Design Principles デーザインの原則

Design principles are applied to artworks to create a balanced and harmonious piece, after the use of more basic structures called design elements. Design principles consist of balance, gradation, repetition, contrast, harmony, dominance, unity, movement and variety.

1. Balance

Balance is responsible for creating a psychological sense of equilibrium (Kovalik & King, n.d.). In design, balance is used to place the portions of an artwork into an aesthetically pleasing arrangement that is pleasing to the eye. A formal balance is created when both sides of a piece of artwork are symmetrically arranged, like a mirrored image. An informal balance is created when there is still balance in the artwork although the sides are not symmetrical. The following artworks depict formal balance and informal balance respectively:

「宇宙の海に月明りの灯台を」/「tearfish」

The painting above shows a formal balance, where axis of balance is diagonal. The Earth on the right is balanced out by the moon and Saturn on the right.

「sputnik」/「tearfish」

Now, the painting here has an informal balance, where the painting is not symmetrical. However, balance is still achieved by using more compact star arrangements on the left and adding some textures onto the background.

In addition, there are three main types of balance, namely: horizontal balance, vertical balance and radial balance.

2. Gradation

Gradation helps create movement and perspective in a drawing. According to Lovett (1999), gradation in size and direction helps produce a linear perspective, while gradation of color from warm to cool or of tone from dark to light helps create an aerial perspective. When there is a gradation of tone from dark to light, the eye will automatically follow or move along the shape.

3. Repetition
Repetition, as the word depicts, is all about the repeating and the placing of the same object over and over again across a space. Repetition can seem very monotonous and dull, but with the use of variation in repetition, it can become a very interesting piece. Here's a piece of art by a Japanese pop artist, Takashi Murakami, who uses a lot of repetition as well as a bit of variation in his pieces:

Source: Takashi Murakami

4. Contrast
Contrast is made where two totally opposite elements such as colors or tones are used to create a bright and vibrant image where our eyes will instantly focus on. Contrast in colors refer to the opposite colors on the color wheel, such as red-green, blue-orange and yellow-purple. In terms of contrasting tones, it will mean dark and light tones. Contrast in direction refer to vertical or horizontal lines.

5. Harmony
Harmony refer to almost similar objects placed together to create a harmonious atmosphere. Harmony can be created by combining similar and also related elements, such as adjacent colours on the wheel (red-orange-yellow, etc), similar shapes and so on (Lovett, 1999). In other words, harmony can be achieved by using repetition and rhythm (Kovalik & King, n.d.).

6. Dominance
Dominance is where an element, amongst all the other elements, stand out and catches the viewers' eyes (Lovett, 1999). It makes a piece interesting as it creates counteracting confusion and monotony. Besides, it also helps give emphasis onto certain objects. Dominance can be applied by creating a dominant direction, larger sizes or a single different shape.

7. Unity

Unity is used to illustrate the relationship between and amongst the elements which then helps all the elements to form a single entity with the same function (Kovalik & King, n.d.). In simpler words, unity works like a large board of jigsaw puzzle, where all the elements (every piece) are joined together by unity to form a single object of the same function (a puzzle with image).

Unity helps make a painting look organized and not messed up. It can be achieved by using similar shapes, similar patterns, proper use of spaces, or a common background.

8. Variety

Variety creates contrast to harmony and also unity (Kovalik & King, n.d.). Variation can be created by using strong or opposite contrasts, different size, perspective or angles on an object. Breaking a certain pattern also helps create variation, and liven up the mood of the artwork. All in all, variety is formed when there is a difference in the objects which can catch the viewers' attention (Kovalik & King, n.d.).

Source: "Kaifaan Nomads' Settles" - Espen Olsen

Source: "Sunset and Dinosaurs" - Espen Olsen

In both the paintings above, there is harmony and unity in the background, where similar colors are used and they compliment one another well. Variation is created in the sudden appearance of the bright-colored tents amidst the greeneries, and the dinosaur silhouettes amongst the layout of nature.


That is all for this post ! Cheers again!~

References:

Kovalik, C. and King, P. (n.d.).  Visual literacy.  Retrieved from http://www.educ.kent.edu/community/vlo/index.html
Lovett, J. (1999). Elements and principles of design. Retrieved from http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm