This document defines the key elements and principles of design. The elements are the building blocks used in art and include line, shape, form, color, value, texture and space. Principles of design are used to organize the elements and include balance, emphasis, contrast, rhythm and movement, pattern and repetition, unity, variety, and proportion. Each element and principle is defined in one or two sentences.

1. ELEMENT &
PRINCIPLES
OF DESIGN
M O D U L E 2

2. ELEMENTS OF ART
• These are the building blocks of the
Principles of Design.
• These include:
• Line
• Shape
• Form
• Color
• Value
• Texture
• Space

3. LINE
• The path of a moving point.
• A mark on a surface with
length and direction, created
by a tool (pencil, pen, brush.)
• Lines have the power to
define form, divide space,
create the illusion of depth,
suggest movement or energy

5. SHAPE
• Any flat object that is 2-
dimensional.
• It can be a solid color or it
can be defined by a line.
• Shapes can be geometric
or organic.

6. FORM
• A 3-dimensional object.
• The appearance of an object being 3D.
• Shows an object in space.

7. SPACE
T H E D I S T A N C E O R A R E A B E T W E E N , A R O U N D , A B O V E , B E L O W , O R W I T H I N T H I N G S . ( T H E
B A C K G R O U N D )

8. VALUE
• An objects brightness or darkness.

9. COLOR
• An objects chromatic quality.
• Sometimes called “hue”

10. TEXTURE
T H E TA C T I L E Q U A L I T Y O F A N O B J E C T, O F T H E A P P E A R A N C E O F.

11. PRINCIPLES
OF DESIGN
W H AT W E U S E T O O R G A N I Z E T H E
E L E M E N T S O F A R T.
T H E T O O L S T O M A K E A R T.

12. BALANCE
• The way the elements are arranged
to create a feeling of stability in a
work.
• Can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

13. EMPHASIS
• The focal point of an image.
• When one area or things stands out the
most.

14. CONTRAST
• A large difference between two
elements in order to create interest
and tension.
• Ways to create contrast:
• Size
• Shape
• Type
• Color
• Texture

15. RHYTHM & MOVEMENT
A R E G U L AR R E P E T I T I O N O F E L E M E N T S TO
P R O D U C E T H E L O O K AN D F E E L O F M O V E M E N T.

16. PATTERN
AND
REPETITION
R E P E T I T I O N O F A
D E S I G N M O T I F.

17. UNITY
W H E N A L L T H E E L E M E N T S A N D P R I N C I P L E S A R E W O R K I N G T O G E T H E R T O C R E A T E A
V I S U A L L Y P L E A S I N G I M A G E .

18. VARIETY
T H E U S E O F D I F F E R E N T E L E M E N T S
TO I N C R E AS E V I S U AL I N T E R E S T.

19. PROPORTIO
N (SCALE)
T H E C O M PA R AT I V E
R E L AT I O N S H I P O F O N E PA R T
T O A N O T H E R W I T H R E S P E C T
T O S I Z E , Q U A N T I T Y A N D
D E G R E E .