Introduction to the world of design through the exploration of the Principles of DesignIntroduction to the world of design through the exploration of the Principles of Design

Principles of Design

Your tools for creating an Your tools for creating an innovative and marketable innovative and marketable

composition. To be a success composition. To be a success in the Computer Graphic in the Computer Graphic

World, you need to have an World, you need to have an “Eye for Design;” hence, “Eye for Design;” hence,

you’re required to know the you’re required to know the Principles and building blocks Principles and building blocks

for design.for design.

Elements of Art: ingredients to artwork

ColorLineShape/formTextureSpaceValue

UnityHow an artwork ties everything together as a whole.Creating harmony in a design so that no elements are left out of the design. This is the overall goal of the Principles of Design.

Scanner Darkly

UNITY continuedSimilarity, Proximity and Alignment: Items of similar size, shape and color tend to be grouped together by the brain, and a semantic relationship between the items is formed.

Photographer Jim DiVatale

UNITY continuedClosure is the idea that the brain tends to fill in

missing information when it perceives an object is missing some of its pieces.

Andrew Jones, a founder of game developer Massive Black

Continuance Unity is the idea that once you begin looking in one direction, you will continue to do so until something more significant catches your attention. Perspective, or the use of dominant directional lines, tends to successfully direct the viewers eye in a given direction.

BalanceThe visual weight of object to create a sense of equilibrium. Symmetrical balance is when one side of the

artwork is exactly like the other side.

Asymmetrical balance is where it is not a mirrored image, but it is over all visually

weighted evenly.

Radial refers to a design that spokes out or radiates from a central point.

Photographer Jim DiVatale

Alessandro Carloni

                                   

                     

Illustrator David Singer

VARIETY/CONTRAST

Differences and/or extremes of Elements or Principles in a piece of artwork. These create interest and/or emphasis in a composition.

Artist Tacor Tacorian

Advertising for Toyo tires

EMPHASIS Focal point in a composition – where your eyes naturally go first in your design.

                                      

                  

                                  

                      

MOVEMENTEye travel directed by visual pathway in art.This does not mean that the design depicts a moving figure or vehicle, instead think where does the design lead your eyes.

Photoshop Expert and Photographer Scott Kelby

Taittinger Mag.Advertisement

HarmonyPulling together a composition by stressing similarities. You often need repetition to create harmony. In turn, repetition can lead to pattern and/or rhythm.

                                                                                                          

        

Bert Monroy

 PATTERN/REPETITION

Taking a shape or other element and placing it continuously throughout the artwork in a recognizable consistency.

Eastern Diaojiao Lou, Ke Chen (3D animation)

Photographer Jim DiVatale

RHYTHM

A pattern with variation thrown in to create a funky repetition.

Flowing: A flowing rhythm gives a sense of movement, and is often more organic

in nature.

Progressive: A progressive rhythm shows a sequence of forms through a progression

of steps.

Photographer Jim DiVatale

ECONOMYReducing images and the composition to the basic necessities to convey your message.Simplicity is the key.

Advertising for Apple’s iPod

Simple Logos

PROPORTION Refers to the comparative relationship of one part to another or to the whole with respect to size or quantity. Proportion is often used when indicating space or emphasis.

This is an advertisement found in Vancouver during the National Non-Smoking Week. The car was placed at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the message reads ‘Death from car accidents: 370, Death from smoking-related causes: 6,027, Quit now before it kills you.’

Soa Lee