The Elements of Design

The Elements of Design

Lines

• A line is a form with width and
length, but no depth. Artists
use lines to create edges, the
outlines of objects. A line is
created by the movement of
the artist's pen.

Direction

All lines have direction – Horizontal, Vertical or Oblique. Horizontal
suggests calmness, stability and tranquility. Vertical gives a feeling of
balance, formality and alertness. Oblique suggests movement and action.

Horizontal Lines

Lines placed horizontally can induce feelings of stability, grounding,
emphasis and direction. Although horizontal lines tend create length
and lower the ceiling of a space they can also be applied to direct the
viewer to a particular focal point. So the design of the room will
natural guide listeners toward your direction.

Vertical Lines

Vertical lines are associated with strength, stability, balance,
and elevation. It has been theorized that seeing vertical
lines is unnatural compared to seeing horizontal lines.
Additionally, vertical lines extend away from our visual
plane. For these reasons, the length of a line applied
vertically is often extended lending to the feeling of height
in a space.

Shapes

A shape is a self contained defined area. They’re two
types of shapes geometric and free form.

Geometric Shapes

Can be described using mathematical terms. They are either
regular or exactly precise. Examples of geometric shapes are:
squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, oval, pentagons, etc.

Free-Form Shapes

Free-Form shapes are complicated. They can be described as irregular or uneven. These shapes are often
found in nature undisturbed by humans. These shapes can be clouds, puddles, trees, leaves, rocks etc.
Nature like things.

Space

Space is the area that a shape or form
occupies. Space can be defined as positive or
negative.

Positive Space Negative Space
Positive space is Negative space is
the filled space, the the empty space,
object or element or the open space
in the design. between design
elements or
objects, such as a
background.

Texture There are plenty of ways
to describe texture such
Texture is the surface as smooth, rough, rigid,
quality of an object. It can coarse, glossy, uneven,
only be experienced dull and so on.
through touch. Real
textures are those that
one can touch and feel.

Color

Color is one of the most obvious elements of design, for
both the user and the designer. It can stand alone, as a
background, or be applied to other elements, like lines,
shapes, textures or typography. Color creates a mood
within the piece and tells a story about the brand. Every
color says something different, and combinations can
alter that impression further.

Size

Size describes the measure of shapes and lines as well as the
intervals between them. Size shows proportion of parts and scale.

PowerPoint by Jeremiah Askew
Ms. Williams 1st Period Digital Design

References

• http://www.wcs.k12.mi.us/cousino/wcsart/art%20foundatons%20site
/shape.html

• http://desource.uvu.edu/dgm/2740/IN/steinja/lessons/03/l03_04.htm
l?m=1

• https://www.ateliernovotny.com/2017/11/30/elements-of-design-
size/

• https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2014/05/design-principles-
space-figure-ground-relationship/

• https://creativemarket.com/blog/10-basic-elements-of-design
• https://visscom.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/element-of-texture/
• https://www.thoughtco.com/principles-of-art-and-design-2578740