Elements and Principles of Design

Element of Design: Strokes that show motion and connect two points. May be vertical, horizontal or diagonal, curved, straight, zigzag, or show emotion.

• Line
• Shape
• Form
• Space

Elements of Design: Shows an object in space, the mass or positive space it occupies. The term usually used when describing 3-D objects.

• Form
• Line
• Space
• Contrast

Elements of Design: What is between objects, also known as negative space.

• Line
• Space
• Color
• Value

Element of Design: The feel, real or implied, on an object or its surface.

• Color
• Line
• Form
• Texture

Element of Design: Area enclosed when both sides of a line meet. Shapes can be geometric or organic.

• Line
• Shape
• Color
• Texture

Element of Design: Hue. May be complementary, analogous, primary, secondary, tertiary, or part of a color wheel.

• Shape
• Color
• Line
• Form

Element of Design: The lightness of darkness of an object or color. Often used with drawings.

• Form
• Color
• Value
• Texture

Principle of Design: When one area in a work of art stands out more than another. The part that catches your attention first.

• Unity
• Emphasis
• Rhythm 
• Movement

Principle of Design: The motion created in a work of art. Often uses the principle of rhythm to achieve this.

• Movement
• Unity
• Contrast
• Emphasis

Principle of Design: The feeling of wholeness or the parts belonging together.

• Unity
• Rhythm
• Emphasis
• Contrast