1. Principles of Design
Section 1

2. Proportion Relationship of one part of the design To the other parts
To the whole

3. Proportion Must be in proportion to where it is going to be displayed
Harmony with the location

4. Proportion Arrangement Height
Should be 1 ½ times the height of the container
May be increased based on the room
Material may change the proportion

5. Proper Height
4 aspects
Physical dimension of the container
Color of the container
Material and texture of the container
Shape of the container
Heavier darker containers will support taller arrangements
Glass container is best for shorter arrangements

6. Proportion
Should not obstruct the view of those people participating in a dinner conversation
Arrangements should be kept low or high

7. Proportion Flowers and foliage of equal or nearly equal size
Large mums should not be mixed with baby’s breath

8. Scale Another word for size
Overall project compared with other objects
4 areas of scale

9. 1. Flowers to Container
Container important because it tells the size of the entire design
Small=small flowers
Large = massive showy flowers

10. 2. Flowers to Flowers
Flowers within the composition need to be similar in scale to one another
Huge flowers can overshadow tiny blossoms

11. 3. Flowers to Foliage
Size of foliage should be in scale with the flowers
Various foliages should be in scale with one another

12. 4. Arrangements to Surroundings
Size of table or area where sitting
Size of the entire room

13. Balance
Equality in weight
Achieved through several methods

14. Physical Balance Stability of the plant materials within the container
Will not fall over
Stand freely on it’s own

15. Visual Balance Refers to perception of the arrangement being balanced
Being equal in weight on both sides of the central axis
A design that is not visually balanced is much like a crooked picture on the wall

16. Visual Balance From three views Two types Side to side Top to bottom
Front to back
Two types
Symmetrical
Asymmetrical

17. Symmetrical Balance Same balance on both sides of a central axis
You could fold the arrangement in half and it would be the same
Exhibited in formal settings
Examples
Oval, round, fan, triangle, vertical arrangements
Oval and round centerpieces

18. Asymmetrical Balance Unequal material placements Informal design
Examples
Crescent, Hogarth curve, fan, diagonal, vertical, ikebana, scalene, right triangle

19. Balance Three main techniques to help achieve balance Visual Weight
Centering
Counterbalancing

20. Visual Weight Flower’s perceived lightness or heaviness based on:
Color
Shape
Pattern
Varying visual weight helps achieve the compensation in asymmetrical designs

21. Centering
Placing dominant plant material along a design’s central vertical axis
Allows for heavier plant material to be placed in the design

22. Counterbalancing
Balancing materials on one side of a design with visually equal materials of the opposite end
Essential in symmetrical designs
Can help avoid strict mirror imaging

23. Rhythm Creating a pathway for the eye to follow
Cause the viewer to look at the entire arrangement
Two types
Regular, repeated
Free, variable
5 methods

24. Regular, Repeated Rhythm
Materials are repeated at regular intervals from the top to bottom of the arrangement

25. Free, Variable Rhythm
Unstructured style
Subtle flowing movement

26. 5 Methods
Radiation
Repetition
Transition
Variety
Contrast

27. Radiation Stems radiate out naturally from the container
Top view shows stems appearing as the spokes of a wheel
Crossing stems is avoided

28. Repetition Repeating something throughout the arrangement Color Shape
Space
Lines

29. Transition Change of one material into another
Should be smooth and gradual
Lighter flowers near the container edge blend into the heavier ones towards the center

30. Variety Diverse assortment of differing components
Focuses attention and stimulates interest and imagination

31. Contrast Objects have striking difference
Beyond mere variety or diversity taking variety to a higher degree

32. Principles of Design
Section 2

33. Dominance Importance of the design
Interest and attention captured by one feature
Achieved in 5 different ways

34. 5 Ways to Achieve Dominance
Using dominant plant material
Using an emphasized design element
Using a distinct style
Using a theme
Using a focal point

35. Plant Material

36. Emphasized Design Element

37. Distinct Style

38. Theme

39. Focal Point

40. Focal Point Center of interest Not all arrangements need
Several methods for creation

41. Methods for Focal Point
Large flowers
Different flower forms
Dark shades
Framing materials
Strong contrast color
Radiation of plant materials to a specific area
Use of accessories

42. Line Visual movement between two points
Help create shape or express an emotional response
Created through line materials

43. Line Materials Snapdragoon Liatris Scotch broom
Use to create very definite horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or curvilinear lines.

44. Shape and Form Form Shape Can exist naturally or can be created
3 dimensional outline
Shape
2 dimensional aspect of the form
Can exist naturally or can be created

45. Common Forms
Geometric
Naturalistic
Freeform

46. Geometric Most often circle and triangle Basic shapes can be varied
Ovals, fans, scalene triangle, right triangles, crescent

47. Naturalistic Mirror the natural growth of plants
Often include groupings of plant material

48. Freeform More contemporary Take your own liberties Create
Don’t have to follow rules

49. Flowers Form Flowers Mass flowers Filler flowers
Have distinctive shapes
Tropical flowers
Mass flowers
Round solid flowers
Carnations and mums
Filler flowers
Light airy flowers
Baby’s breath and sea lavender

50. Pattern and Texture Texture Surface quality of the plant material
Rough, smooth, velvety, satiny or hairy
Also has visual texture
Fine, airy, lacy, delicate, or bold

51. Color
Most important
Emotion
Helps with other principles