he fundamentals of
design are the very building blocks of the arts. Everything in art can be distilled down to a matter of design. So what is design? One dictionary definition is "the organization or structure of formal elements in a work of art." Not very informative, perhaps, but not incorrect, either. Design is simply how things are arranged in a work of art.
There must be organization in a work of art, or else it degenerates into a confusing mess! The basics of design apply not only to the fine arts, but to the minor arts as well. The wallpaper in your living room has a design on it; even the paper towels in your kitchen have a design printed on them. Design is the placement of elements on a two-dimensional surface, while composition is the arrangement of elements in the illusion of three-dimensional space. Both must be taken into
account when creating a painting, or even a sculpture, for that matter.
Design can be broken down into two areas: principles and elements.
Here are the principles of design (Note: in using the word "element", I am referring to the objects or figures in an artwork, the "things" in a design):
1. Unity - although there should be some difference in the elements in a design, all elements taken together should work together to create a single, coherent design.
2. Conflict - although to achieve unity in a design most elements need to be similar, or serve a similar function, there should be some contradiction to add variety and life to the work.
3. Dominance - to help in achieving unity, one element out of the many elements that make up a design should predominate; i.e. there
should be more of one color than any other, or dark values should predominate over lighter values, etc.
4. Repetition - the repetition of elements, such as geometric shapes, helps to create a sense of
rhythm and unite the various elements in the design.
5. Alternation - variety is necessary in order to prevent monotony; i.e. breaking up a large area of shadow with a patch of light.
6. Balance - self-explanatory. Avoiding too much or too little, too many or too few.
7. Harmony - all elements in a design work together visually in an orderly fashion.
8. Gradation - the subtle change of color, value or shape contrasted with sharp or dramatic change helps to enrich the design.
9. Direction - the "lines of motion" in a painting should largely point in the same way, although allowing for some variety.
It's easy to see that these principles apply to any art form, not just the visual arts. Writers, composers, even dancers and film directors must employ these rules if they are to achieve an effective result.
It should also be apparent that combining all of these principles effectively is a difficult and very subjective undertaking,
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The Basics of Design
By: Charles Griffith
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