ELEMENTS in DESIGN

Conceptual Elements
Visual Elements

Once upon a POINT..

There was a LINE.
Who fell in love with a PLANE..
They made VOLUME
And live COLORfully with TEXTURE ever after

CONCEPTUAL ELEMENTS
Point
Line
Plane
Volume

POINT
indicates a position in space.
A point extended becomes a LINE
with properties of :
length
direction
position
A line extended becomes a PLANE
with properties of :

length and width

shape

surface

orientation

position
A plane extended becomes VOLUME
a
with properties of :
length, width and depth
form and space
surface
orientation
position

POINT

marks a position in space

one dimensional
has no height, depth, or length;
the beginning and the end.

A point can serve to mark :

the two ends of a line
the intersection of two lines
the meeting of lines at the
corner of a plane or volume
the centre of a field

At the centre :
point is stable, organizing surrounding elements, dominating its
field

off - centre :
its field becomes more aggressive, visual tension is created
between the point and its field

LINE

Vertical Horizontal

. Diagonal.Curved

It has length, direction,

movement, growth and position
It can be an intersection, outline,
boundary, horizontal, vertical,
diagonal, zigzag, curved.
Each line gives a different
psychological response.

It can serve to :

join, link, support, surround, or intersect other visual

elements

describe the edges of and give shape to planes

articulate the surfaces of planes

LineTyp
es
Vertical
Horizont
al
Diagona
l

Vertical
Line

Represents
dignity,
formality,
stability, and
strength

Horizontal
Line
Represents
calm, peace,
and
relaxation

Diagonal
Line
Represents
action,
activity,
excitement,
and movement

Curved Line
Represents freedom, the
natural, having the
appearance of softness, and
creates a soothing feeling
or mood

PLANE

. wall plane. base plane

overhead plane

It has surface, orientation, position,

length, and width but no depth
has shape but no form
two-dimensional
Shape is the main identifying quality
serves to define the boundaries of a
volume

Three types of
planes :
overhead plane
wall plane
base plane.

Falling Water House,

Frank Lloyd Wright

VOLUME

It is three-dimensional
has a fullness; length, width,
and depth; form and space;
surface, orientation, and
position
Form is the main identifying
quality in a volume.
a volume can be either a solid
or a void.

All volume can be analyzed

and understood to consist
of :
points or vertices where
several planes come
together
lines or edges where two
plane meet
planes or surfaces that
define the limits or
boundaries

VISUAL ELEMENTS
Color
Texture

COLOR

Cool Color

Warm Color

Color has an
immediate
and
profound
effect on a
design.

Primary
Colors

Secondary
Colors

Tertiary
Colors

Warm & Cool

Colors

Warm
Reds, oranges,
Colors
yellows

Cool
Colors
Reds, oranges,
yellows

Neutral
Reds, oranges,
Colors
yellows

Complementary
Reds, oranges,
Colors
yellows

TEXTURE

Smooth Surface

. Smooth Surface .

The surface look or feel of something

Smooth
Reflects more light
Surface

and therefore is a
more intense color.

Rough Surface
Absorbs more light
and therefore
appears darker.