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 expressive content, or the message of the design.

What is the principle of repetition?

Repeating some aspect of the design throughout the entire document.

Describe ways that the principle of repetition helps the composition/audience?

It ties the piece together and controls the readers eyes and helps keep the attention on the piece. 

What are ways that you can incorporate repetition into your designs?

Using a bold font, thick lines, certain bullet, color, design element, particular format, and spatial relationship.

What should you avoid when working with repetition?

Not to repeat so much that it becomes annoying or overwhelming.

What is the principle of proportion/scale?

The relative scale of the various elements in a design.

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

The human body.

How can the principle of proportion/scale be used as an attention getter?

It can be used to dwarf and awe the viewer or be set to a scale like a home that is right on proportion with human and so is more comfortable looking. Unusual scales can be used as attention getters.

What is the principle of balance?

Distribution of heavy and light elements in the design

Which kinds of elements/shapes visually weigh heavier/greater?

Large

What is another name for symmetrical balance?

Formal balance

Define symmetrical balance?

When the weight of a composition is evenly distributed around a central vertical or horizontal axis.

What is another name for asymmetrical balance?

Informal balance

Define asymmetrical balance?

Occurs when the weight of a composition is not evenly distributed around the axis. 

What is the principle of emphasis?

Stressing of a particular area of focus rather than the maze of detail of equal importance.

What happens to a design that has no focus?

The composition has nothing that stands out.

What is a focal point and how is it created?

Center of interest, it is created by making one element dominant with all other areas contributing but subordinate.

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

One

What ways can emphasis be created in a design?

Contasting the primary element to the subordinate, sudden changes in direction, size, shape, 

texture, color, tone, and line.

What is the principle of unity?

The wholeness of the composition.

What three ways can unity be obtained?

1. put objects close to one another

2. make things similar

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

What is the principle of variety?

The differences and diversity, what makes a design interesting.

What ways can a designer add variety to a design?

Through texture, color, shapes and alter their contrast, tone and intensity.

Why is it important to find the right balance between unity and variety?

To have a successful, effective design.

What is figure?

The part of a composition that we pay attention to.

What is another name for figure?

Positive shape

What is ground?

The surrounding area around a 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?

 The viewer, it means the person seeing it decides. 

Why must a designer consider the composition as a whole?

Otherwise it is only partially designed.

What is the principle of rhythm?

Continuity, recurrence, or organized movement in space and time.

How is rhythm achieved?

Orderly repetition of any element, line, shape, tone, texture. 

What three ways can rhythm occur in a design?

1.When the intervals between the elements are similar in size or length

2. With a more organic flowing sense of movement

3. A sequence of shapes through a progression of steps

How does rhythm help a composition/design?

Helps deliver the message by controlling the viewers eye movement, and by adding life to an otherwise inanimate layout.

What is the principle of contrast?

Occurs when two related elements are different

How can contrast help a design?

Help draw in the viewer’s eye by adding visual interest.

What is wrong with having too much or too little contrast in a design?

Too much becomes confusing, too little becomes boring 

What is the key to working with contrast?

To make sure the differences are obvious

What are some common ways of creating contrast?

By creating difference in size, value, color, type, texture, shape, alignment, direction, and movement.