A good design, is a composition where no more can be added and from which nothing can be subtracted without resulting in an impression of incompleteness. There are two essential aspects of a design: its Elements and Principles. All designs are based on these two aspects, they define the fundamentals rules of design. By acknowledging them, a florist will be able to create a visual pleasing design and rectify an error in a composition. We have presented below, all the elements as well as the principles of Design.
1. Elements of design
There are five Elements of design:
1. Form
2. Space
3. Texture
4. Line
5. Colour
1. Form:
A form can be described as a single flower or as an arrangement as a whole
1. Form
2. Space
3. Texture
4. Line
5. Colour
1. Form:
A form can be described as a single flower or as an arrangement as a whole
- As as single flower, we can describe them as points, line and transitional.
These shells are round shaped and can be used as a focal point as their shape are quite predominant.
-Line: The flowers are tall and have many blossoms in the stem. They give some high to an arrangement and make the eyes travel up and down.
I choose an image of a skyscraper as it is a tall element that draws the eyes up and down.
-Transitional: Flowers have grouped, clusters of individual flowers on a single stem. They fill the spaces between the point and line flowers.
I chose a fork as it branches out from the handle.
2. Forms
There are different forms of floral arrangement: true form, interpretive form, closed form, open form, classic form and contemporary form.
-True form: the length, width and depth are consistent and the same.
2. Forms
There are different forms of floral arrangement: true form, interpretive form, closed form, open form, classic form and contemporary form.
-True form: the length, width and depth are consistent and the same.
The human body is even on both sides, hence its true form.
-Interpretive form: it is a combination of varied shapes and spaces.
-Interpretive form: it is a combination of varied shapes and spaces.
This table arrangement has some varied shapes and spaces with lot of negative space.
-Closed form: It is a solid, compact massed design.
-Closed form: It is a solid, compact massed design.
This tree is a compact design, it is solidly packed.
-Open form: this design has negative space between the radial placements
-Open form: this design has negative space between the radial placements
This fruit has negative spaces between each of its extension.
-Classic form: has simple harmony in a timeless aesthetic, it is compact so it does not have negative spaces.
-Classic form: has simple harmony in a timeless aesthetic, it is compact so it does not have negative spaces.
This salad is simple, made with few ingredients and compact. It does not have any negative spaces.
-Contemporary form: This design has strong grouping and negative spaces.
-Contemporary form: This design has strong grouping and negative spaces.
This sculpture has a strong grouping at the bottom of the image and display a lot of negative spaces.
3. Space:
Space is the three dimensional area around and in a particular design. There is two types of spaces: the positive and negative space.
-Positive space: the space that is occupied by the object, material:
3. Space:
Space is the three dimensional area around and in a particular design. There is two types of spaces: the positive and negative space.
-Positive space: the space that is occupied by the object, material:
This air balloon is compact and occupied a space.
-Negative space: the empty area between materials
-Negative space: the empty area between materials
The area between the candles illustrates the negative space.
4. Texture:
There are two types of texture: actual and visual.
-Actual texture: is the touch and feel of a particular object, surface.
4. Texture:
There are two types of texture: actual and visual.
-Actual texture: is the touch and feel of a particular object, surface.
The actual texture of the pineapple is spiky.
-Visual texture: it is the appearance of the flower, object, surface. It is the visual surface structure of a design.
-Visual texture: it is the appearance of the flower, object, surface. It is the visual surface structure of a design.
The visual texture of this velour garment is shiny, smooth, soft.
5. Line:
Line is a visual direction for the eye to follow through an arrangement. They might be vertical, horizontal, curved, s-curve, zigzag or diagonal. There are two types: static and dynamic.
-Static line: are defined by a lack of movement, it stays within a form (height, width, depth, vertical, horizontal)
5. Line:
Line is a visual direction for the eye to follow through an arrangement. They might be vertical, horizontal, curved, s-curve, zigzag or diagonal. There are two types: static and dynamic.
-Static line: are defined by a lack of movement, it stays within a form (height, width, depth, vertical, horizontal)
This ladder has vertical and horizontal lines, there are no movement in this.
Dynamic line: it is defined by a continuous movement, it shows a new direction.
Dynamic line: it is defined by a continuous movement, it shows a new direction.
This snake shape shows a continuous movement with its curved line.
5. Colour:
Colours are one of the most important elements of design as they give the first impression of an arrangement and inspire feelings.
5. Colour:
Colours are one of the most important elements of design as they give the first impression of an arrangement and inspire feelings.
The colour wheel is made of twelve segments which consists of:
-Yellow (lukewarm)
-Blue (cold, sadness)
-Green (mix of blue and yellow)
-Violet (mix of red and blue)
-Green and blue
-Red and orange
-Yellow and orange
-Blue and violet
-Red and violet
- Primary colours: the initial colour found naturally which can not be created by mixing any other colours
-Yellow (lukewarm)
-Blue (cold, sadness)
- Secondary colours: created by combining the primary colours together
-Green (mix of blue and yellow)
-Violet (mix of red and blue)
- Tertiary colours: are created by mixing a secondary colour and a primary colour together. The six tertiary colours and be created by mixing:
-Green and blue
-Red and orange
-Yellow and orange
-Blue and violet
-Red and violet
2. Principles of Design
There exist seven principles of design:
1. Balance
2. Contrast
3. Dominance
4. Proportion
5. Rhythm
6. Scale
7. Harmony
1. Balance:
There are four styles of balance:
-Asymmetrical:
Also called informal. Its visual weight is unequal on either side of the central axis
1. Balance
2. Contrast
3. Dominance
4. Proportion
5. Rhythm
6. Scale
7. Harmony
1. Balance:
There are four styles of balance:
- Asymmetrical
- Symmetrical
- Actual
- Visual
-Asymmetrical:
Also called informal. Its visual weight is unequal on either side of the central axis
This image shows an asymmetrical balance as it is unequal on either side of the central axis visually.
-Symmetrical:
Also called formal. The visual weight is equal on either side of the central axis.
-Symmetrical:
Also called formal. The visual weight is equal on either side of the central axis.
This wine bottle has an equal visual weight on both sides of the central axis.
-Actual: The physical arrangement achieve stability.
-Actual: The physical arrangement achieve stability.
This building achieves stability with its construction.
-Visual: A visual balance is achieved by a harmonious placement of materials. The distribution of colour and size of materials are
well balanced.
-Visual: A visual balance is achieved by a harmonious placement of materials. The distribution of colour and size of materials are
well balanced.
This dish is visually balanced with a harmonious distribution of colour and size of each of its ingredients.
2. Contrast
Contrast is achieved by distributing materials in such a way that it emphasises the difference. A contrast can be found in colour, texture, form, size etc.
2. Contrast
Contrast is achieved by distributing materials in such a way that it emphasises the difference. A contrast can be found in colour, texture, form, size etc.
This image illustrates perfectly a contrast in colour.
3. Dominance
One element is used in such a way that it emphasises a concept, an idea in a composition. It is created when a single line, feature, colour etc overpowers a design.
3. Dominance
One element is used in such a way that it emphasises a concept, an idea in a composition. It is created when a single line, feature, colour etc overpowers a design.
The Petronas towers dominate the landscape of the city with its imposing grandeur and architecture.
4. Proportion
A proportion has a comparative component to it. It is defined by the dimensions, measurements of quantities of an item to the other.
4. Proportion
A proportion has a comparative component to it. It is defined by the dimensions, measurements of quantities of an item to the other.
These Russian dolls illustrate this concept of proportion
5. Rhythm
Rhythm is created by the repeated use of a material in a design. It makes the eye travel from one point the the other and is associated with repetition, graduation and radiation.
5. Rhythm
Rhythm is created by the repeated use of a material in a design. It makes the eye travel from one point the the other and is associated with repetition, graduation and radiation.
6. Scale
Scale relates to the size of an item in an overall design. Good scale is achieved when there is a balanced combination between the size of an item within the composition.
Scale relates to the size of an item in an overall design. Good scale is achieved when there is a balanced combination between the size of an item within the composition.
The large scale of Jeff Koons artworks are dominating the space in this picture.
7. Harmony
Harmony is the combination of various shaped, lines or colours used in an arrangement that are pleasing to the eye, thus harmonious. It is achieved when all the elements and principles of design have been well used throughout a composition, design.
7. Harmony
Harmony is the combination of various shaped, lines or colours used in an arrangement that are pleasing to the eye, thus harmonious. It is achieved when all the elements and principles of design have been well used throughout a composition, design.
This interior is aesthetically pleasing to the eye as all elements used throughout the room combine well together.
In summary, we have listed the elements and principles of design. The five elements of design are form, space, texture, line and colour. It exists seven principles of design such as balance, contrast, dominance, proportion, rhythm, scale and harmony. As illustrated in those pictures, they are essential components to be understood and mastered by florists in order to be able to create visual stunning arrangement. These principles and elements are used in all visual design fields such as architecture, fine art, graphic design, fashion design etc.
References:
-Blacklock, J. (2009). The Judith Blacklock encyclopedia of flower design. Bournemouth, UK: The Flower Press Ltd.
-Lidwell, W., Holden, K. and Butler, J. (2010). Universal Principles of Design. Massachusetts, USA: Rockport Publishers, Inc.
-Pearsons School of Floristry. Cluster: Design. Sydney, Australia.
In summary, we have listed the elements and principles of design. The five elements of design are form, space, texture, line and colour. It exists seven principles of design such as balance, contrast, dominance, proportion, rhythm, scale and harmony. As illustrated in those pictures, they are essential components to be understood and mastered by florists in order to be able to create visual stunning arrangement. These principles and elements are used in all visual design fields such as architecture, fine art, graphic design, fashion design etc.
References:
-Blacklock, J. (2009). The Judith Blacklock encyclopedia of flower design. Bournemouth, UK: The Flower Press Ltd.
-Lidwell, W., Holden, K. and Butler, J. (2010). Universal Principles of Design. Massachusetts, USA: Rockport Publishers, Inc.
-Pearsons School of Floristry. Cluster: Design. Sydney, Australia.