1. INTD 408 FURNITURE DESIGN Design Principles
Ms. Joshima V.M., Department of Architecture & Interior Design, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.

2. Design Principles
Design principles provide basic ideas about the practice of good designs and compositions.
Design principles provide criteria that describe the formal intentions.
Furniture Design Principles:
Balance: Structural and Visual, Symmetry and Asymmetry
Continuity, Unity and Variety
Dynamism & Stasis
Hierarchy & Emphasis
Juxtaposition/Contrast
Rhythm & Pattern
Scale & Proportion

3. Balance Asymmetrical balance Symmetrical balance Approximate Symmetry

4. Balance
Balance is the feeling of stability/equilibrium of a composition.
Visual balance is the spatial weighing of a composition around an axis.
Structural balance involves the physical equilibrium of freestanding elements.
Visual balance and Structural balance are related but distant concepts.

5. Visual Balance Two types of visual balance:
Symmetry – a form of balance where a component ( or several components) is mirrored along an axis.
Bilateral: symmetry around a common axis.
Radial: symmetry around a common point.
Asymmetry – dynamic and appears in equilibrium along an axis through its form, though it cannot be mirrored.

6. Visual Balance Bilateral Symmetry
Balance with equal weight on both sides of vertical axis.
Identical or similar forms on both sides
Art Nouveau Selette

7. Visual Balance Radial Symmetry
Balanced with equal weight along the radius

8. Visual Balance Asymmetry Balanced with unequal weight on both sides
Appears to be dynamic
Charles and Ray Eames- Eames Chaise
Gerit Rietveld’s Berlin Chair

9. Structural Balance
Structural balance considers forces in furniture to be in equilibrium.
When forces are not in equilibrium, cantilevers can fail, shelves can sag and furniture can tip over.
Furniture must withstand Lateral forces ( forces applied from the sides), Shear forces ( internal forces working in parallel but in opposite directions) and Moment forces ( rotational forces applied to joints)

10. Structural Balance
Rocking chairs move back and forth- depends upon the
weight and motion of the user,
the form of the chair and
the center of gravity of both the user and the chair
to function properly.
Micheal Thonet Bentwood rocker

11. Structural Balance Example cases:
For Tall and narrow furniture, the center of gravity lies beyond the tipping point. Such furniture need to be attached on the floor, wall or ceiling to maintain structural stability.
Dimensional limits are to be applied to horizontal span of shelves to avoid deflection and imbalance.
Shelves, bed frames, cabinet doors, grandfather clocks etc depends on the basic engineering principles to maintain structural balance and function safely.

12. Continuity, Unity and Variety
Relationship between the elements of a design/ composition which acts together to give a
Sense of wholeness
Sense of variety
Unity can be achieved through
Harmony
Continuity
Proximity

13. Unity
Harmony: peaceful correlation of elements, complimenting each other
Continuity: carefully designed way of directing eye across the design
Proximity: closeness of two or more components that will tend to unify a group

14. Unity, Continuity and Variety
Eames Storage Unit ESU
Variety is the differences that is within the boundary of regularity.
Vertical supports express continuity. The supports establish a repeatable pattern.
Lacquered panels give variation to the design throughout their placement and color.
Unity is achieved in the dynamic interplay between unit’s components and its geometric order.

15. Dynamism and Stasis
Dynamism is the sense of movement brought in a design.
Dynamism can be achieved through rhythm, asymmetry, organic forms etc.
Stasis is the sense of rest/stability brought in a design.
Stasis can be achieved through increasing the visual weight, regular forms, symmetry etc.

16. Dynamism and Stasis

17. Dynamism and Stasis

18. Emphasis & Hierarchy
Emphasis is giving importance to any of the feature in a composition
Creating a focal point
Hierarchy is creating an order of relative importance
First the most important feature; Focal Point
Next important feature/ features; Accents

19. Emphasis & Hierarchy
Emphasis and Hierarchy points to priority and relative value in design.
Achieved through the manipulation of the location, color, size, texture and shape.

20. Emphasis & Hierarchy

21. Emphasis & Hierarchy

22. Juxtaposition
Simultaneous experience of the relationship between contrasting elements or characteristics
Contrast created through:
Size
Shape
Proportion
Materials
Texture
Color

23. Juxtaposition/ Contrast

24. Juxtaposition/ Contrast

25. Juxtaposition/ Contrast

26. Rhythm & Pattern
Rhythm is created by repetition/progression of one or more elements in defined intervals
Rhythm create a sense of movement
It’s the order and structure of elements in space
Establishes a pattern and texture
Pattern is the way of arranging elements in a composition
Made from points, lines and shapes

27. Rhythm & Pattern
Rhythm and Pattern are codependent and shows the underlying structure of form through physical, spatial or temporal composition order.

28. Rhythm & Pattern

29. Rhythm & Pattern

30. Rhythm & Pattern

31. Rhythm & Pattern

32. Scale & Proportion
Scale and proportions are dependent on the physical and spatial relationships.
Scale is the relation of size of on object to another object or to the space in which it is placed.
Proportion is the geometrical relation between parts and between parts and whole.

33. Scale & Proportion
Perception of scale depends on the size of the furniture and the space in which it is placed.
When surrounding space changes the scale perception also changes.
Furniture can be visually heavy or light, compressed or extended depending on the proportions.

34. Scale & Proportion

35. Scale & Proportion