Elements of Design Introduction to Fashion Studies
Schedule Housekeeping/Attendance Reminder about Midterm move to 3/19
Blog Presentations (Gaby, Allison, & Faht) Break Elements and Principles of Design Lecture Famous/Important Designers Industry Highlight: Designer Group Work Prep for 3/19
What is Design?
• Design: “the organization of design elements, using design principles, to create products that are considered aesthetically pleasing to the observer” (Keiser & Garner, 2003, p. 177).
• Designers • Stylists • Does not necessarily only apply to the apparel industry
Design Elements The building blocks of design
Line Color Texture Pattern Silhouette Shape
Line Determines the silhouette of the garment and the shapes formed within the garment Symmetry Asymmetry Optics
Color  The visual perception of certain wavelengths of light by the retina of the eye.
Color Chromatic: colors that have a hue Achromatic: black, white, and gray otherwise known as neutral
Value: the quality by which we distinguish light colors from dark colors Light colors are referred to as tints A shade refers to a color mixed with black to decrease the value and darken the hue
Color Chroma: a color’s saturation, or degree of departure from the neutral of the same value Color Temperature: is used to describe a color’s apparent warmth or coolness in relation to another color.
“Designers must be aware of how warm and cool colors relate to customers skin tone and hair color” (Keiser & Garner, 2003, p. 126).
Color Primary Colors: are the minimum number of hues that can be mixed to make the greatest number of other colors.
Secondary Colors: are two primary colors mixed together Intermediate colors
Color  Monochromatic Colors: a color story based on several colors of the same hue.
Color  Analogous Colors: position next to each other on the color wheel
 Complementary Colors: positioned opposite on another on the color wheel
Texture The term used to describe the surface or hand of a fabric and can be attributed to a combination of the fabric’s characteristics
Fiber Yarn Construction Weight Finish
Texture
Pattern  Can be made from the fabric from weaving, knitting, or felting
 Print or embossing  Large patterns versus small patterns
Pattern
Silhouette The outer shape of the garment Silhouette follows the letter A, H, T, V, or Y
Shapes Trapezoid, tent, hourglass, or bell
Also identified from history Slow to change/transition
Shape  Silhouette is frequently sectioned off into smaller parts within the garment using seam lines, details, and garment edges.
Shape Add styling to the silhouette Help to achieve fit Allow for the combination of two or more fabrics Allow the designer to create optical illusions through line
Create proportions within the silhouette or ensemble Create symmetrical or asymmetrical balance
Design Principles
Design Principles “The design process revolves around determining how to combine the design elements we have just reviewed into a pleasing whole” (Kesier & Garner, 2003, p. 184).
Proportion Balance Emphasis/Focal Point Rhythm Harmony
Proportion The scale of all the garment’s pieces to one another
Horizontal lines Yoke Waistline
Balance “A sense of stability or equilibrium” (Keiser & Garner, 2003, p. 184).
Symmetrical Asymmetrical
Focal Point  The first place on the garment to which the eye is drawn (p. 185).  Emphasis
Rhythm “The organized movement of the eye through the related elements of a garment” Strong silhouette Color Line Shape Repetition Radiation Gradation (p. 185)
Harmony “All of the design elements work together in a garment to produce a pleasing aesthetic appearance and to give a feeling of unity to the design” (p. 186). Antifashion
Challenge… Create a Polyvore concept board centering on the element or principle you were assigned. Feature work from a famous/important designer Work in teams of 2! 30 minutes!
Line Color Texture Pattern Silhouette Shape Proportion
Balance Emphasis/F ocal Point Rhythm Harmony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtGzjGz3g3g