Kayla Towns

ID 3311.002

GAINES

24 October 2011

Blog 7: Analyzing Design Elements and Principles

For this blog, I chose this image because in many ways, it exemplifies both the elements and principles of design. The elements of design are line, space, shape, form, texture, pattern, and color/ light. The principles of design are balance, rhythm, emphasis, scale, unity, variety and harmony. To begin my analysis, I will start with the elements of design.

In this photo, line is expressed through the horizontal and vertical lines in the doors and bookshelves, as well as the back of the couch and the coffee table. The use of shape is also found in the different accessories on the coffee table, shelves, as well as the “C” shape chairs and the square lamp shades. There are also several different textures is the room, such as fabric, metal, and wood. Although this room has a neutral color scheme, there is a use of color as an accent in the paintings around the room and through the doors to brighten the room with little punches of color.

And now I will analyze the principles of design and the use of each in the room. This room is incredibly balanced. From the arrangement of the chairs and couch to the placement of the shelves around the double-doors, this room is balanced 100%.  Even the lighting is balanced, both in the lamps and the accent lighting. The paintings start on the far left wall, make their way through the left shelves, through the doors and to the right shelves, creating a consistent rhythm and pattern across the space. The pillows on the couch also create a rhythm of square objects. There is a common theme of square shapes throughout most of this space, i.e. lamp shades, pillows, wall art, etc. There is emphasis put on both the coffee table and the shelves with lighting. There is also variety in the space, i.e. the gray throw pillow on the couch, the displayed items on the shelves and the cylindrical lamp shade on the right. As a whole, this room creates harmony through the choice of color, shape, and line. The fact that this room is almost perfectly balanced speaks for itself in the harmony department.

Overall, this room exemplifies most of the design elements and principles. I could definitely see myself spending time in this room because it is so inviting. Were it not for the design elements and principles, this room would be chaos and no one would spend time in it. Thank goodness for order!