Elements of Design via A Primer of Visual Literacy by Donis A. Dondis

LINE

This first element of design I have chosen to explore is 'Line,' which Dondis defines as a "dot in motion." Line is a key component in all design, and it is the strategically used in the design of this Italian Campaign Canopy Bed I have chosen as my example:

The bed frame above is made up of lines that create shapes, rhythm, and also provide the structure of the bed frame. Dondis describes line as having the perfect perplexity in that it can be wild and directional, yet also "tight and technical, serving as the primary element in diagrammatic plans" (Dondis 43). Conclusively, it is the perfect tool to communicate visual ideas. This bed frame with its sturdy, straight legs that become swooping arches and then meet at a circle, hosts all of the advantages of line while also capitalizing on its simplicity and usefulness.

DIRECTION

The next element of design that I've explored is direction. The boots that I've used are not only my example, but also my most recent purchase and the design I've been analyzing recently.

The swooping lines that can be seen in the curved edges of the leather to the direction of the boot's toe are a successful use of directional design. Dondis describes direction as "the human organism's relationship to the environment but also to stability in all visual manners" (Dondis 46). The boots above are made of curved directional forces that are a powerful element of design because they provide a sense of stability, being that "diagonal direction has particular reference in the idea of stability" (Dondis 46). The diagonal lines in these boots allow them to feel wearable for a human foot. The slanted lines create a parallel between the diagonals that lead from the toe on both the top and bottom of the shoe. These curved, directional lines create both the structure and visual appeal of the boot.

TEXTURE

Texture is enormously advantageous in design, especially in fabrics and textiles for interiors such as the 'Ophelia Duvet' below:

This duvet has the look and feel of shredded paper that has been assembled into a delicate, tangible fabric. Designers, Shachin and Babi Ahluwalia were inspired by their native Indian homeland for this particular design. The piece is handwoven from soft, cotton jersey and loosely organized to mirror organic textures. Dondis describes the shredded cotton perfectly when he writes, "where there is actual texture, the tactile and optical qualities coexist, not like tone and color which are unified in their comparable and even value, but separately and uniquely, affording individual sensation to the eye and the hand" (Dondis 55). The colors of the fabric are a consistently cream, however, there is a large amount of direction and variety within the fabric and it is only because of its three-dimensional texture.