Visual elements of design
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Design is the process of formulating, creating and planning a functional object such as a building to achieve certain purposes, for example, to create homes, offices, commercial buildings and so on.
Design can be defined as a plan produced to show the look, function or workings of a building or other object before it is made.
The visual elements of design include:
[edit] Line
This is a mark between two points. Lines can be straight, squiggly or curved. A line serves to:
- Connect and support other visual elements.
- Emphasise plane edges and create shapes.
- Manipulate the surface appearance of planes.
[edit] Colour
Colour can evoke emotions and feelings
- Red excites and stimulates but when very deep can be disturbing, heavy, aggressive and alerting.
- Orange stimulates and creates attention, warms, is luminous, activating and like red is also motion oriented.
- Yellow elevates, but can be irritating particularly when highly saturated.
- Green can be relaxing, natural, soft and passive.
[edit] Shape
Shape is the two-dimensional profile of an object. Shapes are made when lines joining points enclose to form areas.
Shapes are of two types, geometric and free-form or organic shapes:
- Geometric shapes can easily be defined using mathematical procedures, they are regular and precise, including squares, rectangles, triangles, ovals, pentagons and so on.
- Free-form or organic shapes are complex to define using mathematical formulas, they are irregular, uneven and often derive from nature. Examples are puddles, trees, animals, leaves, rocks and so on.
[edit] Texture
Texture refers to properties relating to the smoothness, softness or coarseness of a surface. In a design, texture helps to create visual interest or focal points, contrast and balance. There are two types of texture, real and implied.
[edit] Size
Size refers to degrees of smallness or largeness. Size can be used to describe importance, creating both visual interest and hierarchy among a series of design elements.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.