Principles of Design

The Principles of Design are the way that artist use the Elements of Art to create strong compositions (artwork).

There are 7 Principles of Design. They are:

1. Balance
2. Movement
3. Emphasis
4. Contrast
5. Repetition
6. Pattern
7. Unity

Balance is the distribution of the visual weight of object, colour, texture and space. If the design was a scale, the element should be balanced to make a design feel stable.

Movement means using some of the elements of art to produce the look of action.

• It also means the path that the viewer’s eyes take as they move through the artwork, often the focal point (main focus on the artwork)

Emphasis is used by an artist to make an element or object stand out. It is also known as focal point.

• Emphasis can be achieved through contrast, placement, or changes in proportion

Contrast is a design principle that emphasizes differences between the art element so as to create visual interest, excitement and drama.

• Contrast can refer to:
• light vs. dark colours
• rough vs. smooth texture
• large vs. small shapes
• etc.

Pattern/repetition is the repeating of an object or symbol all over the artwork.

Unity is the feeling of harmony of wholeness between all parts of the artwork creating a sense of completeness. It is achieved through effective use of the elements of art and principles of design