What is ‘principles of design’?
From my point of view, the principles of design is the use of the elements of design in such a way that an artwork feels coherent and convey the information its supposed to give. I believe that the proper application of the principles of design determines how successful we are at creating a work of art and how good or bad it is.
What are the principles of design?
Through out my research i came across these:
- BALANCE
- DOMINANCE/EMPHASIS/CONTRAST
- UNITY
- SCALE/PROPORTION
1. BALANCE
It is the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space. If the design was a scale, these elements should be balanced to make a design feel stable. In symmetrical balance, the elements used on one side of the design are similar to those on the other side; in asymmetrical balance, the sides are different but still look balanced. In radial balance, the elements are arranged around a central point and may be similar.
2. DOMINANCE/EMPHASIS/CONTRAST
It is the part of the design that catches the viewer’s attention. Usually the artist will make one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different in size, color, texture, shape, etc.
3. UNITY
It is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the work of art, which creates a sense of completeness.
4. SCALE/PROPORTION
Using the relative size of elements against each other can attract attention to a focal point. When elements are designed larger than life, scale is being used to show drama.
Sources:
https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles