Introduction to Textile Designing

LECTURE 4
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 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.
 In creating a design one of the components that interact is the element of design.

 The element and principles of design are flexible and should be interpreted within the context
of current fashion.

 A design can be defined as an arrangement of lines, shape, colors, and texture that create a
visual image.

 The principles of design are the rates that govern how elements are combined. The elements
are therefore the raw materials that must be combined successfully.
LINE
 It can be considered in two ways. The linear
marks made with a pen or brush or the edge
created when two shapes meet.

 Each kind of line produces its own special effect.

 Since line creates the illusion of height and width,

they can be used to one’s requirement to tone

down or exaggerate a particular figure type.

 SHAPE
 
 A shape is a self contained defined area of
geometric or organic form.

 A positive shape in a painting automatically

creates a negative shape.

 Two-dimensional area composed of line.

 DIRECTION
 
 All lines have direction - Horizontal, Vertical or Oblique.

 Horizontal suggests calmness, stability and tranquility.

 Vertical gives a feeling of balance, formality and alertness.

 Oblique suggests movement and action.

 
FORM
 The distance between the objects in the
illustration or the background.

 Negative space: Area around an object (the

unoccupied space)

 Positive space: Area in which an object is found

(the occupied space)
 TEXTURE
 
 Texture is the surface quality of a shape -
rough, smooth, soft hard glossy etc.

 Texture can be physical (tactile) or visual.

 
 COLOUR
 Color is one of the most powerful and obvious elements we have at our disposal.

 Hue – the descriptive name of the color. eg. Red, Green, Orange, Pink are all Hues.

 Primary Color – Red, Yellow and Blue, the only three pigments that cant be mixed from
other pigments. These are the basis of all other colors.

 Secondary Color – Orange, Green and Violet – Three colors falling half way between each or
the primaries and containing a mixture of only two primaries.

 Tertiary Color – a color between each primary and its adjacent secondary eg. Red/Orange
between Red and Orange
 Saturated Color – a color containing no more than two primaries and no black or white.

 Compound Color – a color containing a mixture of the three primaries eg. brown, khaki,
yellow ochre, Burnt Sienna.

 Complementary Color – opposite colors on the color wheel. eg. Red/Green, Yellow/Violet

 Harmonious Color – adjacent colors on the color wheel eg. Yellow/ Green, Green and
Blue/Green.

 Analogous Colors – Colors beside each other on the color wheel.

 Value or Tone – The lightness or darkness of a color eg. Yellow is a high value (or light tone)
color. Violet is a low value (or dark tone) color.

 Shade – any color with black added.

 Tint – any color with white added.

VALUE
 Value is the lightness or darkness of a color.

 Value is also called Tone

Gracias!