Planning a Design of

Basketry Product
 Every basket has a character that is largely determined by
the kind of fiber used to make it. Design, therefore, may
depend on the available fibers, or conversely, to produce a
particular design, appropriate fibers need to be purchased or
be found. Fibers may be round, flexible, or flat. Round rods
are usually woven among other round rods. Similarly, at
strips can be woven together or twisted around strips rods.
Grasses, crushed stems, or other flexible fibers are wrapped
around each other to form and then, the coil is stitched to
itself in a rising spiral to form the basket sides. The designer,
therefore, has to determine what fibers are available and plan
the basket accordingly.
 Designs can be based on existing baskets,
photos of historic types, a particular purpose
or use for the basket, or a size and shape
required for practical uses or desired for
decorative ones. Another aspect of design is
any pattern or coloration that may be worked
into the shape of the basket. Again, materials,
their natural colors, and their susceptibility to
dyeing need to be considered.
The application of the elements of arts and principles of
design in basketry is important. According to Bantang
(2013), “The art principle form follows function is key
to good design.” It is also stated by Goldstein and
Goldstein (1996) that there are two kinds of design:
structural and decorative.
Structural design - is the design made by the size, form, color,
and texture of an object, whether it be the object itself, in
space, or a drawing of that object worked out in paper.
Decorative design - is the surface enrichment of the structural
design.
There are four requirements to ful ll for a good
structural design (Goldstein and Goldstein 1996):
1. In addition to being beautiful, it is suited to its purpose.
2. It is simple.

3. It is well-proportioned.

4. It is suited to the material of which it is made and to the

processes which will be followed in making it.
 Aside from the four requirements to fullfill for a good
structural design, Goldstein and Goldstein (1996) also
emphasized that there are considerations to be fullfilled in
adding decorations:
1. Practice moderation in decoration.
2. Place decoration in structural points and aim to strengthen the shape of
the object.
3. Allot background space to give an efect of simplicity and dignity to the
design.
4. Cover the surface quietly (for surface patterns).
5. Study the background shapes so that it is as beautiful as the pattern to be
added.
6. Use decoration that is suitable for the material and the purpose.
Therefore, proper planning of the design
of the project to be done and considering
different factors are essential in making a
handicraft project.