Design TerminologyDesign Terminology

General Composition and Design General Composition and Design TermsTerms

Concept:Concept: A comprehensive idea or generalization that brings A comprehensive idea or generalization that brings diverse elements into some basic relationship.diverse elements into some basic relationship.

Composition Composition and and Design:Design: The arrangement of the visible elements The arrangement of the visible elements or parts of a work of art. Often used interchangeably to refer to the or parts of a work of art. Often used interchangeably to refer to the organization of elements. Composition implies the assemblage of organization of elements. Composition implies the assemblage of existing parts. Design suggests a more intentional arrangement, existing parts. Design suggests a more intentional arrangement, often to a point.often to a point.

Form:Form: The total interrelationship of the elements in a work of art. The total interrelationship of the elements in a work of art.

Content: Content: Material that has meaning, shaped by an artist's concept Material that has meaning, shaped by an artist's concept or intent, and expressed in symbolic, abstract and concrete form. or intent, and expressed in symbolic, abstract and concrete form.

Design Principles:     Design Principles:     Unity:Unity: The whole or total effect of a work of art that results from the combination of all of its The whole or total effect of a work of art that results from the combination of all of its component parts. Typically, a unified work is one in which the elements all work harmoniously component parts. Typically, a unified work is one in which the elements all work harmoniously together in support of the concept.together in support of the concept.

Proportion:Proportion: There is a comparative fitness in the interrelationship of parts. There is a comparative fitness in the interrelationship of parts.

Scale:Scale: The proportional relationship among parts. The proportional relationship among parts.

Contrast: Contrast: Change of stress and accent or emphasis to set off elements against each other.Change of stress and accent or emphasis to set off elements against each other.

Sequence: Sequence: Change or movement producing a progression; rhythmic tensions and transitions Change or movement producing a progression; rhythmic tensions and transitions between linear and spatial movements.between linear and spatial movements.

Harmony: Harmony: The adaptation of parts to one another so as to form a coherent whole.The adaptation of parts to one another so as to form a coherent whole.

Rhythm: Rhythm: Regular recurrence or alteration in sequence.Regular recurrence or alteration in sequence. Balance:Balance: The equilibrium of all forces involved. The equilibrium of all forces involved.

Distortion: Distortion: Any change made by an artist in the size, position or general character of forms Any change made by an artist in the size, position or general character of forms relative to how they normally appear. Almost all art necessarily involves a degree of distortion, relative to how they normally appear. Almost all art necessarily involves a degree of distortion, simply through the process of artistic selection.simply through the process of artistic selection.

Texture: Texture: The surface feel of an object or the representation of surface character. The surface feel of an object or the representation of surface character.

Organization:    Organization:    Design: Design: A framework or scheme of pictorial construction on which the artist bases the formal A framework or scheme of pictorial construction on which the artist bases the formal organization of his total work. In a broader sense, it may be considered as synonymous with the organization of his total work. In a broader sense, it may be considered as synonymous with the term term formform..

Composition:Composition: The act of organizing all the elements of a work of art into a harmoniously unified The act of organizing all the elements of a work of art into a harmoniously unified whole.whole. Pattern: Pattern: Repetitive use of an element or elements.Repetitive use of an element or elements.

Interval: Interval: Distance or space between elements in a composition.Distance or space between elements in a composition. Accent: Accent: Any stress or emphasis given to elements of a composition that makes them attract Any stress or emphasis given to elements of a composition that makes them attract more attention than other features that surround or lie close to them. Accent may be created more attention than other features that surround or lie close to them. Accent may be created through color, tone, size, or any other means by which difference may be expressed.through color, tone, size, or any other means by which difference may be expressed.

Dominance: Dominance: The relative importance of certain elements above others in the same composition. The relative importance of certain elements above others in the same composition. It establishes focus and supports unity by subordinating some elements or ideas in relation to It establishes focus and supports unity by subordinating some elements or ideas in relation to others.others.

Tension Tension (pictorial): Dynamic interrelationships of force as seen in the interaction among the (pictorial): Dynamic interrelationships of force as seen in the interaction among the qualities of the art elements. Contrasting elements in terms of size, color, shape, etc., can qualities of the art elements. Contrasting elements in terms of size, color, shape, etc., can characterize the space between them in terms of forces and tension.characterize the space between them in terms of forces and tension.

Approximate symmetry:Approximate symmetry: Arrangement of elements that are similar on either side of a vertical Arrangement of elements that are similar on either side of a vertical axis. They may suggest exact equity but are varied sufficiently to prevent visual monotony.axis. They may suggest exact equity but are varied sufficiently to prevent visual monotony.

Asymmetrical balance: Asymmetrical balance: Arrangement of the visual units on either side of a vertical axis that are Arrangement of the visual units on either side of a vertical axis that are not identical but are placed to create a “felt” equilibrium of the visual space.not identical but are placed to create a “felt” equilibrium of the visual space.

Line and Shape:Line and Shape:                  

Size: Size: The extent of a shape, or length of a line.The extent of a shape, or length of a line.

Shape: Shape: The specific spatial character of an area or line.The specific spatial character of an area or line.

Volume:Volume: A shape having three dimensions or one that gives the illusion of solidity or A shape having three dimensions or one that gives the illusion of solidity or mass.mass.

LinearLinear or or lineal: lineal: Usually used interchangeably, pertaining to a line. All lines are Usually used interchangeably, pertaining to a line. All lines are linear.linear.

Curvilinear: Curvilinear: Stressing the use of curved lines as opposed to rectilinear, which Stressing the use of curved lines as opposed to rectilinear, which stresses straight lines.stresses straight lines.

Outline: Outline: The demarcation between one area and the next, or the edge of a shape.The demarcation between one area and the next, or the edge of a shape.

Contour: Contour: The outline or edge, and those lines that move across a shape or volume.The outline or edge, and those lines that move across a shape or volume.

Attitude: Attitude: Position or posture of a shape or line, its directional quality if it has one.Position or posture of a shape or line, its directional quality if it has one.

Amorphous: Amorphous: Without clarity of definition; formless; indistinct and of uncertain Without clarity of definition; formless; indistinct and of uncertain dimensions.dimensions.

Biomorphic shapes: Biomorphic shapes: Shapes that are irregular in form and resemble the freely Shapes that are irregular in form and resemble the freely developed curves found in organic life. developed curves found in organic life.

SpatialSpatialSpace: Space: Extension in any direction.Extension in any direction.“Deep Space”:“Deep Space”: A sense of voluminous recession or distance among the elements of a A sense of voluminous recession or distance among the elements of a picture, as compared with a relatively two dimensional or “flat” treatment. picture, as compared with a relatively two dimensional or “flat” treatment.

Plane: Plane: A flat or even surface, either actual, represented or suggested.A flat or even surface, either actual, represented or suggested.

Picture Plane: Picture Plane: A plane of reference for spatial organization. Typically it is placed like a A plane of reference for spatial organization. Typically it is placed like a window pane, vertically and perpendicular to the line of sight. Objects appearing in window pane, vertically and perpendicular to the line of sight. Objects appearing in space space behindbehind (or through) the picture plane can be marked or represented on the (or through) the picture plane can be marked or represented on the picture plane and will appear in perspective.picture plane and will appear in perspective.

Value pattern: Value pattern: The total effect of the relationships of light and dark given to areas within The total effect of the relationships of light and dark given to areas within the pictorial field. the pictorial field.

Two-dimensional: Value relationships in which the changes of light and dark seem to Two-dimensional: Value relationships in which the changes of light and dark seem to occur only on the surface of the picture plane. occur only on the surface of the picture plane. Three-dimensional: The value relationships that are planned to create an illusion of Three-dimensional: The value relationships that are planned to create an illusion of objects existing in depth back of the picture plane. objects existing in depth back of the picture plane.

Perspective: Perspective: The device of representing on a plain surface, objects in space as they The device of representing on a plain surface, objects in space as they appear to a stationary eye. appear to a stationary eye.

ColourColourSpectrum: Spectrum: The band of individual colours that results when a beam of light is broken up into its The band of individual colours that results when a beam of light is broken up into its component hues.component hues.

Colour: Colour: The character of a surface that is the result of the response of vision to the wavelength The character of a surface that is the result of the response of vision to the wavelength of light reflected from that surface.of light reflected from that surface.

Hue: Hue: This designates the common name of a colour and indicates its position in the spectrum or This designates the common name of a colour and indicates its position in the spectrum or in the color circle. Hue is determined by the specific wavelength of the color in the ray of light.in the color circle. Hue is determined by the specific wavelength of the color in the ray of light.

Intensity (chroma): Intensity (chroma): The saturation or strength of a color determined by the quality of light The saturation or strength of a color determined by the quality of light reflected from it. A vivid color is of high intensity, a dull color of low intensity.reflected from it. A vivid color is of high intensity, a dull color of low intensity.

Tone (colour): Tone (colour): A term used in a general way to include the factors of hue, value, and intensity. A term used in a general way to include the factors of hue, value, and intensity.

Value: Value: The characteristic of a color in terms of the amount of light reflected from it. It refers to the The characteristic of a color in terms of the amount of light reflected from it. It refers to the lightness or darkness of tone, not to its color quality. There are an infinite number of variations in lightness or darkness of tone, not to its color quality. There are an infinite number of variations in value between white and black, but a scale of 7 equal gradations is useful, named High Light, value between white and black, but a scale of 7 equal gradations is useful, named High Light, Light, Low Light, Middle, High Dark, Dark, and Low Dark. Light, Low Light, Middle, High Dark, Dark, and Low Dark.

Tint: Tint: A hue at a lighter value than the one at which it appears at greatest intensity, i.e., a color A hue at a lighter value than the one at which it appears at greatest intensity, i.e., a color with white added.with white added.

Shade Shade (colour): A hue at a darker value than the one at which it appears at greatest intensity, (colour): A hue at a darker value than the one at which it appears at greatest intensity, i.e., a color with black added.i.e., a color with black added.

Objective colour: Objective colour: The naturalistic color of an object as seen by the eye.The naturalistic color of an object as seen by the eye.Subjective colour: Subjective colour: Colours chosen by the artist without regard to the natural appearance of the Colours chosen by the artist without regard to the natural appearance of the object portrayed. They have nothing to do with objective reality but represent the expression of object portrayed. They have nothing to do with objective reality but represent the expression of the individual artist. the individual artist.

Colour IIColour II

Achromatic: Achromatic: Relating to differences of lightness and darkness; the Relating to differences of lightness and darkness; the absence of colour. Analogous colours: Those colours that are absence of colour. Analogous colours: Those colours that are closely related in hue. They are generally adjacent to each other on closely related in hue. They are generally adjacent to each other on the color wheel.the color wheel.Complementary colours:Complementary colours: Two colours that are directly opposite Two colours that are directly opposite each other on the pigment color wheel. A primary color would be each other on the pigment color wheel. A primary color would be complementary to a secondary colour, which is a mixture of the two complementary to a secondary colour, which is a mixture of the two remaining primaries.remaining primaries.Colour Triad: Colour Triad: A group of three colours spaced an equal distance A group of three colours spaced an equal distance apart on the color wheel. There is a primary triad, a secondary triad, apart on the color wheel. There is a primary triad, a secondary triad, and two intermediate triads on the twelve-colour wheel.and two intermediate triads on the twelve-colour wheel.Neutrals: Neutrals: Surface tones that do not reflect any single wavelength of Surface tones that do not reflect any single wavelength of light but rather all of them at once. No single colour is then notice light but rather all of them at once. No single colour is then notice but only a sense of light or dark, such as white, gray or black.but only a sense of light or dark, such as white, gray or black.Colour tonality: Colour tonality: An orderly planning in terms of selection and An orderly planning in terms of selection and arrangement of color schemes or color combinations. It would arrangement of color schemes or color combinations. It would concern itself not only with hue, but also with value and intensity concern itself not only with hue, but also with value and intensity relationships. relationships.

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