Principles of Design

Principles of Design

Balance

Balance refers to the distribution of visual weight in a work of art. To Understand Balance, thin of the balance beam. When objects are of equal weight, they are in balance.

Symmetrical (Formal) Balance: Symmetrical balance is mirror image balance. If you draw a line down the center of the page, all the objects on one side of the screen are mirrored on the other side they may not be identical objects, but they are similar in terms of numbers of objects, colors and other elements. Sometimes they are completely identical.

Asymmetrical (informal) Balance: Asymmetrical Balance Occurs When several smaller items on one side are balanced by a large item on the other side, or smaller items are placed further away from the cneter of the screen than larger items. One darker item may needto be balanced by several

Multiple Select

What type of balance is this? Pick two...

• Asymmetrical

• Symmetrical

• Formal

• Informal

Multiple Select

What type of balance is this? Pick two...

• Asymmetrical

• Symmetrical

• Formal

• Informal

​Balance

Although asymmetrical balance may appear more casual and less planned, it is usually harder to use because the artist must plan the layout very carefully to ensure that it is still balanced. An unbalanced page or screen creates a feeling of tension, as if the page or screen might tip. or things might slide off the side, just as the unbalanced balance beam would tip to one side.

Multiple Choice

What type of feeling does an unbalanced page or screen create?

• Happiness

• Sadness

• Tension

• Frightened

​Ways to show Balance

By Shape: A small, irregular shape will balance a larger circular, rectangular, or simple shape, even if it is of the same color, value, or texture. The smaller shape is more interesting and therefore has more visual weight.

Large flat areas without much detail can be balanced by smaller irregularly shaped objects since the eye is led towards the more intricate shape.

By Value: Black against white has a much stronger contrast than gray against white. To balance these two colors, you would need a larger area of gray to balance the stronger value of black.

By Color: Our eyes re drawn by color. Small areas of vibrant color can be used to balance larger areas of more neutral colors. The vivid red skirt on the left is balances by the larder neutral pink dress.

Ways to show Balance

By Position: Using a balance beam, a larger weight closer to the center point can be balanced by a lighter weight further away from the center. This is the basis for balance by position. Sometimes larger elements on one side of the page can be balanced by a smaller element that is positioned by itself at the far end of the other side of the page. This is a very tricky type of asymmetrical balance that often ends up looking out of balance.

By Texture: Smaller areas with interesting textures (variegated light and dark, or random fluctuations) can balance larger areas with smoother, untextured looks

Multiple Choice

Balancing with contrasting black and white is balancing with...

• Shape

• Color

• Value

• Position

• Texture

Multiple Choice

A large middle form balances by smaller shapes on the edges is balance by?

• Shape

• Color

• Value

• Position

• Texture

Contrast

Contrast is the arrangement of opposite elements and effects in an artwork.

• helps us to emphasize

• create visual excitement

• add interest to work

Multiple Choice

What type of balance uses small areas of vibrancy to balance larger areas of neutral?

• Shape

• Color

• Value

• Position

• Texture

Multiple Choice

Balancing large flat areas without much detail with irregularly shaped objects is what kind of balance?

• Shape

• Color

• Value

• Position

• Texture

Multiple Choice

Smooth areas with variegated light and dark (rougher looking) areas is what kind of balance?

• Shape

• Color

• Value

• Position

• Texture

​Contrast

Contrast is the arrangement of opposite elements and effects in an artwork. Contrast is used to:

• Emphasize

• Create visual excitement

• Add interest to work

If Elements are the same, the result is unexciting.

Multiple Select

Contrast is used to... (pick all that apply)

• Emphasize

• Create Visual Excitement

• Make it look ugly

• Add interest to work

• Create boredom

​Contrast

Major contrast should be located at the center of interest.

Too much contrast scattered throughout an artwork can destroy unity and make a work difficult to look at.

Unless a feeling of chaos and confusion are what you are seeking, it is a good idea to carefully consider where to place your areas of maximum contrast.

Multiple Choice

Too much contrast scattered in artwork creates a feeling of...

• Happiness

• Tranquility and Serenity

• Chaos and Confusion

• Peace

​Types of Contrast

• Line Contrast (straight vs. curved/jagged lines)

• Shape Contrast (straight "sharp" shapes next to softer "fluffy" shapes)

• Color Contrast (intense color next to muted colors)

• Temperature Contrast (contrast of warm and cool colors)

• Space Contrast (grouping of groups of objects next to single objects)

• Texture Contrast (smooth vs. rough)

• Value Contrast (light values next to light values)

Multiple Choice

What type of contrast is shown?

• Value

• Line

• Shape

• Color

• Space

Multiple Choice

Using warm and cool colors together is what type of contrast?

• Temperature

• Line

• Shape

• Color

• Space

Multiple Choice

Contrast of grey with intense hue is what kind of contrast?

• Value

• Line

• Shape

• Color

• Space

Repetition

Repeating elements in a composition can create:

Interest

Movement

Harmony

Unity

​Repetition

Repetition refers to one or two shapes or motifs repeated

Patterns are groups of elements or motifs that repeat in a recurring and predictable manner

Rhythm is a combination of elements repeated but with variations

Multiple Choice

I*) I*) I*) I*) I*) I*) I*)

Above is an example of what?

• Repeitition

• Patterns

• Rhythm

Multiple Choice

I*)

I*)

I*)

I*) I*) I*) I*)

Above is an example of what?

• Repeitition

• Patterns

• Rhythm

Multiple Choice

I I I I I I I

Above is an example of what?

• Repeitition

• Patterns

• Rhythm

Emphasis

An area or object within the artwork that draws attention and becomes a focal point.

The way of achieving emphasis is by creating a center of interest, also called a focal point.

A focal point is an area in the composition that has the most significance, an area that the artist wants to draw attention to as the most important aspect.

Multiple Choice

What is the emphasis in artwork supposed to do?

• Show where not to look

• Create a focal point

• Appear invisible

• Create a point of nothing

How to create Emphasis

Contrast a Line - make one line or object thicker/darker then the others

Contrast a Shape - Use one different shape in a line of shapes that are the same.

Contrast a Color - Just like it says. Use one color that is different for a line or shape

Increase Color Intensity - Add light or dark to a hue to change up the color for one line or shape

Absence of Color - Don't use color for one line or shape

Contrast a Value - Change the values in one line or shape

Isolate - Place an object of emphasis outside a grouping (group a few together with one off by it's lonesome)

Point to an object - use other shapes and lines as arrows

Size Contrast - make one object / line bigger then the others.

Multiple Choice

Creating emphasis by having lines and objects act as arrows is what kind?

• Value Contrast

• Line contrast

• Size Contrast

• Color Intensity

• Pointing

Multiple Choice

Changing up the color or thickness of the lines of an object to create emphasis is which type?

• Value Contrast

• Line contrast

• Size Contrast

• Color Intensity

• Pointing

Multiple Choice

%%%%% %

What type of Emphasis is shown above?

• Value Contrast

• Line contrast

• Size Contrast

• Color Intensity

• Object Isolation

Multiple Choice

Making one object or line bigger or smaller then the rest is what type of emphasis?

• Value Contrast

• Line contrast

• Size Contrast

• Color Intensity

• Object Isolation

Unity

Unity is the harmony of all the visual elements in a composition. Unity can be created by grouping objects or repeating the elements in different areas of the artwork.

Multiple Choice

Unity is the ___________ of all the visual elements in a composition.

• Happiness

• Sadness

• Harmony

• Piece