Elements and
Principles of Design
What are they?
Elements
 The elements of design
are all of the most basic
structural parts of art or
design.
 Form, shape and space
 These are things we take
for granted:
 Pattern
 Point
 Line
 Movement
 Color
 Texture
 Value
Point
The most basic element.
Combining points can create every other element listed. Shapes, textures, lines,
etc.
Line
 Line creates direction for the eye to follow. It also is
created by natural things like trees, or the edge of a shape,
etc.
Form, Shape, Space
 Form and shape are area’s of masses that essentially
define an object in space. This can be 2-D or 3-D.
Movement
 Visual movement (using lines, points, etc.) is used to
direct viewers through their work, typically to a focal area.
You can see this in photographs as well as artwork.
Color
The use of color must be balanced. Typically the best choices are to choose colors
Opposite one another on the color wheel. They contrast completely and look the best together
Texture
 Texture can be achieved through repeated lines or dots,
etc. You can make scales, bricks, fur, wood through using
these basic elements.
Pattern – Geometric,
Organic, Abstract
 Combination of elements or shapes repeated in a
recurring and regular arrangement.
 (Recurring – repeating indefinitely. Regular – having equal
times or spaces between. Symmetrical, happening
frequently.)
Value
 This is the lightness or darkness of a color.
Principles
 The principles of design
describe the ways that
artists use the elements of
art in an actual work of
art.
 Pattern
 Contrast
 Emphasis
 Balance
 Proportion/Scale
 Harmony
 Rhythm/Movement
Contrast – Color, texture,
value
 This is when we juxtapose things that are completely
opposite one another.
Emphasis
 An area of interest that first attracts a viewers attention.
Balance
 Visual equilibrium. Can be a balance of colors, shapes,
lines, etc. Three types: Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Radial.
Proportion/Scale
 Proportion is the relationship of two or more elements in
a piece of art, and how they compare with one another
with respect to size, number, etc. and how this
relationship affects the whole image.
Harmony
Harmony happens when you use
the effective proportions in a
design and reduce randomness. Its
typically seen in grouping similar
things together to create a coherent
whole.
Lack of Unity/Harmony
Unity/Harmony
Rhythm/Movement
 Repeating elements like lines and points to direct the eye
through the artwork. There are five kinds:
 Regular
 Progressive
 Flowing
 Random
 Alternating
Regular/Flowing/Progressive
Random
 Pebbles at the beach, Snowflakes, Traffic jams. All seem
un-orderly up close, but from far away create order.
Alternating
 Two or more elements are alternated. Like black and
white squares on a checkers board. Must create a regular
rhythm though.