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.