PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
The Principles of good design are the tools used by an artist or designer to create an
effective composition or design.
Design is the organized arrangement of one or more elements and principles (e.g. line
colour or texture) for a purpose. Awareness of the elements and principles in design is
the first step in creating successful visual compositions.
These principles, which may overlap, are used in all visual design fields, including graphic
design, industrial design, architecture and fine art.
Successful design incorporates the use of the principles and elements to serve the
designer's purpose and visual goals. There are no rules for their use.
Design principles and guidelines are a technical, quick mechanical and artificial method
to attempt to produce home architectural and interior design beauty.
Principles of Design consist of:
1. Balance
2. Proportion (Scale)
3. Rhythm
4. Movement
5. Emphasis
6. Contrast
7. Harmony (unity and variety)
1. Balance:
Balance is a feeling of equality of weight, attention, or attraction of the various
elements within the composition as a means of accomplishing unity.
Can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical depending on if the right or left side is
identical or not.
Balance by location: distribute furniture and accessory locations more evenly
throughout a room, fill an empty wall area with wall paper, a painting or accent wall.
Balance can be balance by location of objects such as windows on a house, balance by
volume or sizes of objects, balance by colour (like desired brightness in a room).
Balance lighter colours with darker colours, balance natural colours and patterns with
synthetic colours, balance bold colours with light neutral colours, colours with high
contrast in a room may be more visually pleasing to younger people.
The different types of balance are
1) Symmetrical balance
2) Asymmetrical balance
3) Radial balance
1)SYMMETRICAL BALANCE
Is also called Formal Balance
Mirror Image
Easy to appreciate and create
Quiet and restful
Leads itself to classical and traditional interiors
Creates a logical focal point
2) ASYMMETRICAL BALANCE
Is also called an Informal Balance
Visual weights are equal.
Elements differ on each side of the axis.
Suggest movement, Evoke our curiosity.
Provokes thought.
Has more lasting appeal.
Less obvious than symmetrical balance.
Found in contemporary rooms.
Relies totally on a “sense or feeling of being balanced.”
3)RADIAL BALANCE
Radial balance utilizes a central focal point.
Design elements radiate outward or inwards to the central point.
2. Proportion:
Proportion in art is the comparative harmonious relationship between two or more
elements in a composition with respect to size, color, quantity, degree, setting, etc.; i.e.
ratio.
Proportion involves the relationship of size between objects.
Proportion also depends on functionality of object. For example, for the best proportion
between a room and furniture, the sizes of furniture depends on the size of the room.
Proportions relative to one's height is also a design element; a large living room or
kitchen is usually more appealing than small ones.
SCALE
Scale defines the proportion of creation with respect to human beings
There are four categories in which scale is divided:
1. Natural scale
2. Intimate scale
3. Monument scale
4. Shocked scale
NATURAL SCALE
It is the scale in which the creations are in normal form when related to human being.
INTIMATE SCALE
It is slightly less than a normal scale, so as to give feeling of cozines. it is usually
employed in designing, architectural details etc.
MONUMENT SCALE
It is a proportion by which the human beings are small in front of these creation. it is
much larger than natural scale.so that it gives a dignified air of dominance; it is used in
place of worships, monuments, and public buildings etc.
SHOCKED SCALE
It is scale by which spectator is shocked by the unreality of the dimensions of the
object. it can be very small and very big. hence the unsuspecting observer expects the
object of some other dimensions but finds it quite different and thereby gets mild shock
(visual)
This scale is mostly used in dramatics and exhibition.
3. Rhythm:
Rhythm is the natural path our eyes follow while looking at a design.
The recurrence of elements within a piece: colors, lines, shapes, values, etc. is a rhythm
or repetition or pattern.
Rhythm is a repeating pattern like four identical candles space evenly apart on a book
shelf.
Natural patterns like pattern on polished solid granite countertops may add visual
appeal or interest to a home design. Add rhythmic patterns as some wall paper on a
room wall to add interest, colour and visual appeal to a room.
The words Rhythm and Movement are often associated with music, dance and sports.
Rhythm is achieved through
1) Rhythm of radiation
2) Rhythm of repetition
3) Rhythm of gradation
4) Rhythm of transition
5) Rhythm of opposition
4.Movement
•In any design, architecture, art and interior design, movement is an important force that
creates an excitement.
• It keeps the eye roaming and provides interest and hopefully curiosity.
•By arranging a room in a certain way, the designer forces the eye to move in a particular
way.
• Another way to think about movement is to consider how the viewers eye moves
through the composition .
• This is what we refer to as compositional movement.
• We are concerned with how the viewer perceives the composition and how the
components relate and leads the viewers’ attention.
• Types of MOVEMENTS
• Static – That is the movement of eye that jumps & hops between separate components
of the image, attracted by similarities & simply shifting to shapes with related shape or
colour.
• Composition exhibiting static movement are characterized by repetition of closed
,isolated shapes & contrast of colour and/or value
• Dynamic - Dynamic movement is characterized by the movement of eye that flow
smoothly from one area of the composition to another.
• It will guided by continuation of line or form and by gradation of colour and form.
• It is characterized by open shape or shapes that closely relate to adjacent shape
5. Emphasis:
Emphasis is the stressing of a particular area of focus rather than the presentation of a
maze of details of equal importance.
When a composition has no emphasis nothing stands out.
One way of achieving emphasis is by creating center of interest, or a focal point. A focal
point is an area where the eye tends to center.
The second way to create emphasis is by
with its subordinates, or emphasis can be created by a sudden change in direction, size,
shape, texture, color, tone or line.
Emphasis guides the eye into, through and out of the image through the use of
sequence of various levels of focal points, primary focal point, secondary, tertiary, etc.
Emphasis or dominance of an object can be increased by making the object larger, more
sophisticated, more ornate, by placing it in the foreground, or standout visually more
than other objects in a project.
Ways to create emphasis:
Arrangement of furniture around a focal point.
Use of color, texture, or pattern.
Placement of accessories.
Use of lighting.
The use of dissimilar elements, which creates interest and uniqueness is Variety.
6. Harmony:
Harmony is achieved through the sensitive balance of variety and unity.
Harmony in design is similarity of components or objects looking like these belong
together. Harmony is when some or many of the components (usually three or four
objects depending on size of project or room) such as a furniture, drapes in a room
share a common trait or two.
A common trait could be: colour(s), shape(s), texture, pattern(s), material, theme, style,
size, or functionality. For example a drapery could share the same colour that is on a
pillow or wallpaper.
The human brain usually likes design harmony; harmony and unity generally make
designs more visually appealing, organized, interesting and not hodgepodge. It is a
technical and artificial process for attempting to produce interior design beauty.
Design harmony or unity sometimes produce balance in: design, furniture and accessory
selection, and organization of furniture placement in most cases.
A.UNITY
Unity is the hallmark of a good design. It's the final result in a composition when all
the design elements work harmoniously together giving the viewer a satisfying sense of
belonging and relationship.
You know unity has been achieved when all aspects of the design complement one
another rather than compete for attention.
Unity creates a sense of order: When a design possesses unity there will be a
consistency of sizes and shapes, as well as a harmony of color and pattern.
Unity also gives elements the appearance of completeness, that they belong together.
When a composition has unity the design will be viewed as one piece, as a whole, and
not as separate elements with the painting.
When unity is achieved:
The individual elements within a composition will not be competing for attention.
The key theme will be communicated more clearly.
The design will evoke a sense of completeness and organization.
B. VARIETY
Variety keeps life interesting.
Variety in art refers to contrasting or different types of elements in a work of art.
Add rhythm, pattern or colour variety like contemporary wallpaper or real wood
panelling on accent wall to reduce monotony, add interest or add visual appeal to a
room's decor.
7. CONTRAST
Contrast is the occurrence of contrasting elements, such as colour, value, size, etc. It
creates interest and pulls the attention toward the focal point.
It is the difference between two things by color, shape, size, placement, and more.
Contrast in home colors may be visually pleasing.
Confusion between Elements & Principles of Design
Principles are something that can be repeatedly and dependably done with elements to
produce some sort of visual effect in a composition.
They depend on elements and cannot exist independently. They co-exist with elements
and with each other.
