Housing and Interiors I

Visual Imagery Type of nonverbal communication The language of sight when you see an item of clothing, a piece of furniture or an unusual object you see a visual image Communicates a feeling to you Visual image is based on design

Design Design has many meanings Interior designers refer to it as the entire process used to develop a specific project The project might be an object, a room, or a building Design also refers to the product or result

Design Characteristics Understanding and creating good design is based on knowing design characteristics and the elements of design Three characteristics: function, construction and aesthetic

Function A design function includes usefulness, convenience, and organization. Good design makes a product or room better or easier to use It considers the needs of people using the product or room Accommodates people’s ages, sizes and physical abilities Successful functional design provides easy access for all people and eliminates barriers

Aesthetics Beauty, pleasing appearance or effect Difficult to define because each person has his or her own personal taste Yet good design will be pleasing to many people: it may comm. a message or stimulate an emotion such as exciting, relaxing, humorous, or serious

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN Tools needed to create designs Include: Line Form Space Texture Color Need all the elements of design to describe, plan and evaluate your housing

Line The most basic element of design Created when 2 dots are connected Forms the edges or outlines of objects and areas Show direction and cause the eyes to move from one point to another.

Types of Lines Two major types: straight and curved Different types of lines used create different emotional responses

Straight Lines Can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal Horizontal: parallel to the ground Often directs your eyes across Communicates feelings of relaxation, calmness and restfulness

Straight Lines Vertical Lines – perpendicular to the ground Takes your eyes up and down Suggest height, strength, dignity, and stability

Straight Lines Diagonal Lines – lines that angle between horizontal and vertical lines Communicate different levels of activity, ranging from very little energy to chaos The level of activity depends upon the degree of the angle Home Furnishings: create a feeling of transition from 1 level to another

Curved Lines Part of a circle If you completely extend a curved line it becomes a circle or an oval Different degrees of curves in lines communicate different ideas Generally curved lines seem softer than straight lines Reflects eternity and uniformity Communicates softness, freedom, and openness

Lines in Housing Decisions Applying different types of lines to specific decorating situations can result in different effects Examples: a space can appear larger, smaller, calmer, or busier just by using different types of lines

Black and White Design Draw some type of design using black ink (5 pts) Use all 4 types of lines (20 pts) Use at least 5 different thickness of lines (15 pts) Must have a 1” frame/border (5 pts) Label your design with the title Black and White Design (5 pts)

Form Physical shape of objects Outlines the edges of a 3-dimensional object and contains volume and mass Form also has height, width, and depth

Types of Form Realistic form – communicates a lifelike, traditional. and familiar feeling Abstract form – rearranges or stylizes a recognizable object Has traits that look like the real item, but altered Communicates a contemporary, changing creative and artistic feeling

Types of Form Geometric form – uses squares, rectangles, circles and other geometric figures to create form Communicates organization, order, planning, and a tailored look Free form – random and flowing Found in nature: plants, stones, and woods Does not have geometric design Untraditional, unfamiliar, and different from realistic form

Space Area around a form Example: Area around a table Area inside a form Example: area inside a room 2 closely related factors to consider: Size of the space Its arrangement

Texture The way a surface feels or looks 2 kinds of textures Tactile texture Visual Texture

Texture Tactile Texture: how the surface feels to the touch You can see and feel tactile texture Visual Texture: texture that you can see, but cannot feel Found in scenic wallpaper and fabrics

COLOR Probably the most important element of design Deciding what color to use is usually the first decision made when decorating a room One of the first things others notice about your housing Sets the mood in a room and leaves a lasting impression with most people

Principles of Design Guidelines for working with the EOD When you understand the POD, you can use the EOD successfully POD: Proportion, balance, emphasis, rhythm, and harmony/unity

Homework Research your favorite color what is special about that color. Write a brief paragraph about it (25pts) Site your sources (10pts) Present to class tomorrow (15pts)