The Principles and Elements of Design

These are the building blocks of all good floral design

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

The Elements of Design are those you can see and touch

LINEFORM

COLOUR TEXTURE

SPACE

LINE Lines may be thick,

thin, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, curved, zig zag, long,short or a combination of all.

The purpose of lines is to create:

shape a pattern movement optical illusion space

FORM Form is a three dimensional

shape, often referred to as area, mass or volume.

Form has height, width and depth.

A shape is two dimensional having only height and width

The four basic forms are: cube sphere cylinder cone

TEXTURE

Texture is the surface quality of a material as perceived by sight (visual) or by touch (tactile)

We describe texture using terms such as:smooth,rough,spiky,furry,velvety,silky etc

SPACE Space is the area in, around

and between the design: defined by the three dimensional area occupied by the composition.

Positive space is the planned area in a design occupied by flowers, foliage or other objects.

Negative space is the planned areas in a design, devoid of flowers, foliage or other objects, yet essential to a composition.

COLOUR Colour is an important

element in every designThere are 3 primary colours Red – Yellow - BlueThere are 3 secondary colours Green- Orange-PurpleWarm colours (Advancing) Reds, oranges, yellows,

brownsCool colours (Receding) Blues, greens, purplesNeutral colours Black, white and grey

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGNThe concepts used to organise and arrange the structure of design

Diversity/VarietyRepetitionContrast

ProportionDirection

DominanceBalanceRhythm

Unity/HarmonyOrder

Diversity/Variety

Variety & Diversity can be found in:

Types of material Colour Texture Line Form

Repetition Every design will

benefit from repetition of one or more elements in a designThis can be achieved using:

Line Form Colour Texture

Contrast Contrast is the use of

opposites eg; dark & light, rough & smooth,large & small, thick & thin etc; It adds interest to a design and can be achieved using

Colour Line Form Size Texture

ProportionProportion is achieved by using the correct relationship in size, quantity and degree of emphasis of all parts of the design and its surroundings. Proportion should be considered in;

Materials to one another The arrangement to the

container The overall design to the

space in which it is placed The person wearing it

DirectionDirection is achieved by the use of different lines creating movement that guides the eye into and through the design. Lines can radiate out from or into a focal area or direct your eye to a point of interest or a resting place.

Dominance Dominance is the

visual emphasis of one or more elements in a composition.

It is important that the most dominant element creates a strong focus and greater emphasis in the main area of the design.

Balance Balance creates equilibrium and

three dimensional stability in a design.

There are 2 types of balance Symmetrical (Formal)

which occurs when materials are arranged equally on both sides of an imaginary axis down the centre of the design

Asymmetrical (Informal)which occurs when both sides of the arrangement are different and unequal yet both sides of the imaginary axis maintain similar visual weightThere is also;

Visual balance- does the arrangement appear to be balanced

Actual balance – is the arrangement physically stable/ will it stand up

Rhythm

Rhythm is the visual movement created throughout the design by the use of repetition or gradation in the use of lines, forms, colours and textures

Unity/Harmony Unity & Harmony is

achieved with the use of a combination of compatible materials and components. This cohesive relationship of all parts will create a wholeness and oneness within the design and within its surroundings

Order

Order is achieved when all the Elements and Principles of design have been used correctly.