Podcast #3 Principles of Design

Define principles of design?
-concepts used to arrange the structural elements of a composition

What do the principles of design affect?
-the message of the work

What is the principle of repetition?-an aspect or element of the design throughout the entire document

Describe ways that the principle of repetition helps the composition/audience?
-ties the piece together; controls readers eye

What are ways that you can incorporate repetition into your designs?
-repeating design elements

What should you avoid when working with repetition?
-not to repeat too much

What is the principle of proportion/scale?
-the relative size and scale of the various elements of a design

What is the most universal standard of measure when judging size?-human body

How can the principle of proportion/scale be used as an attention getter?
-unusual or unexpected scale

What is the principle of balance?
-distribution of heavy and light elements on a page

Which kinds of elements/shapes visually weigh heavier/greater?
-larger elements; irregular

What is another name for symmetrical balance?
-formal balance

Define symmetrical balance?
-occurs when the weight of a composition is evenly distributed around a central, vertical, or horizontal axiz

What is another name for asymmetrical balance?
-informal

Define asymmetrical balance?
-when the weight is not evenly distributed around a central axis

What is the principle of emphasis?
-the stressing of an area of focus

What happens to a design that has no focus?
-nothing stands out

What is a focal point and how is it created?
-a center of interest; by making one element dominant

How many components of a composition can be a focal point?
-one

What ways can emphasis be created in a design?
-sudden change in direction, size, shape, texture, color, tone, or line

What is the principle of unity?
-wholeness of a composition

What three ways can unity be obtained?
1. put objects close to one another in a composition

2. make things similar (textures, colors, shapes)

3. direct vision by a line that travels around the composition

What is the principle of variety?
-differences and diversity

What ways can a designer add variety to a design?
-vary textures, colors, shapes, contrast, tone

Why is it important to find the right balance between unity and variety?
-too much unity can be boring; too much variety can be overwhelming

What is figure?
-a form, sillhouette, or shape
What is another name for figure?
-positive shape

What is ground?
-surrounding area around the figure
What is another name for ground?
-negative space

When a composition is abstract (has no recognizable subject) what will the figure depend on? What does that mean?
-


Why must a designer consider the composition as a whole?
-figure/ground relationship is important

What is the principle of rhythm?
-continuity or organized movement in space and time

How is rhythm achieved?
-through the orderly repetition of any element, line, shape, value, tone, or texture

What three ways can rhythm occur in a design?
1. intervals between the elements are similar in size

2. organic sense of movement

3. sequence of shapes
How does rhythm help a composition/design?
- can add life and interaction to an otherwise inanimate page

What is the principle of contrast?
-occurs when 2 related elements are different

How can contrast help a design?
-can draw the viewers eye into the piece

What is wrong with having too much or too little contrast in a design?
-too little similarity becomes boring; too much is too confusing

What is the key to working with contrast?
-to make sure the differences are obvious

What are some common ways of creating contrast?
-creating differences in size, value, color, type, texture, shape, alignment, direction, and movement