Ch 9 Principles of Design

Question 1

The arrangement of elements in a composition to achieve visual equilibrium.

Answer 1

Balance

Question 2

What does balance depend on?

Answer 2

The idea of visual weight. It also depends on both object (weight) and placement.

Question 3

What are some ways objects or elements vary in visual weight?

Answer 3

Large objects are heavier than small objects of the same form, shape, color and texture; Highly textured or detailed elements are heavier than plain elements; Dark elements are heavier than lightly shaded elements; Bright colors carry more “weight” than neutral colors; Complex or unusual shapes weight more than simple shapes; Several small objects closely grouped can balance a single object with the same area.

Question 4

What do all visual compositions have?

Answer 4

A balance point or axis or a field within which the balancing takes place.

Question 5

What are the three types of balance?

Answer 5

Symmetricial, Asymmetrical, and Radial (in most interior designs they are used together,but one will have dominance)

Question 6

What type of balance consists of identical elements arranged equally about a common axis.

Answer 6

Symmetrical Balance - This is also called bisymmetrical, bilateral or axial symmetry.

Question 7

What type of balance is very stable and connotes formality?

Answer 7

Symmetrical Balance

Question 8

The perception of symmetry is most likely to occur when elements are symmetrical about what axis?

Answer 8

Vertical

Question 9

What type of balance depends on equalizing the visual, or optical, weights of nonsimilar elements in a composition within a visual field or about a common axis.

Answer 9

Asymmetrical Balance

Question 10

What type of balance is considered informal and dynamic?

Answer 10

Asymmetrical Balance

Question 11

A type of symmetrical balance in which elements are arranged uniformly about a central point.

Answer 11

Radial Balance

Question 12

What type of balance focuses attention on the center of the grouping?

Answer 12

Radial Symmetry

Question 13

In a composition, it is the agreement of the parts to each other and to the whole.

Answer 13

Harmony

Question 14

How is harmony most often achieved?

Answer 14

By relating a number of different elements through a common characteristic.

Question 15

_________ can be achieved by grouping the elements close together, by relating them to a common architectural element, or by organizing them around a shared design feature.

Answer 15

Harmony

Question 16

_______ & _______ can also be achieved by using a common shape in varying sizes and textures.

Answer 16

Harmony & Unity

Question 17

While ______ seeks to achieve a unity of appearance in which everything belongs, some ______ is required to prevent the composition from becoming dull and monotonous.

Answer 17

Harmony; Variety

Question 18

The repetition of elements in a regular pattern, setting up a sequence of multiple elements in a space.

Answer 18

Rhythm

Question 19

What design principle has elements following a common baseline, either physically or an imaginary line to tie things together?

Answer 19

Rhythm

Question 20

What is the simplest kind of rhythm?

Answer 20

The uniform repetition of identical objects.

Question 21

What are more complex kinds of rhythm?

Answer 21

Irregular spacing, emphasizing or changing elements and regular intervals, and uniformly increasing or decreasing the size of the elements.

Question 22

An important type of rhythm where the size, color or value of design elements are gradually modified as the elements repeat.

Answer 22

Graduation

Question 23

This can be given to an element by its size, color, shape, or texture, or in any way that creates a noticeable contrast between it and surroundings.

Answer 23

Emphasis

Question 24

The juxtaposition of dissimilar elements.

Answer 24

Contrast

Question 25

Good _______ ________ is a balance between harmony, or the unity of a space, and the liveliness and interest created by emphasis and contrast.

Answer 25

Interior Design

Question 26

What is a dramatic way to create contrast?

Answer 26

Lighting

Question 27

What is the maximum brightness ratio between the task surface and its background for critical visual tasks?

Answer 27

3 to 1

Question 28

What is the maximum brightness ratio between the task and the surrounding surfaces of the room (it is not desirable to work on a bright surface in a dark room).

Answer 28

5 to 1

Question 29

What should bright lighting be limited to?

Answer 29

Highlighting paintings, sculptures or other small accent pieces.

Question 30

The relationship between one part of an object or composition and another part and to the whole, or between one element and another. It is not dependent on the relationship of one element to another of known size, such as the human body.

Answer 30

Proportion

Question 31

__________, by definition, is relative, and is also a matter of judgement and situation, and for interior designers it is dependent on the 3D relationship of object and space.

Answer 31

Proportion

Question 32

Describe the Golden Ratio.

Answer 32

The most well known ideal proportioning system in which a single line is divided into two unequal segments such that the ratio of the smaller part is to the larger part as the larger part is to the whole. When translated to a rectangle, it becomes the golden section. The ratio is an irrational number designated by the Greek letter phi, equal to approximately 1.618.

Question 33

What is the Golden Section?

Answer 33

The golden ratio applied to a rectangle. Since the time of the Greeks, the golden section has been believed to be the most pleasing proportion possible and has been found to occur repeatedly in nature as well as in human-formed structures, artwork, and musical harmony.

Question 34

Fibonacci Series

Answer 34

A sequence of numbers beginning with 0 and 1. Each successive number in the series is the sum of the previous two. It begins as: 0,1,1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89 ….. When any number is divided by the previous term, the quotient approximates the golden ratio, and as the number get larger, the quotient gets closer to the value of the golden ratio.

Question 35

A well-known proportioning system developed by the architect LeCorbusier, and is loosely based on the golden section but uses the human body as a starting point. The system begins by dividing the height of a man (about 6’) at the waistline or navel. Another proportion is developed by the distance from the top of the head to the fingertips when the arm is naturally raised about the head. From these three dimensions and proportions, all the others are developed. The distance from the bottom of the feet to the navel (aout 44”) is equal to the distance from the navel to the tip of the raised hand. The dimension from the navel to the raised hand divided by the dimensions from the top of the head to the raised hand is approximately equal to the golden section. From these main dimensions of 44”, 72” and 88”, LeCorbusier developed two series, the red series and the blue series, each with 10 numbers.

Answer 35

Modulor System