Elements of Design

• Line is the most basic building block of any design. It is used to create shapes and perimeters, and to direct the eye. It can be straight, or curved, or wavy, it’s all still line.
• Shape refers to the lines forming closed shapes in a photo (which are defined by a perimeter). Some shapes are considered to hold symbolic meaning, e.g a triangle can symbolise strength and power
• Form gives the viewer the illusion of three dimensional depth, created through the use of line and tone.

  Form is usually in 3D, whereas shape is in 2D, for example a circle is a shape, but a sphere is a form.
• Different colour groups include:

  • Primary colours
  • Secondary colours
  • Tertiary colours
• Texture:

  • Creates the illusion of a tactile response to an image
  • The viewer will understand what the subject of the image would feel like outside of the photo, for example, pictures of grass or bricks
• Typography:

  • Refers to individual character words and sentences which convey context meaning
  • How the typeface/ font looks can suggest further meaning in a photo
• Within space, the positive space of an image refers to the area that a visual element occupies, whereas the negative space (or background space) is the space around the visual element. This also includes foreground, middleground, and background.
• Value:

  Refers to the degree of lightness or darkness created by a light source shining on an object, which helps to suggest form.
• Colour:

  • The artistic term for colour is ‘hue’
  • You need light to see colour
  • The meaning of colour can change depending on culture