elements of design
TRANSCRIPT
Elements of Design
Brian Vieira
The Elements of Design
◄Line►
◄ Form ►
◄ Color ►
◄ Texture ►
Lines
Curved Lines Horizontal Lines Vertical Lines Diagonal Lines
Provides direction in design of structures, and relates it to the site and natural surroundings. Lines can be curved, horizontal, vertical or diagonal, in order to accent or distinguish features.
Curved Lines
Provide soft feeling, can be found in arches, curved walls, round windows and doorways.
ExamplesCurved lines in exterior arch ways are a
great way to break up a manmade structure and soften it to blend better
with its surroundings.
Examples
Curved arches in a house serve to soften entry and exit ways leading to a much more pleasing transition between
spaces.
ExamplesCurved lines are perfect for a garden because their soft and unstructured forms mirror their
gentle and whimsical surroundings.
Examples
Arched bridges remove the
formality of a normal structured bridge and add a homely feeling.
Examples
Curved walls not only give a building style and make it
stand out, but they make it
more aesthetically
pleasing to look at.
Examples
Curved or rounded windows add style to a house but also soften up a wall and extenuate the view from
them
Horizontal Lines
Horizontal lines are used in order to maximize width and size, while at the same time minimize height. Great examples of this are roofs, floors, balconies, and siding patterns.
Examples
Horizontal roof lines make a structure seem
longer and larger
Examples
Horizontal siding maximizes size and makes structures
seem longer.
Examples
Balconies are a great way to
extenuate a wall and make it stand out as
more important.
Examples
Hardwood flooring makes a
room seem longer and
larger.
Vertical Lines
Vertical lines create the illusion of height, lead the eye upward, give sense of strength and stability. Used in columns, windows, trim and siding.
Examples
Columns make a space seem massive and much taller.
Examples
Large vertical windows create a outstanding view
bringing the outside in and
making any room seem larger.
Examples
Vertical wallpaper or beadbord
make the room appear slightly
taller.
Examples
Vertical siding
makes a house
seem as though it is taller than it actually is.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal lines are used to create a sense of transition, used most often in rooflines and siding.
Examples
Diagonal roof lines are the
best way to transition the siding to the roof.
Examples
Diagonal siding or flooring is a great way to transition
from one space to another.
Form
Rectangles Squares Circles Ovals
Form is common shapes found in the design of a house. They are usually three-dimensional. The proportions between them is important to create the proper function or look of the design.
Rectangles
A rectangle is an enclosed shape that is characterized by having four sides and four right (90°) angles.
Examples
Multi sized rectangles can
create an unified yet unrestricted
structural design.
Squares
A square is an enclosed shape that is characterized by four equal sides and four right angles.
ExamplesA single square can create a feeling of symmetry while multiple squares create a uniform
look.
Circles
A circle is a line forming a closed loop, in which every point on which is a fixed distance from a center point.
Examples
Circles can crate a symmetrical look, but unlike squares, they also
create a soft look.
Ovals
Oval is a Latin derived word meaning egg, therefore it is an egg shape that differs from a circle because its radii can vary.
Examples
Ovals allow a designer to make a large space seem soft and informal.
Color
Hue Value Intensity
Color is an intricate part of design. It distinguishes exterior materials and accents, creates a pleasing bled that dramatically effects the final look.
Hue
Hue represents what is typically thought of as the color. There are primary colors (red, blue, and yellow), secondary colors (orange, green, and violet), and tertiary colors (a mix of primary and secondary).
Examples
A mix of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors can create
and interesting look.
Value
Value is the darkening (adding black), lightening (adding white), or tinting (adding hue), to a base color
Examples
Wood cabinets in a kitchen can often feature two or more different values of stain which creates an interesting look.
Intensity
Is the brightness of a specific color. Colors can softened by adding the opposite color on the color wheel to it. Warm colors, bold colors, and neutral colors all drastically change the appearance of a house.
Examples
Reds and oranges are warm colors that tend to
make objects appear larger
of closer.
Examples
Blues, greens, and violets are bold colors and tend to make things appear farther away or smaller.
ExamplesNeutral colors form a major part of a
house and allow accents such as trim and furniture to dictate the appearance.
Texture
Rough Surfaces Smooth Surfaces
Texture is the roughness or smoothness of an object. This is very important in material selection.
Examples
Rough materials such as concrete or brick create a
sense of strength and security.
Examples
Rough sawn wood creates a sense of
strength and gives an outdoors felling.
Examples Smooth textures, such
as resawn wood and
glass, create a sense of luxury
making the space seem larger and
making colors seem brighter.
Examples
Metal surfaces are great for kitchens because they reflect a lot of light making
the space brighter.