Elements of Design

The elements and principles of design are the

building blocks used to create a work of art.

The Elements of design can be thought of as

the things that make up a painting, drawing,
design etc.

Good or bad - all paintings and designs will

contain most of if not all,
the seven elements of design.
The Principles of design can be thought of as
what we do to the elements of design.

How we apply the Principles of design

determines how successful we are in creating
a work of art.
 The Elements of Design

Line – is a critical element in the formation of any

visual construction.
It can serve to:
• join, link, support, surround or intersect other
visual elements.
• describe the edges of and give shape to planes.
• articulate the surfaces of planes.

Shape – the characteristic outline or surface

configuration of a particular form. It is the principal
aspect by which we identify and categorize forms.
Direction – all lines have direction - horizontal,
vertical or oblique. Horizontal suggests
calmness, stability and tranquillity.
Vertical gives a feeling of balance,
formality and alertness.
Oblique suggests movement and action

Size - is simply the relationship of the area

occupied by one shape to that of another. The
physical dimensions of length, width, and depth
of form, its scale is determined by its size
relative to other forms in its context.
Texture – the visual and especially tactile quality
given to a surface by the size, shape,
arrangement, and proportions of the parts.
It also determines the degree to which the
surfaces of a form reflect or absorb incident light.
Colour – a phenomenon of light and visual perception
that may be described in terms of an
individual’s perception of hue, saturation, tonal value.
Is the attribute that most clearly distinguishes a form
from its environment. It also affects the visual
weight of a form.
Value - is the lightness or darkness of a
colour. Value is also called Tone