General Information Flashcards
Pica
A typographic unit of measurement corresponding to approximately 1/6 of an inch, or from 1/68 to 1/73 of a foot. One pica is further divided into 12 points.
Decoration
A combination of forms (color, line, pattern, letter, picture) that does not convey a literal message, but serves to stimulate the senses.
Isotype
The International System of Picture Education (Isotype) was introduced in 1930 by the Viennese political economist and museum director Otto Neurath and his wife, Marie Reidmeister.
Isotype was originally designed as an alternative to text, a starkly graphic means of communicating information about locales, events and objects on the one hand, and complex relationships in space and time on the other.
Types of Design
Industrial -the making of 3D things
Environmental- the making of living spaces
Graphic design - the making of messages
Art vs Design
Art concerns personal expression and personal development
Design concern visual organization of information “in order to communicate” -PUBLIC-
Palimpsest (pal-imp-sest)
Something that has a new layer, aspect, or appearance that builds on its past and allows us to see or perceive parts of this past. Relates to layering and overprinting.
Golden Ratio
The ratio within the elements of a form such as height to width. The golden ratio (phi) equals approximately 1.618. divide a line into two parts so that: the long part divided by the short part is also equal to the whole length divided by the long part.
a / b = a+b / a
It appears many times in geometry, art, architecture, humans, and other areas. There is a preference for things based on this dimension so a rectangle.
Fibonacci Sequence
A sequence of numbers in which each number is the sum of the preceding two.
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, …
When we make squares with those widths, we get a nice spiral.
Found in nature, poetry, art, music, etc. Intrinsically aesthetic and worth of Design use. Used often in concert with golden ratio. One of the most influential patterns in mathematics and design.
Design elements
Design elements are the basic units of any visual design which form its structure and convey visual messages.
Painter and design theorist Maitland E. Graves (1902-1978), The Art of Color and Design (1941), defined the elements of design as line, direction, shape, size, texture, value, and color.
“these elements are the materials from which all designs are built.”
Color
Color is the result of light reflecting back from an object to our eyes. Color theory and the color wheel are often referred to when studying color combinations in visual design.
Color is often deemed to be an important element of design as it is a universal language which presents the countless possibilities of visual communication.
Design Element
Line
Line is an element of art defined by a point moving in space. Lines can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal or curved. They can be any width or texture. And can be continuous, implied, or broken.
Different lines create different moods, it all depends on what mood you are using a line to create.
Design Element
Point
A POINT is basically the beginning of “something” in “nothing”. It forces the mind to think upon its position and gives something to build upon in both imagination and space.
Some abstract points in a group can provoke human imagination to link it with familiar shapes or forms.
Design Element
Shape
A shape is defined as a two dimensional area that stands out from the space next to or around it due to a defined or implied boundary, or because of differences of value, color, or texture.
Shapes are recognizable objects and forms and are usually composed of other elements of design.
Design Element
Texture
Texture refers to the physical and visual qualities of a surface.[citation needed]
Texture can be used to attract or repel interest to an element.
Design Element
Space
space is concerned with the area deep within the moment of designated design. For a two-dimensional design, space concerns creating the illusion of a third dimension on a flat surface.
Design Element
Form
form is described as the way an artist arranges elements in the entirety of a composition. It may also be described as any three-dimensional object.
Form can be measured, from top to bottom (height), side to side (width), and from back to front (depth). Form is also defined by light and dark. It can be defined by the presence of shadows on surfaces or faces of an object.
There are two types of form, geometric (artificial) and natural (organic form). Form may be created by the combining of two or more shapes. It may be enhanced by tone, texture or color. It can be illustrated or constructed.
Design Element
Typeface
Text and letters
Design Element
Unity / Harmony
To achieve visual unity is a main goal of graphic design. When all elements are in agreement, a design is considered unified. No individual part is viewed as more important than the whole design.
A good balance between unity and variety must be established to avoid a chaotic or a lifeless design.
Design Principle
Balance / Alignment
Balance is a state of equalized tension and equilibrium, which may not always be calm.
Includes symmetry and asymmetry
Design Principle
Hierarchy/Dominance/Emphasis
A good design contains elements that lead the reader through each element in order of its significance.
Dominance is created by contrasting size, positioning, color, style, or shape.The focal point should dominate the design with scale and contrast without sacrificing the unity of the whole.
Design Principle
Scale / Proportion
Using the relative size of elements against each other can attract attention to a focal point. When elements are designed larger than life, the scale is being used to show drama.
Design Principle
Similarities / Contrast
Planning a consistent and similar design is an important aspect of a designer’s work to make their focal point visible. Too much similarity is boring but without similarity important elements will not exist and an image without contrast is uneventful so the key is to find the balance between similarity and contrast.
Design Principle
Proximity / Distance
Design Principle
Repetition
Repetition is a great way to reinforce an idea. It’s also a great way to unify a design that brings together a lot of different elements. Repetition can be done in a number of ways: via repeating the same colors, typefaces, shapes, or other elements of a design.
Design Principle
Rhythm
The spaces between repeating elements can cause a sense of rhythm to form, similar to the way the space between notes in a musical composition create a rhythm. There are five basic types of visual rhythm that designers can create: random, regular, alternating, flowing, and progressive.
Design Principle
Pattern
Patterns are nothing more than a repetition of multiple design elements working together. Wallpaper patterns are the most ubiquitous example of patterns that virtually everyone is familiar with.
Design Principle
White Space / Negative Space
White space—also referred to as “negative space”— is the areas of a design that do not include any design elements. The space is, effectively, empty.
Design Principle
Movement / Direction / Flow
Movement refers to the way the eye travels over a design. The most important element should lead to the next most important and so on. This is done through positioning (the eye naturally falls on certain areas of a design first), emphasis, and other design elements already mentioned.
Design Principle
Readability
Design Principle
Design Principles
Principles applied to the elements of design that bring them together into one design. How one applies these principles determines how successful a design may be.
