Podcast #3 Principles of Design

Define principles of design?Concepts used to arrange the structural elements of a composition
What do the principles of design affect?The message of the work
What is the principle of repetition?Repeating some aspect of the design throughout the entire document.
Describe ways that the principle of repetition helps the composition/audience?It controls the reader's eye and helps keep their attention on the piece.
What are ways that you can incorporate repetition into your designs?Bold font, thick line, certain bullet, color, design element, particular format, spatial relationship
What should you avoid when working with repetition?Repeating to much
What is the principle of proportion/scale?The relative size and scale of the carious elements in a design
What is the most universal standard of measure when judging size?The human body
How can the principle of proportion/scale be used as an attention getter?An unusual or unexpected scale
What is the principle of balance?Distribution of heavy and light elements on the page
Which kinds of elements/shapes visually weigh heavier/greater?Size, shape, and tone
What is another name for symmetrical balance?Formal balance
Define symmetrical balance?Occurs when the weight of a composition is evenly distributed around a central vertical or horizontal axis.
What is another name for asymmetrical balance?Informal balance
Define asymmetrical balance?Occurs when the weight of a composition is not evenly distributed around the axis.
What is the principle of emphasis?The stressing of a particular area of focus rather than the maze of details of equal importance.
What happens to a design that has no focus?Nothing stands out.
What is a focal point and how is it created?A center of interest
How many components of a composition can be a focal point?No more than one
What ways can emphasis be created in a design?Contrasting the primary element with it's subordinate
What is the principle of unity?The wholeness of composition
What three ways can unity be obtained?
1. Put objects close to one another

2. Make things similar

3. Direct vision by a line that travels around the design

What is the principle of variety?Pertains to differences and diversity
What ways can a designer add variety to a design?Vary text, color, and shapes, and alter their contrast, tone, & intensity
Why is it important to find the right balance between unity and variety?Too much unity can be boring, but too much variety can be chaotic
What is figure?The part of a composition that we pay attention to
What is another name for figure?Positive space
What is ground?The surrounding are around the figure
What is another name for ground?Negative space
When a composition is abstract (has no recognizable subject) what will the figure depend on? What does that mean?It will depend on the ground
Why must a designer consider the composition as a whole?
Because the figure/ground relationship is so important
What is the principle of rhythm?
Continuity, recurrence, or organized movement in space and time                                               How is rhythm achieved?Through the orderly repetition of any element, line, shape, value, or texture
What three ways can rhythm occur in a design?
1. When elements themselves are similar in size

2. With a more organic, flowing, sense of movement

3. A sequence of shapes through a progression of steps
How does rhythm help a composition/design?It can add interaction to an otherwise inanimate page layout
What is the principle of contrast?Occurs when two related elements are different
How can contrast help a design?Can draw the viewer's eye into the piece and help guide the viewer through it
What is wrong with having too much or too little contrast in a design?Too much can be confusing, but too little can become boring
What is the key to working with contrast?To make sure the differences are obvious
What are some common ways of creating contrast?
Creating differences in size, value, color, type, texture, shape, alignment, direction, and movement