VISUAL DESIGN:PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN SERIES PART III

Today we will study about a principle which falls in composite design:UNITY. 
                                           

UNITY:

Unity refers to the visual quality of wholeness or oneness that is achieved through effective use of the elements or art and principles of design. Variety is achieved when the art elements are combined in various ways to increase visual interest.

In this image we can see how colours and shapes are used to unify the whole painting where visual emphasis falls collectively 

Unity can be formed by using similiar background

here how unity is formed by using similiar background

in this structure we can see the repetition of pillars

Unity can be seen due to repetition of pattern in the architecture

VISUAL DESIGN:PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN SERIES PART II

In this series we will discuss DYNAMIC principles of design which will be discussed in 5 parts:

• movement
• harmony
• repetition
• rhythm
• pattern

MOVEMENT:

Movement in visual art or design occurs when we perceive that an object is in motion. Movement or motion can be shown through curves in lines or dots or patterns.

These lines dots then form shapes which in turn shows movement

HARMONY:

The pleasing agreement of parts or combination of parts in a composition --Harmony involves the selection/design of elements that share a common trait, however, Harmony becomes monotony without Variety.
Common traits orientation colors or values shape/size materials variety: the extent of the differences in design elements -- visual interest is enhanced by introducing dissimilar elements and spatial arrangements.
Harmony in visual design means all parts of the visual image relate to and complement each other.

REPETITION:

Repetition is the regular or harmonious recurrence of elements, including: lines, shapes, forms or colors.horizontal (beams) and vertical (columns) Rhythms / Grids, Work connecting points in space.

RHYTHM:

Rhythm is the repetition or alternation of elements, often with defined intervals between them.
Rhythm can create a sense of movement, and can establish pattern and texture. There are many
different kinds of rhythm, often defined by the feeling something evokes when viewed.

• Regular: A regular rhythm occurs when the intervals between the elements,

and often the elements themselves, are similar in size or length

• Flowing: A flowing rhythm gives a sense of movement, and is often more organic in nature
• Progressive: A progressive rhythm shows a sequence of forms through a progression of steps

PATTERN:

Pattern is an underlying structure that organizes surfaces or structures in a consistent, regular manner. Pattern can be described as a repeating unit of shape or form, but it can also be thought of as the "skeleton" that organizes the parts of a composition.Pattern exists in nature as well as in designed objects; it is useful to look at the parallels. A Harvard biologist named Peter S. Stevens has published a book entitled "Patterns in Nature" in which he claims that there are only a finite number of ways that patterns can be structured. He starts with the idea of a grid as the foundation for any structure or image. He presents a set of ways in which the points of a grid can be connected. These modes of connection become classes of pattern, which he claims can be seen in any situation, in nature and in made images, and from the microscopic to the cosmic scale.
There are various types of patterns:

• flow
• branching
• cracking and packing
• spiral

flow pattern

cracking and packing

spiral pattern

branching

VISUAL DESIGN:PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN SERIES PART I

Hi friends!In this  3 part series we will learn about the principles of design and gain indepth knowledge of the each and every principles as it follows. In part 1 we will learn about different principles followed in static design

• Balance
• contrast
• variety

BALANCE:

It is a state of qualized tension and equilibrium, which may not always be calm it shows a sense of calmness in viewer's eyes.

Balance can be symmetrical ("formal"), where elements are given equal "weight" from an imaginary line in the middle of a piece. For the most basic example of symmetry, think of your eyes in relation to either side of your nose.Balance doesn't necessarily mean symmetry, though.Asymmetrical ("informal") balance occurs when elements are placed unevenly in a piece, but work together to produce harmony overall.

yin yang symbol is a classic example of balance. It shows weighy in colour on both the sides 

the blue colour, the design and the white tone is followed on both sides of the painting

CONTRAST:

Contrast occurs when two elements on a page are different. For example, it could be different colors between the text and the background color. It could be a heading set in a big, bold, grungy font combined with a sans-serif font for the body text. It could be a difference between a large graphic and a small graphic or it could be a rough texture combined with a smooth texture. Our eyes like contrast.
The important thing about contrast is that the elements should be completely different. Not just a little bit different.

zebra's stripes are classic example of two contrasting colours conflicting the same space

in this photo the contrast in colours shows dominnace of the flower

Contrast is not only shown through colour but also the placement and difference in posture or placement for example;

VARIETY:

Variety adds interest by using contrasting elements within the composition.

VISUAL DESIGN:FORM DESCRIPTORS SERIES PART III

PART II

MEASUREMENT:

Measurement principles in visual design are followed almost in every form. Art and design in general follow the same universal principles. To distinguish between two objects principles of measurement are followed almost regularly. Measurement is also used to create depth.Measurement follows following rules;

•  size
• scale
• dimension

In this image we can see that even though the monument is far away it still maintains it's size, scale and proportion in respect to the human figures around

VISUAL DESIGN: FORM DESCRIPTORS SERIES PART II

part II

TEXTURE:

In the visual arts, texture is the perceived surface quality of a work of art. It is an element of two-dimensional and three-dimensional designs and is distinguished by its perceived visual and physical properties. Use of texture, along with other elements of design, can convey a variety of messages and emotions.

There are mainly two types of textures:

Physical texture:Physical texture, also known as actual texture or tactile texture, are the actual variations upon a surface. This can include, but is not limited to, fur, wood grain, sand, smooth surface of canvas or metal, glass, and leather. It differentiates itself from visual texture by having a physical quality that can be felt by touch.

TYPES OF PHYSICAL TEXTURES

We can perceive and feel how the texture of the rock should be, that is rough and soiling 

we can see and feel the steeely and smooth texture

trunk of a tree creates a rough texture

This is a texture of crocodile. It's scaly texture creates a rough  feel

Visual texture:Visual texture is the illusion of having physical texture. Every material and every support surface has its own visual texture and needs to be taken into consideration before creating a composition. As such, materials such as canvas and watercolour paper are considerably rougher than, for example, photo-quality computer paper and may not be best suited to creating a flat, smooth texture. Photography, drawings and paintings use visual texture both to portray their own subject matter realistically and with interpretation. Texture in these media is generally created by the repetition of the shape and line.

TYPES OF VISUAL TEXTURES

in this image despite it's smooth physical texture we can see perceive different textures of different objects due to our visual
understanding

here we can again feel the wooden contours af the house, liquid  texture and also the mushy texture of the garden in this surreal painting.

VISUAL DESIGN: ELEMENTS OF FORM SERIES PART 3

PART III

PLANES/SHAPES:

Planes can be seen as the connection of adjcent lines. A plane simply adds another dimension to a set of lines that are interconnected to each other.Simply a plane is a connection of lines and dots but it adds another dimension to it. A plane or shape that we see in our enviornment are usually 2 dimensional.But each form or shape carries some visual weightage. 

                                                     Large, simple forms carry a heavy visual weight and appear dotlike. Surfaces with complex contours and interaction with their internal and external space (both positive and negative) carry less weight and become more line-like.

In this image we can how a form is created from lines and in turn forms a shape

Shapes:

Shapes are of typically three types;

• Organic
• abstract
• geometric

A form basically forms a shape through our own understanding. We humans perceive and recognize and categorize shapes into objects when the outer contours bend around and manipulates space.

it's a type of  organic shape

This is a type of abstract shape

types of geometric shapes explained swahilli

VISUAL DESIGN: ELEMENTS OF FORM SERIES PART 2

Hi friends! Today in the part 2 of the series we will be discussing about another design element LINE. I hope by the end of part 2 we will be able to grasp a lot more about the use of line in design.

part II:

LINE or LINES

A LINE is a series of adjcent interconnected points or dots. Lines have no dimesnsions just like dots, where dots are about position lines are about movement and direction. A single line which shows movement has an endpoint  to which it leads and creates a shape. As for example a line moves in acurve and meets its starting point which becomes the  endpoint  and forms a  circle.

circle

A  line when becomes thicker gains dimensions. Aline which gains width has to increase in length to maintain the properties of a line. Width and length are directly proportional to each other to main the properties of a line, Properties of a line changes when line increases in width but not in length, then a line becomes a plane  or  a surface.

A line when loses length but gains width becomes a plane or surface

 A line having gained length remains a line

A line when comes in contact with another line forms a sense of altered direction or motion.A line can When the angle between lines is acute (less than 90 degrees) the movement and change in direction is perceived to be rapid.Separating lines from each other focuses attention on the individual identity of each line and the interval between them. As the interval between a series of lines and the width of those lines varies, a rhythm is created. Changing the color or value of the lines can add more complexity to that rhythm.

As we can see the change in direction in image on the left creates a sense of change in direction. In image in center and far right the variation in thickness creates a rhythmic pattern

LINES IN OUR ENVIORNMENT

Lines can be seen created by the waves, it follows the same principles of width and length as discussed above

the yellow line on the train and the movement of the train creates many lines which give a sense of direction

Lines when connecting to each other create a shape and forms a n isometric design pattern

USES OF LINES IN TRADITIONAL SENSE

the two white lines or SHIKIRI-SEN separate the sumo wrestlers

The spokes of the wheel and the round curvture are formed inspired by circle and lines

the tilak used by Pundits across India 

USES OF LINES IN CONTEMPORARY SENSE

the wifi logo uses thick lines to show range 

the lines on the road give a sense of direction