienced through touch or vision, it
can be represented on a two dimensional picture plane through various drawing and media
techniques.
1. The appearance of a fabric resulting from its woven arrangement of fibers
2. A grainy, fibrous, woven, or dimensional quality as opposed to a uniformly flat,
smooth aspect; surface interest
3. The representation of the structure of a surface as distinct from color or form
Transformation:
Transformation is the gradual change of a figure or form from one structure or
composition to another. It can apply both to a change in quantity (repetition) and a change in
quality (shape). Isometric transformations deal with changes in quantity, orientation, and
position of figures. Non-isometric transformations change the quality of a figure by altering
the point-to-point correspondence in the mapping process. In order for the concept of
transformation to be apparent, changes must occur in even, regular increments. Think about
processes that occur in nature; i.e. melting, growing, decaying, moving, or proportional
system that divides/duplicates according to a mathematical self perpetuating ratio.
1. To clearly alter the form or appearance of a thing
2. To change the nature, function, or condition; to convert
Dynamic Symmetry:
Historically human has observed, analyzed, and rationalized the principles of ratio,
proportion, and progression within the environment. These principles have greatly influenced
art, architecture, and design. Dynamic symmetry is concerned with the proportional increases
(or decreases) and relationships of parts of a whole through mathematical principles of ratio,
proportion and progression.
Dynamic:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pertaining to energy, force or motion related to force
Characterized by continuous change
Energizing, vigorous, forceful
Variation of intensity, as in a musical sound