Elements & Principles of Design

These links will help illustrate the elements and principles of design. Lesson plans can be developed around each of the linked web pages.

Design Elements

Each Web page shows an example of one element or principle with explanatory text.

The elements and principles can help organize a composition and help determine what doesn't fit. An underlying plan can hold things together.

Design Principles

These definitions were developed during the era of the Bauhaus, in Germany in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Artists from ancient Greece, the Italian Renaissance, to modern architects and makers of modern cars use these elements and principles to lay out their ideas.

One of the enduring principles is proportion. Proportion can determine the size of a building or a car and the disposition of its elements.

fill-in Worksheet: What is design?
Word-Search: Design Vocabulary
Design Worksheets, 16 pp

design - old school page

You might like these pages on this site ....

  • Explanation of color-schemes as a unifying design element, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Element - Color Schemes

    Explanation of color-schemes as a unifying design element, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

  • unity and variety as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

    Unity and Variety

    unity and variety as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

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    Shape and Form

    shape and form as a design element - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • A discussion of proportion as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Principle - Proportion

    A discussion of proportion as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

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    Color Schemes

    color schemes as a design element - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • A discussion of pattern as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Principle - Pattern

    A discussion of pattern as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

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    Design

    Elements and Principles of Design, definitions, illustrations

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    Texture

    texture as a design element - art lesson plan for high school teachers

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    Proportion

    proportion as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • A discussion of space as a design element, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Element - Space

    A discussion of space as a design element, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

  • space as a design element - art lesson plan for high school teachers

    Space

    space as a design element - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • rhythm and movement as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

    Rhythm and Movement

    rhythm and movement as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • A discussion of shape & form as elements of design, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Element - Shape & Form

    A discussion of shape & form as elements of design, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

  • a discussion of texture as a design element, A discussion of emphasis as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Element - Texture

    a discussion of texture as a design element, A discussion of emphasis as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

  • A discussion of emphasis as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Prinicple - Emphasis

    A discussion of emphasis as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

  • pattern as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

    Pattern

    pattern as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • A discussion of Rhythm and Movement as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Principle - Rhythm & Movement

    A discussion of Rhythm and Movement as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

  • A discussion of the design principle - balance with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Principle - Balance

    A discussion of the design principle - balance with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

  • emphasis as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

    Emphasis

    emphasis as a design principle - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • a discussion of light, color and value as elements of design, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Element - Light, Color, Value

    a discussion of light, color and value as elements of design, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

  • light color value as a design elements - art lesson plan for high school teachers

    Light Color Value

    light color value as a design elements - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • A discusssion of Unity and Variety as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Principle - Unity & Variety

    A discusssion of Unity and Variety as a design principle, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

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    Line

    line as a design element - art lesson plan for high school teachers

  • A discussion of line as a design element, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.

    Design Element - Line

    A discussion of line as a design element, with downloadable fill-in worksheet.