Back to: 12 Principles
THE PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
Using these 12 principles effectively for your spaces is how people judge how well your area is designed. (because there is no correct method)
Contrast
is the distinction between various components within a design that makes them separate from each other.
One of the considerable common complaints designers have about client responses often involves clients who say a design requires to “pop” more.
While that states like a thoroughly arbitrary term, the client typically suggests that the design requires more contrast.
Contrast refers to various components in a design, especially adjacent components.
These distinctions make different components stand out.
Inadequate contrast can make text content very challenging to read, particularly for people with visual issues.
Balance
can be symmetrically (with items of equal weight on either side of the center line) or asymmetrical (with objects of different weights laid out concerning a line that may or may not be centered).
Every design elementāfurniture, decor, all colors, every image, each shape, patterns without exception, etc.āmaintains a visual weight.
Some components are weighty and draw attention, while others items are more delicate.
The path these components are displayed on a page should produce a sense of balance.
There are two fundamental kinds of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical.
Symmetrical arrangements layout components are of equal weight on either side of an imaginary center line. Asymmetrical balance uses features of differing weights, often displayed in consideration of an off-center line within the general space design.
Emphasis
generates some aspects of a design to be noticed compared to other components.
Contrarily, it can also undervalue how many elements are detected (such as small accessories).
Emphasis is assigned to the design parts that are indicated to stand out.
In most circumstances, this suggests the essential information the design is meant to convey.
Emphasis can also be utilized to lessen the impact of specific details.
This emphasis is most apparent when “small accessories” are used for supplemental information in a design.
Small items tucked away in the area are much less important than anything else in a design and are therefore de-emphasized.
Proportion
is the size of elements concerning one another.
More significant features tend to be seen as more necessary while smaller ones are less.
Proportion is one of the more straightforward design principles to comprehend.
Merely put, it’s the dimensions of components in relation to one another.
Proportion signals what’s essential in a design and what isn’t crucial.
More prominent elements are more critical, more minor features less.
Hierarchy
directs to the significance of elements within a room design composition.
The essential element should occur to be of considerable importance and vice versa.
Hierarchy is one more principle of design that presently relates to how well people can process items using space.
It refers to the significance of elements within this space composition.
The essential elements (or scope) shouldĀ seemĀ the most significant.
Hierarchy is most efficiently demonstrated through using the size in a design.
The space’s focal point should be provided as the most significant and instantly recognizable essential element in the space floor plan.
Focal points and unique items should be used to show their importance in relation to each other and the functional use and within the enclosure space.
Repetition
reinforces an idea or perception.
It can be done using the same format for furniture, decor, reusing the same colors, images, or similar choices.
Repetition is an excellent method to reinforce a statement, and it’s also a perfect way to unify a technique that combines many different elements.
Repetition can be accomplished in several ways: via duplicating the same colors, items, all shapes, or other components of a design.
Consistent motifs unify these components across the interior design.
Rhythm
the spacing between components can create a feeling of rhythm.
Either regular or irregular.
Rhythms can create various emotions, including calmness (with regular rhythms) and excitement (with irregular rhythms).
The areas between repeating components can cause a feeling of rhythm, similar to how the space between notes in a musical piece completes a rhythm.
Designers can complete five basic kinds of visual rhythm: random, regular, alternating, flowing, and progressive.
Random rhythms_ patterns none discernible.
Regular rhythms_ same spacing between each component with no deviation.
Alternating rhythms_ a set pattern that duplicates, but there is a deviation between the actual components.
Flowing rhythms_ bends, and curves are comparable to how dunes formulate or waves move.
Progressive rhythms_ modify as they go along, with each modification adding to the earlier iterations.
Rhythms can be utilized to create several feelings.
They can produce excitement and create comfort and character.
It all relies on the way they are executed.
Patterns
can refer to the repetition of design elements (as seen in things like wallpaper patterns).
They can also refer to set standards for some aspects of design (such as flooring).
Patterns are a recurrence of numerous design features working together.
Wallpaper designs are the universal example of patterns that practically everyone is familiar.
In design, patterns can also refer to benchmarks for designing specific components.
Negative space
guides areas of a design that have no design features.
The space is essential for making a plan orderly and noticing different elements.
Blank spaceāalso called “negative space”ā is in the design areas that do not include design components.
The room is, effectively, empty.
Many entry-level designers need to add more elements with some “design” and manage the importance of blank space.
But negative space suits many essential purposes in a design, the most significant being delivering components of the design space toĀ breathe.
Negative space can also benefit from highlighting detailed content or design features.
It can also create design elements that are more straightforward to discern.
In some circumstances, negative space creates secondary ideas that may not be immediately obvious to the observer.
This secondary idea can be a valuable piece of design that can satisfy users.
Movement
is the way a person’s eyes travel through a floor plan design.
The most significant element should point to the next most significant, and so on.
This movement can be done via positioning, emphasis, and other design principles.
Movement refers to the way the body travels through a design.
The essential element should guide to the next most significant and so on.
This movement is done through positioning, emphasis, and other design elements.
Variety
creates visual interest in a design project.
It can be created via furniture, decor, color, images, textures, and virtually any other design element.
It prevents designs from being monotonous and boring
A variety of techniques is used to assemble visual interest.
A space can quickly become boring without variety, forcing users to relinquish interest in the area.
Variety can be achieved in various methods through color, patterns, images, textures, and almost any other design component.
Nevertheless, variety for the sake of mixture is pointless.
Variety should support the other design elements and be used alongside them to create a more exciting and aesthetically pleasing outcome that improves the user’s experience.
Unity
is how will the elements of design work together.
Each element should have a clear visual relationship with each other to help communicate that clear and concise message.
Everyone has seen a space or other area that seemed to add elements to a room without concern for how they worked jointly.
Unity directs to how well the components of design work jointly.
Visual characteristics should have precise relationships with each other in a method.
Unity also permits ensuring concepts are being displayed in a clear, cohesive manner.
Interior designs with good unity also seem more organized and of higher quality and authority than arrangements with inferior unity.