1

Elements and Principles of Design

L. VanWaardhuizen

Elements: Color

!  Made up of: –  Hue: color name (i.e.

blue, red, yellow) –  Value: lightness or

darkness •  Tint (add white) •  Shade (add black)

–  Chroma: intensity (i.e. clear or muddy)

2

Elements: Color (cntd)

!  Color Schemes –  Monochromatic –  Analogous –  Complementary –  Split Complementary –  Triad –  Accented Neutral

Elements: Silhouette !  Overall form or

outline of an outfit !  Types:

–  Trapezoid –  Tent –  Hourglass –  Pear –  Bell

3

Elements: Line !   Leads the path of eye

movement !   Structural (i.e. seams) or

Decorative (i.e. applied) !   Direction

–  Straight –  Curved –  Jagged –  Vertical –  Horizontal –  Diagonal

Elements: Texture

!  Tactile quality of the surface; the hand, surface interest, or “character” of the fabric

4

Elements: Pattern !  Visual “character” of

the fabric !  Can be achieved

through: –  Weaving –  Knitting –  Printing –  Embossing –  Devore

Principles: Balance

!  Produces equality among the parts of a design; implies equilibrium with equal interest on either side of an imaginary centerline –  Formal Balance –  Informal Balance

5

Principles: Proportion !   The spatial (size)

relationship of all the parts of a design to each other and to the whole –  Odd number of parts

(3) more interesting than even (2)

–  Greek ratios 2:3, 3:5, and 5:8 most pleasing

Principles: Emphasis

!  Concentration of interest in a particular part of area of a design

6

Principles: Rhythm

!  Arrangement of the design elements to produce a feeling of continuity –  Repetition –  Gradation –  Radiation

Principles: Unity/Harmony

!  All design elements work together to give a feeling of unity to the design.

Read 5 Principles on page 183-185

7

Visual Fashion Dictionary !   Minimum 1 page each element or principle !   Clearly and neatly Labeled !   Minimum of 2 (preferably more) pictures to illustrate

each concept. !   Detailed explanations of the concept. Anything that

you can compare or contrast will help clarify.

If you are stuck, use the book “Fashion Design, 5th Ed” by Shanon Lee Tate, pg 138-190