Design Principles - Lecture 01: Topic 01
DESIGN PRINCIPLES GCD 60804
NAME: Chin Tze Wei
I.D: 0357423
COURSE: Design Principles / Bachelor of Deisgn (Honors) in Creative Media
GROUP: Class 01 Sec 03
Design Principles - Lecture 01: Topic 01 (Elements and principles of design, Gestalt Theory and Contrast)
Lecture Note:
1.0 Element of Design
1.1 Point
- A dot.
- Simplest element of design.
- A repetitive mark forms a line.
- When move in space, 2D and 3D figures and forms are created.
Figure 1.0 Point
1.2 Line
- Can be active or static, agressive or passive, sensual or mechanical.
- Can indicate directions, define boundaries of shapes and spaces, imply volumes. or solid masses, and suggest motion or emotion.
- Can be grouped to depict qualities of light and shadow and to form patterns and textures.
Figure 1.1 Line
1.3 Shape
- Expanse within the outline of 2D area or within 3D object.
- Become visible when a line or lines enclose an area or when an apparent change in value (lightness/darkness), colour or texture sets an area apart from its surroundings.
- 2 general category of shapes, Geometric and Organic.
- Geometric: Circles, squaares, triangles...etc (Tend to be precise and regular).
- Organic: Irregular, often curving or rounded, and seem relaxed and more informal than geometric shapes.
Figure 1.2 Geometric shapes
Figure 1.3 Organic shapes
1.4 Form
- With 2D media (Painting, illustration or drawing).
- Form must be implied.
Figure 1.4 Form
Figure 1.5&1.6 Form
1.5 Texture
- Tactile qualities of surfaces or to the visual representation of those qualities.
- Have surfaces of textures that an be experienced by touching or through visual suggestion.
- 2 categories of texture, Actual and Simulated/Implied.
- Actual: Experienced by touch.
- Simulated/Implied: Created to look like the real texture.
Figure 1.7 Texture
1.6 Space
- In drawings, prints, photographs and paintings,
- Surface is defined by its edges (Height and Width)
- Within these limited boundaries, an infinite numebr of spatial qalities can be implied.
- In 3-dimensional space,
- From the outside, we experience mass.
- From the inside, we experience volume.
- In graphic design,
- Space: Area that a shape or form occupies.
- Can be defined as positive (filled space) or negative (empty space)
- Illusion of a 3D space can be suggested through depth.
- By overlapping of images, the variation of sizes, placement and perspective.
Figure 1.8 Space in graphics and paintings
Figure 1.9 Space in architecture
Figure 1.10 Positive space (Left) and Negative space (Right)
1.7 Colour
- Visual byproduct of the spectrum of light.
- The light wavelengths that the human eye receives and processes from a reflected source.
- Human beings can distinguish and identify in term of just three variables, which are Hue, Value and Itensity
Figure 1.11 Colour wavelength
- Hue: Colours of the spectrum (Yellow and green).
- Value: The lightness or darkness frm white through greys to black.
Figure 1.12 Colour value
- Intensity: Also called saturation or chroma, refers to the purity of a hue.
- A pure hue id the most intense form of a given colour.
- When with pigment (black, white or grey) of another hue is added to a pure hue, its intensity diminishes and is dulled.
Figure 1.13 Colour intensity
- Colour schemes: Colour groupings that provide distinct colour harmonies.
Figure 1.14 Colour schemes
- Monochromatic colour schemes are based on variations in the value and intensity of a single hue.
- Complementary colour schemes emhasize two hues directly opposite each other on the colour wheel.
Figure 1.15 Monochromatic colour scheme (Left), Complementary colour schemes (Middle)
2.0 Principle of Design - Contrast
2.1 Contrast
- Definition: The juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar elements
- Purpose:
- Add visual appeal
- Emphasize a point
- Express content
Figure 2.0 Contrast in background
Figure 2.1 Contrast in colour (Blue, green, white)
3.0 Gestalt theory
"Gestalt" refers to "shape" or "form" in German and are rules that
describe how the human eye perceives visual elements.
- Purpose
- Simplifyig complex scenes into basic shapes.
- How human eyes perceive separate elements as a single form.
- Principle of Similarity
- Even though elements are separate, our eyes can perceive similar elements together as a complete image.
Figure 3.1 Principle of Similarity
- Principle of Continuation
- The human eye prefers to see a continuous flow in a design rather than separated objects.
Figure 3.2 Principle of Continuation
- Principle of Closure
- Human eye prefers complete shapes rather tha incomplete shapes.
- If visual information is missing, users can perceive a complete shape by filling in.
Figure 3.3 Principle of Closure
Figure 3.4 Principle of Closure
- Principle of Proximity
- Ensuring related design elements are placed together.
- Please space apar any unrelated items.
- Proximity of elements indicates their connection and unity as a visual unit.
- Improve layout organization and structure.
Figure 3.5 Principle of Proximity
- Principle of Figure/Ground
- Objects are seen as either foreground or background.
- Figure: Objects that stand our prominently in the front.
- Ground: Objects that recede into the back.
Figure 3.6 Principle of Figure/Ground
Figure 3.7&3.8 Principle of Figure/Ground
- Law of Symmetry and Order
- Symmetrical elements are perceived as a unified group.
Figure 3.9 Law of Symmetry and Order
