Principles
of Design
Fashion Design
Dot-to-Dot
– You will have 1 ½ minutes to try this activity
– Start at the #1 and draw a line to 2, 3 4,… and so forth
– See how high you get!
DOT-TO-DOT
– All the odd numbers are on the left side of the page;
the even numbers are on the right.
– The numbers go in a zigzag pattern (left to right),
going down the page, back up and back down.
– Now you have another 1½ minutes to see how well
you do.
Dot to Dot:
Connection to Elements and Principles
– The numbers on the page are like the elements of design. They are the tools we
have to change and manipulate. We have learned about several of these tools.
– What are the tools or elements of design???
– line, color, texture, shape/form, and pattern.
– Now that we have those elements out there, we need rules that show us how to use
them. The rules are referred to as the principles of design.
– How would it make it easier to have rules about using the elements of design???
The Relationship of the Elements
and Principles of Design
ELEMENTS PRINCIPLES
OF DESIGN OF DESIGN
Line Balance
Texture Rhythm To
Harmony
Color Emphasis create
Shape/Form Proportion/Scale
Pattern
TOOLS RULES
The Principles of Design
Rhythm
Emphasis
Balance
Proportion/Scale
Harmony
The Principles of Design
– Rhythm: related movement that leads the eye
smoothly and easily from one part of the design
to another
– Rhythm provides a sense of order and quality of
gracefulness.
– Rhythm provides the illusion of motion as the eye
moves easily from one part of the design to another.
– 4 types of rhythm include the following:
1. repetition 3. transition
2. gradation 4. radiation
The Principles of Design
4 Types of Rhythm:
– Repetition: repeating design, shape, pattern, or texture.
– Gradation: applies to the incremental change in the state of a
design element. Gradual increase or decrease of design.
– Transition: a smooth flowing passage from one condition or
another. Shift from one place to another on the garment.
– Radiation: the feeling of movement steadily bursting outward
in all directions from a visible or suggested central point.
The Principles of Design
– Emphasis: also known as the “center of
interest,” “focal point,” and “dominant idea”
– Emphasis centers attention on the most important item in an
arrangement and allows rhythm to carry the eye from this
point to other areas of interest.
– Emphasis creates order and captures attention.
The Principles of Design
– Balance: the arranging of design parts to create a feeling of rest and
equilibrium
Balance produces a sense of equality between opposite elements.
Two types are as follows:
1. Formal balance (symmetrical) – The design is the same on each
side of the design center.
2. Informal balance (asymmetrical) – The design is balanced but is
different on each side of the design center.
The Principles of Design
–Proportion/Scale:
– Proportion is the relationship of parts to each other
and to the design as a whole based on division of
space.
– Scale is the law of proportion when applied to the
size relationship of objects used together.
Proportion
– Elements seem to be an appropriate size for the space they
fill.
Proportion
– The ratio of one part to
the whole.
– Things just look right.
Proportion
– The ratio of one part to
the whole.
– Things just look right.
The Principles of Design
Unity + Variety = Harmony
– Harmony: the combination of unity and variety. All parts of
the room or garment work together to create a pleasing,
whole design.
– Harmony occurs when the parts of a design are related by a unified
design and consistency of style.
– Harmony is essential to successful design.
– Harmony is the final goal of any arrangement.
– Harmony demands that the sizes, shapes, colors, textures, and ideas
used to create the arrangement or design be related.
Conclusion
As you can see the Principles of Design
overlap some but through practice and
exposure you will see these principles come to
life all around you.
