Principles of Design

By Saiful IslamDepartment of Multimedia Technology and Creative Arts

Faculty of Science and Information TechnologyDaffodil International University

What is principles of design?

Principles of design has some guideline. It helps understand why some combinations of design elements work better than others. These guidelines are: rhythm, proportion, emphasis, balance, and unity.These guidelines are called principles of design.

RhythmThe path along which the eye follows a regular or repeating arrangement of motifs (such as colors or shapes) about a composition.

Example ->

Repeated Shapes

Repeated Lines

What do you see repeated? Lines? Shapes? Colors? Textures?

ProportionThe relative scale of objects and shapes in an image to one another and to the viewer.

Example ->

Buildings Size

Haystacks Size

How do the buildings in the background compare in size to the haystacks in the foreground.

EmphasisThe Point of focus in a composition. It’s like highlighting something.

Example ->

What is the first thing you see when you look at this picture?

One the focus point

Balance

Relates to the sense of visual equilibrium in a work of art; how components of an image are arranged around a focal point.

Example ->

Is the artwork the same on both sides? If it is, it is symmetrically balanced. If it is not, it is asymmetrically balanced.

UnityThe principle of unity is perhaps the most important of the design principles, yet it is often the most difficult to understand. Unity is the fundamental principle of design and it is supported by all the other principles. If a design is not unified, it cannot be considered successful.

Example ->Did you notice how many kinds of

Vegetables made a portrait of a man together?

Thank You