Elements of Design

Click below for a full list of the Elements of Design and their definitions:

Space

Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. It may have two dimensions (length and width), such as the surface of a sheet of paper, or it may have three dimensions (length, width, and height).  Space can also refer to the distances or areas around, between or within components of a composition. There are two types of space: positive and negative space. Positive space refers to the space of a shape representing the subject matter in a composition. Negative space refers to the space around and between the subject matter.

Line

Line is the basic element that refers to the continuous movement of a point along a surface, such as by a pencil or brush. The edges of shapes and forms also create lines. Lines and curves are the basic building blocks of two dimensional shapes. Every line has length, thickness, and direction. There are curved, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, zigzag, wavy, parallel, dash, and dotted lines.  There can also be implied lines within a composition.  These are lines that one’s mind creates when visually “connecting the dots” between shapes, forms, or broken lines.

Color

Color refers to how a surface reflects and absorbs the visible spectrum of light. The color wheel is made up of primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary colors. Complementary colors are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.  These can be used to create color contrast.  Analogous colors are colors that are found side-by-side on the color wheel. These can be used to create color harmony.  Monochromatic colors are tints and shades of one color.  Warm colors are a group of colors that consist of reds, yellows, and oranges. Cool colors are group of colors that consist of purples, greens, and blues.

Shape

A shape is defined as an area that stands out from the space next to or around it due to a defined or implied boundary, or because of differences of value, color, or texture.  They can be geometric or organic.  Geometric shapes are man-made, mathematically designed shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, circle, etc.) or shapes that have sharp, well-defined edges.  Organic shapes have natural, less well-defined edges (such as an amoeba or a cloud).

Form

Form is any three dimensional object. Form can be measured, from top to bottom (height), side to side (width), and from back to front (depth).  Form is also defined by light and dark.  Form is always an illusion when used in two dimensional images, where it is created by the combining of two or more shapes or “planes”.  Like shape, there are two types of form, geometric and organic.  It may be enhanced by tone, texture and color.

Value

Value refers to the darkness or lightness of a surface.

Tone

Tone is the “temperature” (warmth or coolness) of the color of a surface.  (The word “tone” is also sometimes used to describe “value”, but for our purposes, we will keep these two terms separate.)

Texture

Texture refers to the qualities of a surface apart from color, value, or tone.  In art, there are two types of texture: tactile and implied. Tactile texture (real texture) is the way the surface of an object actually feels.  Examples of this include sandpaper, cotton balls, tree bark, fur, etc.  Implied texture is the way the surface of an object looks like it would feel.  It is a perception, only. The texture may look rough, fuzzy, gritty, etc., but cannot actually be felt. This type of texture is used by artists when drawing or painting.