exam study Flashcards
List the 8 design elements
- Point
- Line
- Shape
- Form
- Tone
- Texture
- Colour
- Type
List the 8 design principles
- Figure-ground
- Cropping
- Proportion
- Balance
- Scale
- Pattern
- Hierarchy
- Contrast
Define Point
A mark that may be used to indicate a position and location. Point is small in relation to the whole design and is not necessarily circular.
Define Line
Line represents a single dimension, length, which connects one point to another. It can be straight, curved or irregular and combined with other elements. The weight and quality of the line may vary depending on intended use and the tool used to create it, giving it character and meaning.
Define Shape
Shape is two-dimensional. It is the de ned space contained within lines. It can be organic,
geometric, abstract or symbolic and can be used in conjunction with other elements to create form or
pattern.
Define Form
Form is considered three-dimensional. It can be illustrated or constructed.
It can be organic, geometric, abstract or symbolic. Form may be
created by the joining of two
or more shapes and enhanced by tone, texture and colour.
Define Tone
Tone may be used to describe the three-dimensional nature of a form in terms of its shadows and
highlights, created by a light source.
Define Texture
Texture communicates a tactile aspect - it can be real or implied. It may be achieved using a
combination of elements such as point and line. It may be applied in a realistic or an abstract
style to create an arbitrary pattern or to stimulate the nish of a material.
Define Colour
Colour derives from the interplay of objects, light and the human eye/brain. Colour can communicate mood and emotion; it can be used to highlight information and establish heirarchy. It can add interest and excitement
to a visual communication.
Define Type
Type is the visual representation of word, number and character. It can be manipulated to have an impact on the delivery of the visual message or reinforce the meaning of the word. Sets of type belong to families and can be serif, sans serif, regular, bold or italic.
Define Figure-ground
Figure and ground work together to establish the importance of visual information within a picture plane. ‘Figure’ refers to components that
are more visually dominant than
the ground on which they are placed.
Define Cropping
An image can be modi ed by selecting an area of interest to emphasise, to create dominance or simply to clarify information. The use of cropping can give a dynamic feel to a composition.
Define Proportion
This is the comparative relationship between the size of components or parts of components within a composition.
Define Balance
Balance refers to the arrangement of components
in relation to a visual central axis. It may be .
‘symmetrical’ where components are mirrored along the axis to create a centred and stable compostion, or ‘asymmetrical’, where components of varying size and weight are placed o centre
to create a dynamic composition.
Define Scale
Scale refers to the relative size of the gure (visual representation) to what it represents. its relative size and
scale will determine the heirarchy of visual components within a composition.
