DESIGN THE ELEMENTS

Explore the fundamental elements of design—line, color, texture, and shape—and their impact on interiors, fashion, and art.

Key Takeaways

Understanding and applying the elements of design is essential for professionals to create impactful interiors, fashion, and art.
Different types of lines influence perception of space, form, and movement in design.
Color and texture significantly affect emotional response and visual interest in any design.
Careful use of design elements can enhance or detract from the intended effect, requiring knowledge and sometimes rule-breaking.
Symmetry and balance, especially with curves, contribute to a harmonious and soothing environment.

What the video covers

Design is present in every three-dimensional object and consists of key elements: line, color, texture, and shape.
Lines in design are categorized as vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or curved, each conveying different feelings and effects.
Vertical lines represent strength and dignity, often used to make people look taller or rooms appear higher.
Horizontal lines evoke relaxation and can make spaces look wider but may also make objects or people appear wider.
Diagonal lines symbolize movement and energy but should be used carefully to avoid visual fatigue.
Curved lines are natural, soothing, and add softness and comfort to designs, often used symmetrically in interiors.
Texture refers to the look or feel of a surface, influencing visual interest and perception of color.
Color has a profound emotional impact and is crucial in design, with knowledge of hues, values, and chroma essential for professionals.
Darker colors absorb more heat, which is important in fashion design for comfort considerations.
Successful design depends on how well it fulfills universal principles and meets the desired effect in its context.

Chapters

What are the main elements of design discussed in the video?

The video highlights four main elements of design: line, color, texture, and shape, explaining their roles in various design fields.

How do different types of lines affect design perception?

Vertical lines convey strength and height, horizontal lines evoke relaxation and widen spaces, diagonal lines add movement and energy, and curved lines provide softness and comfort.

Why is understanding color important in design?

Color has a profound emotional impact and influences how a design is perceived; designers must understand hues, values, and chroma to create effective and appealing designs.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

Design is everywhere, but when you think about it, what is it really? Every three-dimensional object you see has been designed. Whether it's for an interior, a piece of art, a garden, or even something you're going to wear, it has the same elements that go into it. It's got line, color, texture, and shape. I'm Brandy Hagen, and these are the elements of design.

Speaker A

elements that go into it it's got line color texture and shape I'm brandy Hagen and these are the elements of design [Music] this is a good example of asymmetrical balance on one side we have two objects and on the other we have a single object

Speaker A

[Music] This is a good example of asymmetrical balance. On one side, we have two objects, and on the other, we have a single object. We like to use a lot of symmetry.

Speaker A

get the desired effect they're looking for in an interior or in clothing in fashion the elements of design are extremely important for design professionals to know and that's what makes them design professionals and that's what makes them stand out from

Speaker A

[Music] Designers use the elements of design in many different ways. They know the rules of the elements inside and out. They even know how to break the rules in order to get the desired effect they're looking for in an interior or in clothing. In fashion, the elements of design are extremely important for design professionals to know, and that's what makes them design professionals, and that's what makes them stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Speaker A

its line as horizontal if it's tipping or leaning it's a diagonal line and if it bends twists curves the line of an object is called curved and that's all there is vertical horizontal diagonal or curved vertical lines represent strength and

Speaker A

Let's begin with line. In design, line must be thought of broadly. Anything taller than it is wide is said to have a vertical line. If the object in question is wider than it is tall, we designate its line as horizontal. If it's tipping or leaning, it's a diagonal line. And if it bends, twists, or curves, the line of an object is called curved. And that's all there is: vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or curved.

Speaker A

fashion design when we use a vertical line it helps people look a little slimmer and taller the vertical lines on this blouse are very slimming and because they're so close together create great energy which is complemented nicely by the ruffles on this blouse

Speaker A

Vertical lines represent strength and dignity. In a room, we use vertical lines in interiors to make ceilings look taller. It was used a lot in the Victorian era in architecture. We think of a vertical line in tall buildings representing strength and power. In fashion design, when we use a vertical line, it helps people look a little slimmer and taller. The vertical lines on this blouse are very slimming, and because they're so close together, they create great energy, which is complemented nicely by the ruffles on this blouse.

Speaker A

settled peaceful even the same applies when you're using horizontal lines in architecture it gives the feeling less formal and a little bit more relaxed than a tall upright building in interior design we're more apt to find horizontal lines dominating bedrooms

Speaker A

These ruffles almost create a diagonal line, drawing attention and creating great energy. A vertical line is stable, formal, alert, and strong. Horizontal lines give the feeling of relaxation. Think about when you look out onto a horizon; you feel relaxed and settled, peaceful even. The same applies when you're using horizontal lines in architecture. It gives the feeling of being less formal and a little bit more relaxed than a tall upright building. In interior design, we're more apt to find horizontal lines dominating bedrooms, dens, family rooms, or places where people might want to relax, like a dining room. This is a good example of a buffet that you might find in a relaxing dining room where people just want to hang out and enjoy a casual meal.

Speaker A

and enjoy a casual meal horizontal lines can also be used to make a room look wider than what it appears it also brings the ceiling down a little bit but with that same that same element of the horizontal line think about an in

Speaker A

Horizontal lines can also be used to make a room look wider than what it appears. It also brings the ceiling down a little bit but with that same element of the horizontal line. Think about it in fashion. It does the same thing; it makes you look wider. So just be careful when using a horizontal line that that's a particular part that you want to look wider than what it is. Notice the horizontal lines in here caused by the sweater and the layering effect. This looks great when you're very tall and thin, but be careful if that's not exactly where you want to draw people's attention and if that's not a particularly low section that you want to look wider.

Speaker A

sweater and the layering effect this looks great when you're very tall and thin but be careful if that's not exactly where you want to draw people's attention and if that's not a particularly low keishon that you want to look wider the diagonal line is

Speaker A

The diagonal line is halfway between a horizontal line and a vertical line. Diagonal lines represent movement and speed. We think of diagonal lines when we think of somebody running, perhaps a plane taking off, or even a shooting star—all represent movement. Gravity teaches us that nothing stays at a diagonal very long. A building in a diagonal position is soon going to tumble to the ground and might send us running for cover, except for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, of course. But that is pretty much the reason why it's popular.

Speaker A

a diagonal very long building in a diagonal position is soon going to tumble to the ground and might send us running for cover except for the Leaning Tower of Pisa of course but that is pretty much the reason why it's popular

Speaker A

Its diagonal positioning has a way of bursting into a horizontal line or a vertical line. They can create energy and movement in a space. When using them, you want to be careful because they can overpower and get tiring real quick. In fashion, diagonal lines do the same thing. They add energy and visual interest.

Speaker A

and get tiring real quick in fashion diagonal lines do the same thing they add energy and visual interest and finally we have a curved line nature gives us far more curves than straight lines of any type leading us to think of

Speaker A

And finally, we have a curved line. Nature gives us far more curves than straight lines of any type, leading us to think of a curvy design as natural, freer, and more soothing. The soft curves in design add a feeling of coziness and comfort. A lot of contemporary furniture takes advantage of curvy lines in textiles, landscaping, accessories, and architecture. The free-flowing curve leads a soft touch to design. This is a great summer dress that has lots of cool tones in it and a large pattern. It's wonderful, but you might want to be careful in wearing something with such a large pattern that you don't accessorize it too much with more pattern.

Speaker A

design this is a great summer dress that has lots of cool tones in it and large pattern it's wonderful but you might want to be careful in wearing something with such large pattern that you don't accessorize it too much with more

Speaker A

In nature, we find that the curved line is usually a little more asymmetrical. When we're using it in design, however, we like to use a lot of symmetry when we're dealing with curves. This wallpaper is a great example of how the curves are very symmetrical, and by using them in different sizes and shapes, they add a lot of texture to the space as well. Curves can be really natural and soft and soothing when used in an environment.

Speaker A

the curves are very symmetrical and by using them in different sizes and shapes they add a lot of texture to the space as well curves can be really natural and soft and soothing when used in an environment shape or form is another design element

Speaker A

Shape or form is another design element. Shapes are created by enclosed lines. Shapes can be symmetrical when the top and the bottom or the two sides are identical. We call this symmetrical. Asymmetrical shapes are probably a little bit more common, and it's when the sides don't match. One side is lumpy or a little bit irregular. There's an infinite number of shapes. When we encounter symmetrical shapes, our brain automatically searches for the closest symmetrical shape to compare it to. Thus, we might remember the mountain as sort of a triangle. This tendency to seek perfection in shapes is so strong that imperfect shapes tend to catch our attention immediately. Such imperfections can lead to an emotional response of uneasiness and instability. We feel compelled to fix the flaw.

Speaker A

little bit irregular there's infinite numbers of shapes when we encounter a symmetrical shapes our brain automatically searches for the closest symmetrical shape to compare it to thus we might remember the mountain as sort of a triangle this tendency to seek

Speaker A

The third element of design is texture. This is the way that something might look or feel. Texture can be anything from a velvet dress to a prickly cactus or the rough edge on a rock. This room right here is a great example of all kinds of textures, from the sheen on a leather like this or even embossed or textured leathers. The way that the light hits different textures can affect color as well. This is a good example over here. This cowhide up here is a little bit more textural than the leather below it, and it appears darker than the leather even though they're probably in the same hue.

Speaker A

this is the way that something might look or feel texture can be anything from a velvet dress to a prickly cactus or the rough edge on a rock this room right here is a great example of all kinds of textures from the sheen on a

Speaker A

Down here on the coffee table, we have another great texture. It's a copper texture, and because it's so smooth, the light just bounces and gives some shine right off of the surface in comparison to the leather right next to it. Nail heads—everything has texture. The metal vase with the glass vase with the metal frame. Texture is everywhere. When you start to notice it in different elements and the way color plays off of it, it can be one of my favorite design elements. The pattern surface that often appears on upholstery, tablecloths, and clothing can make a perfectly flat or smooth surface appear to have texture. This adds interest to the design.

Speaker A

leather below it and it appears darker than the leather even though they're probably in the same hue down here on the coffee table we have another great texture it's a copper texture and because it's so smooth the light just

Speaker A

The fourth element of design is color. It's probably the one that has the most profound impact on us and the one we remember most. Color invokes all kinds of different emotions when we look at it, and we see it everywhere in nature and in design. Scientifically speaking, color is the essence of light, and it lives in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. So what this really means is that when we see color, we're seeing light in different wavelengths bouncing off of an object and reflecting back to our eyes. Red is the longest wavelength, and violet is the shortest wavelength. What happens is when the light hits an object, it acts—the object absorbs every color except the actual color that it is. So with this green scarf, for example, this scarf is every color but green. The green is what's bouncing.

Speaker A

notice it in different elements and the way color plays off of it it can be one of my favorite design elements the pattern surface that often appears on upholstery tablecloths and clothing can make a perfectly flat or smooth surface

Speaker A

appear to have texture this adds interest to the design the fourth element of design is color it's probably the one that has the most profound impact on us and the one we remember most color invokes all kinds of

Speaker A

different emotions when we look at it and we see it everywhere in nature and in design scientifically speaking color is the essence of light and it lives in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum so what this really means is

Speaker A

that when we see color we're seeing light in different wavelengths bouncing off of an object and reflecting back to our eyes red is the longest wavelength and violet is the shortest wavelength what happens is when the light hits an

Speaker A

object it acted the object absorbs every color except the actual color that it is so with this green scarf for example this scarf is every color but green the green is what's bouncing off of this object and reflecting back to your eye

Speaker A

and that's what we say here is the name of the color red is the hue when we say color we're usually referring to the hue how light or how dark something is is called the value adding white to a color

Speaker A

makes a tint and adding black to a color makes a tone or a shade chroma is the intensity or purity or saturation of a color maximum chroma means color is in its purest form with no white or black

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adding we describe black and white clothing as being colors or hues technically they're not use pure white is a total absence of hue and value pure black is a total lack of chroma and maximum value the primary colors are red

Speaker A

blue and yellow the colors made by mixing primary colors next to each other are called secondary colors red and yellow make orange red and blue make purple blue and yellow make green the colors made by mixing together a primary

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and the secondary color are called tertiary colors families of colors are either warm or cool warm colors like reds oranges and yellows make rooms or environments that we feel them in few warmer and cool colors do just the

Speaker A

opposite such as blues greens and violets make the rooms feel cooler metals have color temperatures as well either warm or cold warm color temperatures in metal would be golds bronzes and coppers such as these candlesticks in this coffee table here

Speaker A

cool temperatures would be silver aluminum or even a chrome color when we're dealing with color temperatures and metals we usually try to stick with either the warm or the cool likewise in clothing design a warm toned garment appears to advance which means the

Speaker A

wearer will actually look a little bigger or wider and because the clothing in cool tones appear to recess the person wearing it might appear to be thinner or smaller when working with color designers must also think about heat letter colors physically absorb

Speaker A

less heat than darker colors white objects may absorb as little as 10% of the light rays hitting the surface but black objects may absorb over 95% of the light rays this is especially important for clothing designers remember the darker the hotter color

Speaker A

completely affects the way we feel in fact NASA did a study a few years ago by taking a group of people and putting them in a warm and brightly lit room people were very engaging with each other they tended to talk and to mingle

Speaker A

quite a bit when they took another group of people and they put them in a more dimly lit room and a room that had more cool colors in it they people didn't tend to mingle quite as much they stuck

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to themselves and we're a little more introverted what they discovered from this is that if we use cool colors and office buildings people tended to focus more on their work and they were a little less social so you might find in

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the work environment that lots of different spaces are decorated in cool colors and in restaurants people tend to use warmer more intimate colors to get people more engaged in talking this piece is a great example of all of the

Speaker A

elements of design the piece itself is horizontal the fabric upholstered on the back shows a strong vertical stripe the cushions show great a symmetrical shape and then we've got the color the color of the blue with the orange our

Speaker A

complementary colors but look beautiful together when designing an interior or even designing clothes you're gonna want to start with something that's gonna be the focal point of the room this might be something that you already have or something that's of sentimental value to

Speaker A

you it could be a rug with lots of color and pattern or maybe even a sofa in this case today we're gonna look at this beautiful handmade quilt if I was designing a room around this it would have to be the piece that ice of course

Speaker A

started with because it's got all these beautiful colors in it and it's gonna be the busiest piece in the room so if I were to design a room I'd try to incorporate of course different shades of blues but I'd also want a nice

Speaker A

neutral color that made the blue quilt to stand out and be the most important feature in the room I'd go with a neutral colored carpet but look at all this texture which is really nice off of the quilt which is other than the

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quilting the fabrics are all pretty flat another nice chenille here I'd maybe even do a sofa out of this and lay the quilt on the back of it or if I was doing a bedroom I might do a shez out of

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this or an upholstered piece so remember when designing a space to start with the focal point and build your room around that so we've learned about wine shape texture pattern and color these are the elements of design and the most powerful

Speaker A

tools you will ever need as a designer but why do some designs succeed in the eyes of others well some just can't be taken too seriously the success of a particular design depends on how well the creation fulfils a universal almost

Speaker A

instinctual desire on the part of the viewer to experience balance when looking at a design we have the four elements of design now what we do is we take them and we try to achieve balance in a room or even on a tabletop balance

Speaker A

is when two sides are roughly equal it can be the top and the bottom or the left and the right but when we look at a space we're desiring to see a sense of balance in the space using the elements

Speaker A

of design to create this balance it can be done in a couple of different ways there's many different ways to achieve symmetry in a room asymmetry means that the two halves are absolutely equal on each side or on top and bottom many

Speaker A

things in nature are symmetrical our human bodies we're very symmetrical from left to right we are exactly the same the same thing happens in design when we look at a space or we take a particular element if we can put a line down the

Speaker A

middle and it's equal on both sides that's symmetrical balance we also call symmetrical balance formal balance in interior design or in architecture this room is a good example of symmetrical balance even though the nightstands are actually different pieces they're the

Speaker A

same height creating the lamps to be even on each side and the piece of art above the bed is actually two different pieces the tones are the same and the sizes are the same we have a pillow in

Speaker A

the middle of the bed which is nice it breaks it up but it's still symmetrically balanced in this case we have two identical objects that are very symmetrical evenly spaced but they're a little boring by adding a few extra pieces now it's not

Speaker A

perfectly symmetrical anymore but it's very evenly balanced on both sides on one side we've added a container that's exactly the same size and on the other side we've added two smaller containers but even though on one side there's only

Speaker A

two items and on the other there's three they're evenly balanced to the I just because of the amount of weight that they have now this is another great example of being balanced but yet completely different we have a plate on

Speaker A

one side in the three containers on the other but to the eye the plate still takes up about the same amount of space as the containers do and still looks balanced if the plate was neutral and didn't draw your eye to it it might not

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feel quite as balanced as it does because the plate is blues and greens and it complements the other side it helps create that balance in color and in weight this is a good example of a symmetrical balance on one side we have

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two objects and on the other we have a single object weight-wise they're about the same this has a little bit more height than this one does and they're both about equal distance from the center this gives the eye a little bit

Speaker A

of interest as it moves over each of the piece it can create drama in a room and I think it's quite successfully done right here less common but equally effective is something called radial balance think of the spokes on a bike tire with radial

Speaker A

balance the design elements radiate outward from a center point we see this frequently in a flower or other elements of in the natural world designers may use radial balance to draw our attention either to the center or to the outer

Speaker A

edges of a particular point we can also balance our design by matching the visual weight of the top half to the bottom half this is called vertical balance horizontal balance means the design is balanced on the left and the

Speaker A

right sides some of my favorite design tips and using the elements would be when I'm working with line I like to use a horizontal striped wallpaper in a room it makes the room feel up here larger than what it is typically we see

Speaker A

horizontal lines and interiors going up and down to give the illusion of height but if you tip it on its side and go horizontal with it it can actually make the room look bigger when designing the space and considering

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balance a nice way of achieving balance in a space is to use a certain amount of pairs in a room I like to use a pair of sofas or a pair of chairs even a pair of pillows on a sofa can achieve balance to

Speaker A

a space one of my favorite things to do with color is to paint rooms really dark and when doing that it makes the room feel smaller but what's wrong with that what's wrong with a small intimate dining room or better yet a powder room

Speaker A

that's already small painted a dark color and it's gonna be turned into just a jewel box a small intimate space [Music] [Music]

Topics:elements of designline in designcolor theorytexture in designshape and forminterior designfashion designdesign principlesvisual balancedesign education

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