Chapter 2: Elements of Design

Question 1

What is form?

Answer 1

Form is the basic shape and configuration of an object or space; usually viewed in relation to other forms; gives the interior designer a powerful tool to create order, establish mood, and coordinate the diverse components of a finished space. Generated with lines, planes, volumes, and points.

Question 2

What is a point?

Answer 2

A point is perceived when a two-dimesionally perceived object appears relatively small in relation to the plane against which it is seen. The perception of points depends on distance.

• A single point creates a location or position.
• Two points create both a distance between them and an implied direction between the points (as well as perpendicular points)
• Practically a point could be on a wall or suspended on ceiling/floor planes

Question 3

What is a line and what do the different lines connote?

Answer 3

An object or form whose actual or visual length greatly exceeds any actual width or depth it may have; can also be perceived where one plan meets another, where edges occur, and where there is a change in material, texture, or color.

• Vertical lines (strength, permanence) appear longer than a horizontal line (restful, stable) of the same length
• Diagonal lines are most dynamic and create a sense of movement

Question 4

What is a plane?

Answer 4

A plane is a form with two dominant dimensions: length and width ie. walls, ceilings, floors, furniture is constructed by planes

Question 5

What is volume?

Answer 5

The true three-dimensional aspect of interior design because an object with volume is clearly perceived as a spatial form having length, width, and depth.

Question 6

What is shape?

Answer 6

The unique characteristic of an object or space that defines it as distinct from adjacent objects or spaces; distinguished by planar or volumetric forms; can convey powerful symbolic or emotional qualities.

Question 7

What is scale?

Answer 7

The relative size of something as related to another element of known size. Human scale is the most common scale, in which objects and spaces are judged relative to the size and form of the human body. You could also use something inanimate like a chair that has a direct relationship with a human.

Design decisions are often made on the scale relationships between two or more nonhuman objects.

Question 8

What is color?

Answer 8

A physical property of visible light that is one part of the larger electromagnetic spectrum.

Question 9

What are additive colors and why are they called that?

Answer 9

Colors created with light, because when all colors of light are present in equal amounts, we perceive white light.

Question 10

Which color has the longest wavelength on the visible spectrum?

Answer 10

Red

Question 11

Which color has the shortest wavelength on the visible spectrum?

Answer 11

Violet

Question 12

What are subtractive colors and why are they called that?

Answer 12

Colors created with pigments, because when all colors are present in equal amounts, the viewer perceives no color, or black.

Question 13

How is the color of an object perceived by the viewer?

Answer 13

The color of an object is conveyed by the color of light that the object absorbs and the amount of light it reflects to the eye.

Question 14

What are the three primary colors of light?

Answer 14

Red, green, blue

Question 15

What are the three primary colors of pigment?

Answer 15

Yellow, red, blue

Question 16

What is hue (color quality)?

Answer 16

The basic color, that attribute by which, for example, blue is distinguished from red.

Question 17

What is value (color quality)?

Answer 17

The degree of lightness or darkness of color in relation to white and black.

Question 18

What is intensity/chroma (color quality)?

Answer 18

The degree of purity of a hue when compared with a neutral grey of the same value.

Question 19

How is a tint created?

Answer 19

When you add white to a hue.

Question 20

How is a shade created?

Answer 20

When you add black to a hue.

Question 21

How is a tone created?

Answer 21

When you add grey to a hue. It can also be created by adding a colors’s complement.

Question 22

Describe the Brewster/Prang color system.

Answer 22

Based on three primary colors in a color wheel.

Question 23

Describe the Munsell color system.

Answer 23

Uses 3 scales and in 3 dimensions to specify the values of hue, valule, and chroma/intensity. Any color can be designated with a combination of letters and numbers. For example G/6/3 is a principal hue of green with a value 6 and a chroma position of 3.

Question 24

Describe the effects of complementary colors.

Answer 24

• Colors opposite on the wheel reinforce each other.
• When they are seen next to each other, each appears to heighten the other’s saturation.
• When a small area of one color is placed on a background of a complementary color, the small area of color becomes more intense.
• When someone stares at one color for some time and then looks at a white surface, an afterimage of the color’s complement is seen.

Question 25

What happens when two non-complementary colors are placed together?

Answer 25

Each appears to tint the other with its own complement.

Question 26

What happens when two primary colors are seen together?

Answer 26

They will tend to appear tinted with the third primary.

Question 27

What is simultaneous contrast?

Answer 27

A color placed against a darker background will appear lighter than it is, while a color against a lighter background will appear darker than it actually is.

Question 28

How does light hue impact the perception of color?

Answer 28

Light that has a particularly strong hue will intensify the colors with similar hues and neutralize colors of complementary hues. For example, a red object seen under incandescent light will appear red and vibrant, while a blue object of the same value will appear washed out and muddy.

Question 29

What are some effects of color on spatial perception?

Answer 29

• Bright, warm colors make an object appear larger.
• Dark colors make an object look smaller and heavier.
• Light/neutral colors extend the apparent space of a room while dark values make a space feel closed in.
• Warm colors tend to advance and cool colors recede.

Question 30

What is a monochromatic color scheme?

Answer 30

Employs one hue with variations only in intensity and value.

Question 31

What is an analogous color scheme?

Answer 31

Uses hues that are close to each other on the color wheel.

Question 32

What is a split complementary color scheme?

Answer 32

A color on one side of the wheel is used with two hues that lie on either side of the complementary color.

Question 33

What is a triad color scheme?

Answer 33

Uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel, such as yellow-orange, blue-green, and red-violet. Generally produces a confusing, glaring appearance.

Question 34

What is a tetrad color scheme?

Answer 34

Uses four colors that are equally spaced around the wheel. Difficult to do well.

Question 35

What is actual texture vs. visual texture?

Answer 35

Actual texture - the physical quality that can be sensed by touch
Visual texture - what people imagine a surface to be simply by looking at it and based on a memory of similar textures

Question 36

What characteristics impact the perception of texture?

Answer 36

• It’s relationship to nearby textures through scale relationships, ie. plaster/metal, plaster/concrete
• It’s viewing distance; appears smoother as it gets further away
• The way the surface is lighted; side lighting will emphasize texture; diffuse lighting will wash it out