Post on 22-Mar-2020
E L E M E N T S O F D E S I G N
VISUAL IMAGERY
• Visual imagery is a type of nonverbal
communication
– Language of sight
– Image communicates a feeling
• Each room’s visual image communicates
a personality or mood and can have a
psychological impact on the room’s
occupants
• Design is the basis for this visual image
• Understanding and creating good design
requires knowing design characteristics
and the elements of design
DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS
• Design has three characteristics:
– Function:
• How a design works
• Usefulness, convenience, and organization
• Good functional design accommodates the ages, sizes, and physical abilities of the users
DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS
• Design has three characteristics:
– Construction
• Includes materials and structure
• Materials
– Fabrics, woods, metals, plastics, or stones used
to build a product or room
– Consider design function, quality, initial cost,
maintenance, environmental implications, and
such long-term costs as repair and replacement.
– Must meet industry standards, government
codes, and regulations
DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS
• Design has three characteristics:
– Aesthetics
• Because each person has his or her own personal taste, aesthetics, or what is beautiful, is difficult to
define
• Good aesthetic design, however, is pleasing to many people
• It may stimulate an emotion or communicate a message, such as excitement or relaxation, humor or
seriousness
• Personalized design reflects the aesthetics a person wants to express in a room
L I N EF O R MS P A C EM A S ST E X T U R EC O L O R
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
LINE
• A line is the most basic element of
design
– Forms when two dots are connected
– Lines connect the edges or outlines
of objects and areas
– Show direction and cause the eyes to
move from one point to another
• For example, a line can cause you to
look from objects on one end of a shelf
to objects at the other end
HORIZONAL LINE
• Horizontal lines
– Parallel to the ground
– Direct your eyes across a space
– Communicate feelings of peace, relaxation,
calmness, and restfulness.
• For example, horizontal lines are associated with a
sunset on the horizon, which suggests the end of a
day and time for rest.
• This is the same feeling you get when sleeping in a
horizontal position.
• Many home furnishings utilize horizontal lines. You
can see them in fireplace mantels, bookcases, long
sofas, shelving, fabrics, or wallcoverings that
embellish a room.
VERTICAL LINE
• Vertical lines
– Perpendicular to the ground
– Cause your eyes to move up and
down
– Suggests height, strength, dignity,
formality, permanence, and stability
• Look for vertical lines in window
treatments, striped wallcoverings, and
decorative trims that carry your eyes
upward.
• Grandfather clocks, highboys, armoires,
and tall mirrors have vertical lines.
DIAGONAL LINE
• Diagonal lines
– Angle between horizontal and vertical lines
– Communicate different levels of activity, ranging from a low- to high-
level of energy
• Level depends on the degree of the angle and total number of angles
• For example, the symbol for a bolt of lightning has several sharp diagonal
lines. This symbol communicates action, excitement, and sometimes
agitation.
– Use of diagonal furniture placement in floor plans not only brings
movement, interest, and excitement, but can also enhance
conversational areas
• Diagonal lines create a feeling of transition from one level to another.
• They appear in rooflines, cathedral ceilings, staircases, lampshades, and
various fabrics and paintings
CURVED LINE
• Curved lines
– A curved line is part of a circle - if you completely
extend and connect a perfectly curved line, it
becomes a circle.
• Extend it to form an oval
• Free-form shape and range from slightly curvy to very
curvy.
– The different degrees of curves in lines communicate
different ideas.
• Generally, curved lines seem softer than straight lines.
• A circle or oval reflects organization, eternity, and
uniformity.
• Slightly curved, free-form lines have a natural,
soothing, and flowing movement. They communicate
softness, freedom, and openness
FORM
• Form is the physical shape of objects
– Outlines the edges of a three-dimensional object and contains volume and mass
– Form also has height, width, and depth
• Form can have a great psychological impact on the feelings individuals
have when they enter a room or area
• There are four different types of form:
– Realistic
– Abstract
– Geometric
– Free form
REALISTIC FORM
• When a form looks very much like the real thing, it has realistic form
• Realistic form communicates a lifelike, traditional, and familiar feeling
– For example, a common chair has realistic form because of its specific form. It is easily
recognizable as a chair.
ABSTRACT FORM
• Abstract form rearranges or stylizes a recognizable object.
– The abstract item has traits that look like the real item, but altered.
• Abstract form communicates a contemporary, changing, creative, and artistic feeling.
GEOMETRIC FORM
• Geometric form uses squares, rectangles, circles, and other geometric figures to
create form.
• It communicates organization, order, planning, and a tailored look.
• You can find geometric forms in home furnishings, such as square tables, round
lampshades, and various shapes of pillows.
FREE FORM
• Free form is random and
flowing
• You can find it in nature—
in plants, stones, and wood
• It does not have
geometric design
• Free form communicates
a sense of freedom
• Free form is untraditional,
unfamiliar, and different
from realistic form
F O R M A N D L I N E B R E A K : C H E C K F O R U N D E R S TA N D I N G
SPACE
• Space refers to the area around a form, such as the area around a table. It also
refers to the area inside a form, such as the area inside a room.
• When discussing space, consider these two closely related factors: the size of the
space and its arrangement.
SIZE OF SPACE
• Size of space:
– Height, length, and width often define the size of interior space.
– The size affects who will use the space and how they will use it.
• A bedroom that is 10 by 12 feet is probably too small for two
teenagers who each need a bed, dresser, desk, and chair.
• The same size bedroom is likely adequate for two small children who
only need beds and one shared dresser.
– The size of a space can also communicate positive or negative feelings.
• For example, a large space can communicate feelings of openness,
grandeur, or freedom. A large space, in contrast, such as a sports
arena, may make a person feel small, lost, or overwhelmed.
• Small spaces can offer a cozy, intimate, or comfortable feeling in a
space. Adding more people and furnishings to a small room, however,
might feel very crowded
ARRANGEMENT OF SPACE
• When using space in design, first evaluate the space and
decide what design effects you want to achieve.
• By arranging the space differently, you can achieve
various effects or feelings about a space.
– Arrange space to make large spaces look smaller and
small spaces look larger
– Open and expand spaces - enlarge a window area, use
mirrors, or remove walls
– Create the feeling of cozy quarters - divide the space
into separate areas
• Using area rugs, grouping furniture, or even building a
kitchen island can physically and visually divide space
HIGH MASS
• Mass is the amount of pattern or objects in a space. It also refers to how crowded
or empty a space appears.
• High mass refers to a space that is visually crowded.
– Fabrics with a high-mass have a lot of pattern or lines.
– A room with high mass has many items in it and may look congested.
– High-mass rooms may reflect a full, crowded, or cluttered feeling.
– High mass may communicate an impression of formality and weightiness.
LOW MASS
• Low mass refers to a space that is simple and sparse.
– Low-mass designs use only the most essential furnishings.
– Low mass communicates clean and airy feelings.
– The traditional design style called Minimalism reflects low
mass.
• Designers can use either high mass or low mass to create
a strong design statement. Blending high and low mass can
create variety in a room design.
– For example, placing a low-mass design above a high-mass
design creates a very open feeling in the room. The two
extremes often complement each other.
TEXTURE
• Texture refers to the way a surface feels or appears to feel. There are two kinds of
texture: tactile and visual texture.
TACTILE TEXTURE
• Tactile texture is the way a surface feels to the touch.
– You can see and feel tactile texture.
• For instance, think of yourself standing next to a stone wall. You
can see the ridges and crevices in the stone with your eyes, and
you can feel its coolness and roughness with your hand.
– A surface might feel bumpy, rough, soft, smooth, grainy,
porous, or hard.
– When selecting items for a residence, consider the way they
feel.
• For example, some fabrics may be too rough and
uncomfortable to use in upholstery.
• Tactile textures can also be functional, such as those used in
slip- resistant flooring.
VISUAL TEXTURE
• Visual texture is texture that you see, but cannot feel.
– You can find it in scenic wallcoverings or pattern design in fabric.
– A plaid pattern in a fabric has visual texture although the tactile texture of the fabric
could still be smooth to the touch.
– Visual texture is also evident in photography. In a photograph of a stone fireplace, for
instance, you can visually see the texture without feeling its coolness and roughness, as
you do with actual stone.
TEXTURE
• Use of specific textures can communicate different feelings in a room
– Rough surfaces can create a more casual feeling
– Smooth surfaces may communicate an elegant feeling
– Polished stone or marble can communicate both elegance and strength
• The use of textures can impact the visual size of a room
– Heavy or rough textures absorb more light than smooth textures. They do not reflect light
throughout the room, so the room looks smaller.
– Smooth surfaces make small rooms look larger. The light reflects off the smooth surface,
creating the illusion of a larger space. You can create variety by using both visual and tactile
textures.
– When a designer uses more than one texture in a room, the room has a more interesting look.
Too many kinds of textures in one room, however, may be a distraction.
COLOR
• See Role of Color in Housing and Design PPT.