Elements of Design

(for 1st year fashion design)

by: Firaol T.
The elements are:
· Line
· Form, shape and space
· Color
· Pattern
· Texture
 Element of Design: Line
Line
A line is an identifiable path created by a point moving in space. It is one-
dimensional and can vary in width, direction, and length. Lines often define the
edges of a form. Lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, straight or curved,
thick or thin. They lead your eye around the composition and can communicate
information through their character and direction.

Artists use line

 to outline; a starting place for many drawings or paintings
 to suggest moods or emotion; lines can appear calm, nervous, angry, etc.
 to lead the viewers eye through a work of art
 to create lightness or darkness; lines placed close together appear darker
than those placed further from each other
 to create texture; roughness or smoothness

Common types of line drawings

•contour line drawing; drawings that use a fairly continues line to represent
the edges and surface detail of shape or objects being drawn
•Gestural line drawing; drawings that use quick pencil strokes (or other drawing
instruments) to capture a scene. gestural drawings simply action and movement

•Hatched and cross hatched line drawing;

drawings that consist or parallel lines (hatching)
or crossing parallel lines (cross-hatching) drawn
to create changes in lightness and darkness and
texture.
 Line in fashion can be created by the structure or decorative features of a
garment. Structural lines are created by the structure of the garment. For
example, the seam lines that are used to hold the garment together create lines.
Decorative lines are created for visual appeal, but unlike structural lines, they
are not necessary for garment to stay together. Trims and line patterns in fabric
are examples of decorative lines.
Line in fashion is important because line affects how someone sees a fashion.
Our eyes follow lines, and eyes can be lead up or down or side to side or around
a garment.
Lines have direction (vertical, horizontal, diagonal, curvy, jagged) and weight
(thick, thin). The direction and weight of a line can affect how a garment looks on
a body.
Wise selection of lines can flatter the wearer’s appearance.
 Line: Structural versus Decorative Lines

This garment has both structural and decorative lines. Structural lines are created
by the seams. You can see a good example of a seam line running down the centre
back of the dress. Can you see the diamond-shaped seam lines on the front of the
dress that make a diagaonal pattern? The diagaonal lines created by the seams
are also structural. These structural lines hold the garment together. The stripes on
the fabric itself are decorative lines. Imagine how different this dress would look
made out of solid coloured fabric.
 Vertical lines often communicate a sense of height because they are
perpendicular to the earth, extending upwards toward the sky. In this church
interior, vertical lines suggest spirituality, rising beyond human reach toward the
heavens.

Saint Bavo, Haarlem, Pieter Jansz. Saenredam,

1634
 Line: Vertical Direction

The above photos all have vertical lines. Notice the difference in the weight of the
lines. Some of the vertical lines are thin, while other vertical lines are much wider.
A thin vertical line looks longer than a thick vertical line. Vertical lines are formal,
dignified, conservative.
Vertical lines lead the eye up and down the garment. Use these lines where you
want to look taller because they reinforce length, height, and narrowness.
Horizontal lines suggest a feeling of rest or repose because objects parallel to the
earth are at rest. In this landscape, horizontal lines also help give a sense of
space. The lines delineate sections of the landscape, which recede into space.
They also imply continuation of the landscape beyond the picture plane to the
left and right.

A Storm on the Mediterranean Coast,

Claude-Joseph Vernet, 1767
 Line: Horizontal Direction

The above photos all have horizontal lines. Notice the difference in the weight of
the lines. Some of the horizontal lines are thin, like in two centre photos, while the
other two photos have much wider horizontal lines. A thin horizontal line looks less
wide than a thick horizontal line.
Horizontal lines lead the eye across the garment. Use these lines where you want
to look wider because they reinforce width and add bulk.
 Diagonal lines convey a feeling of movement. Objects in a diagonal position are
unstable. Because they are neither vertical nor horizontal, they are either about
to fall or are already in motion. The angles of the ship and the rocks on the
shore convey a feeling of movement or speed in this stormy harbor scene.

A Storm on the Mediterranean Coast,

Claude-Joseph Vernet, 1767
 Line: Diagonal Direction

The above photos all have diagonal lines. Diagonal lines hold the eye’s attention
longer than horizontal or vertical lines. They create the illusion of activity,
excitement, drama, and motion. Diagonal lines are often found in v-necks, open
collars, ties, stripes, flared skirts or pants, zippers, shoes with criss-cross straps,
etcetera.
Diagonal lines draw the eye’s attention to where they are used. Use these lines to
add emphasis to an area of the body, or to add interest to a look.
The curve of a line can convey energy. Soft, shallow curves recall the curves of
the human body and often have a pleasing, sensual quality and a softening
effect on the composition. The edge of the pool in this photograph gently leads
the eye to the sculptures on the horizon.

Pool, Saint-Cloud, EugèneAtget, 1915–

1919
 Line: Curvy Shape

The above photos all have curvy lines. Curvy lines hold the eye’s attention longer
than straight lines. They create a gentle, romantic, soft, casual, feminine, graceful,
sensual illusion. Curvy lines are often found in necklines, bows, lapels, sleeves,
ruffles, skirts, and gathers.
Curvy lines lead the eye around the garment. Curvy lines can increase, emphasize,
or reinforce body curves. They can counter angular body areas.
 Line: Jagged Shape

The above photos all have jagged lines. Jagged lines create bold interest for the
eye. They suggest the illusion of excitement, drama, motion, and confusion.
Jagged lines are often featured in the patterns of fabrics or in the design of graphics
and logos.
Jagged lines draw the eye’s attention to where they are used. Uses these lines to
add emphasis to an area of the body, or to add interest to a look.
 Element of Design: Shape
and Form
Shape has only height and width. Shape is usually, though not
always, defined by line, which can provide its contour. In this image,
rectangles and ovals dominate the composition. They describe the
architectural details for an illusionist ceiling fresco.

Studies for a Ceiling Decoration,

Charles de la Fosse, about 1680
 Geometric Shapes
•Can be described using mathematical terms
•They are very regular or precise
•They are more often found in man-made things because they are easier to
reproduce and make things with
•Examples of geometric shapes are: squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, oval,
pentagons and so on.
 Free-form or Organic Shapes

•are difficult to describe using definitions

•are irregular or uneven
•are more often found in nature
•Example include the shape of clouds, puddles, trees, leaves, rocks and so on.
 Form has depth as well as width and height. Three-dimensional form is the
basis of sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts. Three-dimensional forms can
be seen from more than one side, such as this sculpture of a rearing horse. many
natural forms also have geometric shapes. This cabinet is decorated with designs
of geometric shapes.

Rearing Horse, Adriaen de Vries, Commode,jean Francois Oeben about

1610–1615 1760
 Geometric Forms

As with geometric shapes. Geometric forms are based on

mathematical descriptions. Since they are three dimensional (3D)
instead of two dimensional, they are objects such as cubes,
cylinders, cones and spheres. They are often the type of form
that man made objects are constructed with.
 Free-form or Organic Forms

Organic forms are irregular and are the type of forms that
most things in nature are. Cloud formations, mountains, trees
and bushes are all relatively free- form. animals and even humans
tend to be more free- form too, as they are ever changing forms.
Shape refers to the silhouette of a garment.
There are basic shapes for women’s and men’s fashions.
Popular shapes in fashion change over time.
Shape or silhouette in fashion is important because it affects
how someone sees a fashion. Our eyes perceive shapes,
which have an impact on how the garment is perceived.
Wise selection of shapes can flatter the wearer’s appearance.
 Shape: Hourglass

The above photos show the hourglass silhouette, a popular shape for women’s
fashions. This fashion shape shows the bust and hip at approximately the same
width, while the waist is narrower.
The hourglass shape draw the eye’s attention to the curves of a woman’s body.
Use this shape to draw attention to the natural shape of a woman’s body.
 Shape: Wedge

The above photos show the wedge silhouette, a popular shape for both women’s
and men’s fashions. This fashion shape shows width at the shoulders, while the
garment narrows in at the bottom.
The wedge shape draw the eye’s attention to the shoulder area. Use this silhouette
to make shoulders appear broader.
 Shape: Tubular

The above photos show the tubular silhouette, a popular shape for both women’s
and men’s fashions. This fashion shape shows the shoulder, waist, and hip with
little definition. Tubular shaped garments do not cling to the body.
The tubular shape draw the eye’s attention up and down the length of the body.
Use this shape to smooth out the body’s lines.
 Shape: Bell

The above photos show the bell silhouette, a popular shape for women’s fashions.
This fashion shape shows a fitted top, with a full, bell-shaped skirt.
The bell shape draw the eye’s attention to the waist and hip area.
 Shape: A-Line

The above photos show the A-Line silhouette, a popular shape for women’s
fashions, usually dresses or skirts. Theses fashions resemble the shape of the
capital letter A. This fashion shape shows a garment that is narrow at the top which
broadens out toward the bottom.
The A-Line is not a fitted shape, and it flatters all figures. It is often used for
summery, flirty garments. Use this style to smooth out the body’s lines.
 Element of Design: Color

What is color?
Color originates from a light source, that is either view directly
or as reflected light. There is no color with out light! The absence
of light is complete darkness or black. The mixture of all visible
light is white light. White light is made up of all the colors in the
rainbow. We see that organized pattern as a rainbow. These colors
are always in the same order and are called the Color Spectrum.
When organized in order around a circle; the color spectrum is
called a Color Wheel.
There are
two color
systems
 Additive Subtractive
- CMY Color
- RGB Color
- RYB Color

RBG Color CMY(K) Color Traditional Color Theory

 Additive color is created from emitted light such as a
video screen, a computer monitor or theatrical lights. The additive
primary colors are red, green and blue and all other additive
colors are derived from them. Combining two primary colors
yields a secondary color: magenta from red and blue, cyan from
blue and green and yellow from red and green. Combining all
three additive primaries results in white; shining stage lights of
red, green and blue in the same area creates a white spotlight.
The absence of all additive primaries (in other words, no light)
results in black.
 subtractive color is created from light reflecting off a
pigmented surface.
 Subtractive Color Mixing
(RYB Color)

1. Primary colors
2. Secondary colors
3. Tertiary Colors
Primary Colors: Red, yellow and blue

. In traditional color theory (used in paint and pigments),

. primary colors are the 3 pigment colors that can not be mixed or
formed by any combination of other colors.
. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues.

Primary colors
Secondary Colors: Green, orange and purple
These are the colors formed by mixing the primary
colors.

Secondary colors
 Tertiary Colors :Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-
purple, blue-green & yellow-green.
. Tertiary colors formed by mixing a primary and a secondary
colors.
. That's why the hue is a two word name, such as B-G, R-V,
and Y-G

Tertiary colors
 Properties of Color
1. Hue: Hue is the name of a pure color, such as red, blue, or
yellow.
2. Value: Value is the lightness or darkness of a hue (color). The
value of a hue can be changed by adding black or white. Light
values of colors are called tints. Darker values of colors are called
shades.
3. Intensity: Intensity is the brightness or dullness of a hue
(color). Pure hues are high-intensity colors. Dull hues are low-
intensity colors. Intensity of color is changed by adding varying
amounts of its complimentary color. For example, to make a
bright green duller a little bit of red could be added to it.
 Element of Design: Color
Colour is the most important element in fashion design, and there are many
different colour schemes that work together. A quilter’s wheel shows compatible
colour combinations and can be useful when trying to decide if certain wardrobe
items go together.
Neutral colours, in fashion, can be worn with any other colour, making them good
colours for wardrobe-building. Colours such as black, grey, brown, and white are
neutral colours because of their versatility to match with other colours.
In fashion, colours can be described as warm or cool. Warm colours are made
with orange, red, yellow and combinations of them all. As the name indicates,
they tend to make you think of sunlight and heat. Warm colours advance (or seem
bigger in space), so they give the illusion of enlarging size. Cool colours such as
blue, green and light purple have the ability to calm and soothe. Where warm
colors remind us of heat and sunshine, cool colors remind us of water and sky.
Unlike warm colors, cool colors look as though they recede (or seem smaller in
space), giving the illusion of reducing size.
 Colour: Colour Charts

Warm & Cool Colours Neutral Colours

 Psychological Implications of Color

We know that cultural traditions endow colors with powerful

meanings that can differ greatly from place to place. For example, in
Europe and the United States, black is the color of mourning. In many
tropical countries and in East Asia white is the color of death. On the
other hand, white is the color worn by American brides, while brides
in much of Asia wear red.
 Red is associated with blood, and with feelings that are
Red energetic, exciting, passionate or erotic. Most colors
carry both positive and negative implications. The
downside of red evokes aggressive feelings, suggesting
anger or violence.
Orange
Orange is the color of flesh, or the friendly warmth of the hearth
fire. The positive implications of this color suggest approachability,
informality. The negative side might imply accessibility to the point
of suggesting that anyone can approach-- a lack of discrimination or
quality.
• Yellow

The highest brightness, have warm feeling, have happiness,

hope, wisdom and lively personality, feeling giving, a person is
brilliant, because this color too bright, is considered frivolous,
cold; Character is very unstable prone to error.
 Green In its positive mode, green suggests nature (plant
Green life, forests), life, stability, restfulness, naturalness. On the
other hand, green in some tones or certain contexts (such
as green skin) might instead suggest decay (fungus, mold),
toxicity, artificiality.
 Blue suggests coolness, distance, spirituality, or perhaps
BLUE reserved elegance. Some shade of blue is flattering to almost
anyone. In its negative mode, we can think of the "blues"-the
implication being one of sadness, passivity, alienation, or
depression
Purple
• Noble mysterious color, let a person cannot
bear to forget color, represents authority,
prestige, deep and spirit. Purple-on behalf of
elegant, noble, charm, pride, mysterious and
impressive, oppressive feeling.
• BLACK :- Has the dark, mysterious, silence,
sorrow, depressive feeling can make look
thinner and thus look taller.
white With white, and lively, pure, clean
feeling
 Market research on color is also done to establish color trends
Color forecasting is accomplished by surveying consumer preferences
and other indicators of changes in taste. Color forecasting firms then
issue projections defining palettes of colors that can be expected to
rise, fall, or maintain popularity in coming seasons. The design
industries then develop their new lines with these projections in mind.
Some major companies employ their own color forecasters to
research and project color trends for their industry. On the whole,
color trends change more rapidly for fashion than for interior design,
probably because changes in home furnishings entail a more serious
financial investment
 Element of Design: Texture
Texture refers to surface quality related closely to our sense of touch or
sight. All the things we see around us feel differently when we touch the
surface of the object. Everything that has a surface has texture.

There are two kinds of texture:

 Tactile touch 3D texture

 Visual illusion 2D texture
 TACTILE TEXTURE
Tactile means touch. Tactile texture is the actual (3D) feel of a surface.
The actual surface texture needs to either be felt, or seen with light
raking across its surface to make the texture visible. Painters are most
likely to take advantage of this to give their painting's surface a lively
look. Paint can be built up into rough peaks in a technique called
impasto. Vincent Van Gogh is famous for this. Some painters add sand
to their paint to make more tactile texture.
 VISUAL TEXTURE

Visual texture refers to the illusion of the surface's texture. It is what

tactile texture looks like (on a 2D surface). The textures you see in a
photograph are visual textures. No matter how rough objects in the
photograph look, the surface of the photograph is smooth and flat.
 Elements of Design
• TEXTURE:
 Surface quality of garments (how it looks
and feels)

 Loopy, fuzzy, furry, soft, shiny, dull,

bulky, rough, crisp, smooth, sheer…

 texture created By the fiber type,

weaving or knitting process, or by the
fabric finishes
Texture

• Structural Texture-
– created when
fabrics or garments
are manufactured

• Visual texture-
– “printed” onto the
surface of fabrics
or garments.
 important of texture in fashion

– It can increase or decrease the appearance of

body size.
– It can draw added attention to a design.

 Texture Increasing the appearance of size

– Shiny or glossy (reflect more light)

– Bulky, shaggy, fuzzy, wrinkled
 Texture Decreasing the appearance of body size

– Dull (because they absorb light)

– Smooth, flat surfaces
Smooth Textures
• Smooth textures make people
look smaller
 Shiny Textures

• Makes the body

look larger
because they
reflect light
• Makes fabric
colors look lighter
and brighter, thus
making the body
look larger
Bulky Textures

• Makes the body

appear larger
 Rough Textures
• Tends to subdue
the colors of
fabrics
• Increase apparent
size
Sheer Textures
• Tends to soften
the figure
 Dull textures
• Makes a person appear
smaller because they
absorb light
 TEXTURES FOR DIFFERENT PRODUCTS

1.Designing clothes, it is important

that the fabric texture should produce
a pleasant and comfortable feel to the
skin.
2. Designing bags the texture can vary from
soft, slightly rough , uneven texture for the
aesthetic look .

3. Designing for kid’s clothes and accessory

should be absolutely soft, and comfortable
to baby skin.
4. Designing for life style products which might not
come in contact of human body, can be uneven, rough,
abrasive. Since uneven textures creates light to reflect in
different angles and giving a creative edge to the
surface.
 Elements of Design
Pattern

• Patterns are groups of elements or motifs that repeat in

a predictable manner.
• Herringbone, zig zag, dot, etc.

74
 Fabric Patterns

Fabric patterns are coordinated by lines, dots, shapes, spaces and

colours. They are created in endless varieties - geometric, floral,
stripes, dots, abstract motifs and many others. Consequently, patterns
always provide interest and visual impact. Printed and dyed fabrics
convey new fashion trends easily and comparatively quickly. Designers
may shop worldwide for fabric patterns or garments as a source of new
idea. The most common and traditional fabric patterns are listed as
follows:-
 (A) Geometric Patterns

Geometric patterns refer to textural patterns, stripes and plaids that are woven,
printed or knitted.
 (B) Conventional Patterns

Conventional patterns refer to naturalistic motifs that are stylized. Conventional

patterns combine the rhythm of stripes with the soft natural charm of floral in
pattern. For example, fancy woven stripe on dimity or block print on linen.
 (C) Naturalistic Patterns

Principally floral, although other motifs may be used on acetate jersey, naturalistic
floral on cotton and stylized floral on silk crepe.
 (D) Dots and spots

For example, novelty dots on cotton, coin dots on flat crepe, and geometric
motifs on jersey.
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 Element of Design: Space

The Element of Design Space refers to the area within, around, above or
below an object or objects. It is important to creating and understanding both
two dimensional or three dimensional works of art. With three dimensional art
the space things occupy is real as is the space around object.Two
dimensional art exists on a flat surface, so if something looks three
dimensional- it is an illusion! Even the most realistic paintings or
photographs are illusions. Two dimensional artists use a number of "tricks"
for creating the illusion of depth in their art.
 Creating the Illusion of Space

Size: is one of the easiest ways to create the illusion of space. A larger image will
appear closer than a smaller one because we observed (very early in life)
that objects appear to become smaller as they get farther away.
Overlap : is another easy way to suggest depth in an image. When objects
overlap each other, the viewer perceives the one that is covering
parts of other to be in front and the one that is covered to be in the
back.
Placement: where a shape or object is in relationship to the
horizon line creates depth. Things closer to the horizon line
appear further away. Objects closer to the bottom or top of
your paper (canvas, etc.) appear closer.
Atmospheric perspective: uses value, contrast and color to give the illusion of
space. Atmospheric perspective is based on the fact that the farther something
is away from us, the more the atmospheric haze may obscure our view of it. By
lightening the value, lowering the value contrast, softening the edges,
decreasing detail and muting the color, you can mimic the effect of atmospheric
haze and create the illusion of increasing distance. Increasing the bluish cast of
an image also creates a sense of depth because cool colors recede and warm
colors come forward.
Linear Perspective: this is a system of drawing developed during
the Renaissance period of history (about 1400-1500). It use lines
that converge on vanishing points to achieve a more realistic illusion
of space. Linear perspective is described by the number of vanishing
points used- one point, two point or three point. Type most often are
used alone, but they may be combined in complex drawings or
paintings.