DESIGNer’s GLOSSARY
Elements of Design
The elements of design are what make up the overall design, whereas composition principles are the how in which we put all these things together for the design.
Space: A house is comprised of a series of spaces, large and small, put together with structural elements like walls, floors, ceilings.
Line: Two or more points make a line. There are many types of lines: straight, curve, zigzag, vertical, horizontal, angle. Each type can convey a different feeling and meaning in the space.
Color: An emotional and personal element. Colors have meaning, cultural association, and psychology associated with them. There is also temperature to colors. Through colors, we can create stories & messages.
Shape: 2D: geometric shapes like circles, rectangles, etc. There is also free-form & organic shape
Form: 3D: cones, spheres, etc. They are formed by shapes when 2D planes intersect with each other.
Texture: Visual & tactile. Creates interest and depth in the room by unifying theme and building ambiance.
Depth: We can create depth through colors, textures, contrasts, light and how we place furniture and accessories.
Patterns: Add visual interest, theme, depth to the room. Can be in textile, tiles, wallpaper, soft goods, flooring, rugs, etc.
Light: Light is an important element in both interiors and photography. There are two sources: natural light & artificial light.
Mass: Mass is the solidity, matter, or density that is defined by shape or form.
Principles of Design
Balance: There are three ways to achieve balance: symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial. When a room looks balanced and symmetrical, it naturally puts people at ease and feels welcomed. It makes us feel grounded and relaxed.
Visual Weight: Objects can appear heavier than one another visually through colors, size, contrast, lightness & darkness, and density.
Harmony: Everything in view comes together in a pleasing combination. Harmony is achieved by balancing unity & variety.
Proportion: has to do with ratio, like the size of the chair in relation to the size of its arms.
Scale: refers to the overall or the relative size of an object, room, etc.
Rhythm: Rhythm is the flow of elements, and like music, you can create feelings of movements and rhythm in interiors. You can use lines, shapes, colors, varying heights of shapes, forms (peaks and valleys), etc. to guide the viewer’s eyes with your composition.
Emphasis / Focal Point: The focal point is the star of the room. It can be a great view, a fireplace, a piece of dramatic art, a grouping of furniture. We build the furniture placement around the focal point, which anchors the room and draws people’s attention to it.
Composition Principles in Photography
Perspectives / Point of View: In photography, this often has to do with how the viewer relates to the photo. Different perspectives can show different spatial relationships between the objects & how we related to those objects. This includes using angles of the camera, the type of lens used in the shooting, etc. The result can create different feelings for the viewers.
Leading Lines: We can use lines to direct the eye, show movements, create ambiance. We call these leading lines or directional lines.
Vanishing Point: The point where parallel lines appear to converge in the distant background.
Triangle Composition: A way to compose photos or group objects. Triangle gives a sense of stability with a wide base on the bottom.
Positive Space: Fill with elements like colors, texture, etc.
Negative Space: Empty areas around the positive space.
Rule of Thirds: If you draw two vertical lines and two horizontal lines at the ⅓ mark of the photograph, the focal point of the photo is where the vertical line and the horizontal line intersects.
Depth of the Field: Refers to the zone of sharpness created by manipulating the aperture, distance from object to the camera and the focal length of the camera.