Principles
Of Design
​
​
​
What are the Principles of Design?
​
Contrast, Harmony, Balance, Repetition, Dominance, Gradation, Unity
If the elements of design are the raw materials or building blocks for any form of visual expression, then the Principles of design are a list of things we can do to those elements.
How do we use the Principles of Design?
​
When considering any form of visual art we can analyse each design element in terms of the individual principles.
​
Egon Schiele (1890–1918) Schieles Room In Neulengbach, 1911
​
​
For example, if we look at the painting above, we can take the element color and ask ourselves a series of questions based on the various principles.
-
Is there a contrast of color?
-
Is there color harmony?
-
Is the color balanced (warm/cool, saturated/compound?)
-
Is there a repetition of color?
-
Is there a color gradation?
-
Is there a dominance of one color (or color temperature?)
​
Similar questions can be asked using all the other elements (line, shape, tone, texture, direction, size.)
​
By analysing an artwork in this way we gain a much better understanding of its structure. The success or failure of a work of art still comes down to individual preference, but armed with the knowledge gained from asking these design related questions, we are better able to make such judgments.
​
Asking these same questions during the progress of our own work will help clarify what is happening and force us to consider options that may have otherwise eluded us.
​
​
​
Author: John Lovett
​