Elements of Design The directly observable components, ingredients, and physical characteristics of a design. The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Elements of Floral Design  Line Form Space Texture Pattern Fragrance Size Color The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Line The vital visual path that directs eye movement through a composition. A line is simply the distance between two points Line directions have meanings The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Vertical Line Vertical lines - stress height and suggest power and strength Hunter, Norah T., The Art of Floral Design Second Edition Delmar 2000.

Horizontal Line peaceful and calm, provide a sense of stability Horizontal lines - stress width and are peaceful and calm, provide a sense of stability Hunter, Norah T., The Art of Floral Design Second Edition Delmar 2000.

Diagonal Line Diagonal line - lively and energetic, causing more eye movement. Use sparingly Hunter, Norah T., The Art of Floral Design Second Edition Delmar 2000.

Curved Line Curved line - suggest motion, but are softer, more comforting. Eye moves quickly through design. Hunter, Norah T., The Art of Floral Design Second Edition Delmar 2000.

Form The shape or configuration of an individual component of the composition the overall, three – dimensional, geometric shape or configuration of a floral composition.  Form is essentially shape  Every component of a flower arrangement carries with it some form. The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Forms of flower arrangements

Space  The area in, around, and between the components of the design, defined by the three-dimensional area occupied by the composition.  Positive space  Negative space The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Negative Space  The planned area within a composition that is devoid of any materials: essentially, empty space. The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Positive Space  The portion of a composition which is physically occupied by something… a flower, a branch, a container, or some solid object. The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Void  The term void is used to describe empty space that serves to visually separate areas of positive space. The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Texture  The surface quality of a material, as perceived by sight or touch. Every component of a floral design possesses some surface quality, whether it is smooth, coarse, waxy, rough, delicate, or velvety.  In floral design, textures are combined in certain ways in order to create interest and/or unity in the design. The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Smooth  Having a surface free from irregularities, roughness, or projections

Coarse  Consisting of large particles; not fine in texture

Waxy  Smooth and lustrous soft surface

Rough  Marked by inequalities, ridges, or projections on the surface

Delicate  Fine in texture, quality, fragile, easily damaged, frail

Velvety  Something suggesting the smooth surface of velvet, softness.

Too many different textures in one arrangement can be distracting. Just as with the other elements of design, the kinds and amounts of texture variations within a floral design are determined by the choices of the designer, always with an eye for harmony. Too many different textures in one arrangement can be distracting. The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Pattern A repeated combination of line, form, color, texture, and/or space. The silhouette of a flower or an arrangement as observed against its background, including solids and spaces. A pattern is a composite of features resulting in a decorative design of natural or artistic origin. The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Pattern is all around us The concept of repetition is important in that design elements placed in a repeated pattern can generate a sense of rhythm as well as interest. Pattern is all around us The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Fragrance A sweet or pleasing odor, perceived by the sense of smell Almost anyone, when presented with a bouquet will bring it immediately to his or her nose to see how good it might smell The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Size The physical dimensions of line, form, or space One of the first considerations in floral design The sizes of the selected flowers must be right for the arrangement The composition itself must be an appropriate size for its surroundings The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.

Size is the element from which the principles of proportion and scale are derived. Small Large

Color The visual response of the eye to reflected rays of light Most important design element Optical sensation, originating in the brain’s perception of light energy reflected to the eye from a pigmented surface. Emotional response See color section for additional information The American Institute of Floral Designers. The AIFD Guide to Floral Design. Terms, Techniques, and Traditions. The Intelvid Group 2005.