Elements and Principles of Design Through Textiles and Fashion

Elements of design Design elements are the basic units of a visual image. Line, Colour, Texture, Shape and Value are the elements of design for Fashion and Textile Design.

Line Lines have several aspects including direction, thickness, sharpness, and length. They can be straight, zigzag, or curved.

Colour Primary Colours The three primary colours are red, yellow and blue. These are the base. Secondary Colours  Mix two primary colours together and you’ll get a secondary colour. Tertiary Colours Mix together a primary and a secondary and you’ll end up with a tertiary colour

Complimentary colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel. Complementary pairs share no common colours Why is it important in design?

Complimentary colours POP OUT against each other, creating contrast

Tints = Colours with white added Shades = Colours with black added

Monochromatic colours are all the colours (tints and shades) of a single hue.

Analogous colours are beside each other on the colour wheel

Texture There are two types of texture Visual and Tactile Visual texture It is the way the surface of an object looks like it feels. It may look rough, fizzy, but cannot actually be felt. Tactile textures  It is the way the surface of an object actually feels.

Shape It is a self contained defined area of geometric or organic form.

Value Value is the lightness or darkness of a colour.

Principles of design The principles of design govern the relationships of the elements used and organize the composition as a whole. The principles of design for Fashion and Textiles consist of: Balance, Harmony, Emphasis, Proportion, Rhythm/Movement.

Balance Balance is arranging elements so that no one part of a work overpowers, or seems heavier than any other part. It can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. It can be achieved by the location of object, volume or size and also by colours.

Asymmetrical Symmetrical

Harmony Harmony is achieved through the balance of variety and unity. Color harmony may be achieved using complementary or analogous colors. Harmony is usually visually pleasing.

Batik (a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole a cloth, traditionally practiced in South Asian countries)

Emphasis It is dominance or a concentration of interest in one area of a design as the centre of attention. (attracts a focal point)

Proportion Proportion is the design principle concerned with the relation of the size of the part to the whole and to each other. It includes height, width, depth, and the surrounding space of each design.

Rhythm/Movement This is the path the viewer’s eye takes through the artwork or design, sometimes to a focal area. It can be directed along lines, edges, shapes and colour