Scale, Proportion, Emphasis

Blog assignment #3: Discuss three of the elements & principles of design and how they relate to interior design.

The elements and principles of design are the building blocks to good design.  Every designer should know and understand these, and while we may not always be conscious of why we make our design decisions often the reasons fall back to these design basics. to help understand these, I am referencing excellent definitions from “Art, Design, and Visual Thinking” An Interactive Textbook By Charlotte Jirousek, Cornell University http://char.txa.cornell.edu/ are in block quote and italicized.

Principle of Design: Balance

What is Balance? We know when something is off balance – it looks and feels funny to us,  it doesn’t set right. Humans like balance, we like to feel secure, and comfortable, balance has to do with our ability to feel and relate to a space or composition.   In interior design balance is vital for the comfort and physical and mental wellbeing of the end user.

“Balance is the concept of visual equilibrium, and relates to our physical sense of balance. It is a reconciliation of opposing forces in a composition that results in visual stability. Most successful compositions achieve balance in one of two ways: symmetrically or asymmetrically. Balance in a three dimensional object is easy to understand; if balance isn't achieved, the object tips over. To understand balance in a two dimensional composition, we must use our imaginations to carry this three dimensional analogy forward to the flat surface.”

“Symmetrical balance can be described as having equal "weight" on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum. It may also be referred to as formal balance. When the elements are arranged equally on either side of a central axis, the result is Bilateral symmetry. This axis may be horizontal or vertical. It is also possible to build formal balance by arranging elements equally around a central point , resulting in radial symmetry.”

“Asymmetrical balance, also called informal balance, is more complex and difficult to envisage. It involves placement of objects in a way that will allow objects of varying visual weight to balance one another around a fulcrum point. This can be best imagined by envisioning a literal balance scale that can represent the visual "weights" that can be imagined in a two dimensional composition. For example, it is possible to balance a heavy weight with a cluster of lighter weights on equal sides of a fulcrum; in a picture, this might be a cluster of small objects balanced by a large object. It is also possible to imagine objects of equal weight but different mass (such as a large mass of feathers versus a small mass of stones) on equal sides of a fulcrum. Unequal weights can even be balanced by shifting the fulcrum point on our imaginary scale.” 

“Whether the solution is simple or complex, some form of balance can be identified in most successful compositions. For a further discussion of balance in design see these sites:   Symmetrical balance     Asymmetrical balance”

Principle of Design: Proportion

Just like goldilocks, in the story of the Three Bears Home, we all like to feel just right.  I fix proportion problems in my client’s homes often.  Big vs. little and high vs. low continues to be an ongoing battle – especially with large screen TV’s and hanging anything on the wall.  Proportion addresses the need for parts of a whole to relate to one another. We design in terms of human scale. Scale can send strong messages it can be welcoming, inviting, it can create a sense of awe and wonder.  Using Egyptian temples as an example, the human relation to the structure was designed to have an ominous presence, show strength and stature, wealth, power and endurance.  The over sized statues make the person entering feel small and realize their place in that society.   

“Proportion refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design. The issue is the relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole. This means that it is necessary to discuss proportion in terms of the context or standard used to determine proportions.”

“Our most universal standard of measurement is the human body; that is, our experience of living in our own bodies. We judge the appropriateness of size of objects by that measure. For example, a sofa in the form of a hand is startling because of the distortion of expected proportion, and becomes the center of attention in the room. Architectural spaces intended to impress are usually scaled to a size that dwarfs the human viewer. This is a device often used in public spaces, such as churches or centers of government. The same principle is often applied to corporate spaces through which the enterprise wishes to impress customers with its power and invincibility.  In contrast, the proportions of a private home are usually more in scale with human measure, and as a result it appears more friendly, comfortable, less intimidating.  Use of appropriate scale in surface design is also important. For example, an overly large textile design can overwhelm the form of a garment or a piece of furniture.”

Principle of Design: Emphasis

Visually, and perhaps physically, what is the most important part of a space? What is the natural focal point?  What is the intended focal point? Perhaps it is the view, an object d’art, a functional aspect or combination.

“Emphasis is also referred to as point of focus, or interruption. It marks the locations in a composition which most strongly draw the viewers attention. Usually there is a primary, or main, point of emphasis, with perhaps secondary emphases in other parts of the composition. The emphasis is usually an interruption in the fundamental pattern or movement of the viewers eye through the composition, or a break in the rhythm.” 

“The artist or designer uses emphasis to call attention to something, or to vary the composition in order to hold the viewers interest by providing visual "surprises." Emphasis can be achieved in a number of ways. Repetition creates emphasis by calling attention to the repeated element through sheer force of numbers. If a color is repeated across a map, the places where certain colors cluster will attract your attention, in this instance graphing varying rates of mortality from cardiovascular disease. Contrast achieves emphasis by setting the point of emphasis apart from the rest of its background. Various kinds of contrasts are possible. The use of a neutral background isolates the point of emphasis. Contrast of color, texture, or shape will call attention to a specific point. Contrast of size or scale will as well. Placement in a strategic position will call attention to a particular element of a design.” 

Prolonged visual involvement through intricacy (contrast of detail) is a more unusual form of emphasis, not as commonly used in Euro-American design, though it is common in many other cultures. In this case, many points of emphasis are created that are to be discovered through close attention to the intricacies of the design.”