Principles of Design ©PDST Home Economics

Remember… Colour Shape Balance Line Rhythm Texture Emphasis Pattern ELEMENTS OF DESIGN Colour Shape Line Texture Pattern TOOLS PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN Balance Rhythm Emphasis Proportion/ Scale RULES To create Harmony

Principles of Design Balance What comes to your mind when you think of balance? Balance is achieved when the details in a garment are evenly distributed. The design is arranged to achieve a feeling of rest and equilibrium. Balance can be symmetrical (formal, professional design), e.g. when a pair of trousers has two pockets, or asymmetrical (informal design), e.g. when a pocket is on one side of a shirt.

Balance A design can be visually balanced but need not be exactly symmetrical. Focal points should be balanced and not give a feeling of being pulled too much to any part of the outfit. Balance can be achieved through placement of lines, patterns, colours, textures and shapes.

Symmetrical Balance

Asymmetrical Balance

Principles of Design Rhythm Rhythm is achieved when the lines, shapes, colours, textures, or patterns in an outfit are arranged so the eye can move smoothly and easily over the garment. It ensures all points of interest are connected without jerking the eye from detail to detail. Rhythm by repetition Elements are usually repeated or echoed e.g. row of buttons, trim on collar and cuffs, the same color used several times. Rhythm by gradation Gradual change in lines, shapes, color values or textures within the design The degree of change must be SMALL or a jumpy, choppy effect will result.

Rhythm Rhythm by radiation Lines, shapes, colors, or textural folds inward or outward from a central point or area. Rhythm by transition Continuous line movement created by a line of shapes, colors, or textural trims e.g. princess seam lines, contrasting piping around the collar and down the center front to the hemline

Rhythm by repetition

Rhythm by gradation Light to Dark Thin to Thick Small to Large

Rhythm by Radiation Radiation: lines flow out from a central point.

Rhythm by Radiation

Rhythm by transition

Principles of Design Emphasis Draws the eye to a specific focal point and creates interest - a point for the eye to rest on for a period of time. An outfit without a dominant point of interest appears uninteresting, boring, and unfinished. Emphasis may be created by buttons, neckline, waistline, etc. Emphasis of a feature can be increased by making the object larger, using colour, pattern, texture or lines.

Emphasis Too much emphasis?? Two or more focal points are distracting and confusing… the eye becomes overly stimulated. Other focal points may be present… but they must be less obvious than the main focal point. The eye notices them, does not rest there, but returns to the main focal point.

Emphasis

Principles of Design Proportion/Scale Proportion involves the relationship of size between objects. It is the spatial relationship between line, colour, pattern, length and size. Elements seem to be an appropriate size for the space they fill. If proportions are harmonious the garment is in scale. Proportion and scale are connected to a person’s height and size - Small print looks better on a petite frame than a large print. A pattern in bold bright colours will be more dominating than a smaller one.

Proportion/Scale

And the result… Harmony A well-designed garment will have balance between proportion, emphasis, balance and rhythm. Everything in the garment should work well together - the design is seen as “whole”. Harmony is achieved through the sensitive balance of variety and unity.

VARIETY (Things that are different) – when the design has differences to create interest. UNITY (Things that are alike)– a sense of completeness, when nothing is missing, left out or undone. Use of lines, shapes, colors, textures and patterns with enough variety to avoid boredom, but not so much variety as to create conflict. Both can be overdone, the key is to balance both to achieve harmony.

Harmony Is it harmony? What do you think? Unity allows the viewer to see a design as a whole rather than seeing it as a collection of different elements. Ideally, everything relates so well that nothing can be added, taken away, or altered without changing the totality. Unity can be achieved through matching and coordinated fabrics, closely related colors, stylistic consistency, etc. Can carry a threat of monotony.

How is harmony achieved? Unity: repetition of red and black Variety: texture below the skirt, flower above