BASIC &

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
CONTENTS:
• Aim
• Objective
• Introduction to basic design
• Elements of design
• Properties
• Qualities
• Characters
• Principles of design
• Scale
• Proportion
• Balance
• Harmony
• Rhythm
• Contrast
AIM:

To understand the elements and principles of Basic Design as

the building blocks of creative design through exercises that
develop the originality, skill and creative thinking.
OBJECTIVES:

• To understand the grammar of design and visual

composition.
Introduction:
Basic Design is a discipline of Design that applies the principles of visual language for
better analysis and understanding of design solution, color theory, compositions,
and definition of various elements of design such as form, shape, line, point and their
semantic use.

A multi-disciplinary domain, Design consists of art, architecture and new media

technology, and demands clear understanding of design fundamentals.

For a designer to communicate more concisely and in a visually appealing manner, it

is necessary to use commonly understood formula (principles), perspective and
design layout standards.

Together, these conventions constitute a visual language, and help to ensure that the
drawing is clear and relatively easy to understand.
 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN:
 POINT
POINT indicates a position in space

 LINE

A point extended becomes a LINE

 PLANE

 VOLUME
A line extended becomes a PLANE

 MATERIALS

 COLOR A plane extended becomes a

VOLUME

 SHAPE

 TEXTURE
POINT

• Marks a position in space.

• It has no length, width, or depth and therefore static,

centralized and directionless.
LINE

• A point extended becomes a line

• It has length, but no width, or depth.

• Capable of visually expressing direction, movement and

growth.
 PLANE

• A line extended becomes a plane.

• It has length, width, but no depth.

In the composition of visual construction, a

plane serves to define the limits, boundaries of
a volume.
Plane in Architecture define three dimensional volumes of
mass and space.

3 generic types of
plane:

1. Wall plane

2. Overhead plane

3. Base plane
 VOLUME

• A plane extended in a direction other than its intrinsic

direction becomes a plane.

• It has length, width, and depth.

All volumes can be analyzed and understood to consist

of:

• Points or vertices where several planes come

together
• Form is the primary characteristic
• Lines or edges where two planes meet of a volume.
• It is established by the shapes and
• Planes or surfaces that describe that define the interrelationships of the planes
limits or boundaries of a volume. that describe the boundaries of
the volume.
Shape refers essential aspects of form that govern its appearance.

Shape is categorized by four distinct types:

• geometric,
• natural,
• abstract
• non-objective.

The characteristic outline or surface configuration of a

particular form.
Shape is the principal aspect by which we identify and
categorize forms.

In addition to shape, forms have visual properties of:

SIZE:

• The physical dimensions of length, depth and width of a

form.

• While these dimensions determine the proportions of a

form, its scale is determined by its size relative to other
forms in its context.
COLOR:
• A phenomena of light and visual perception that may be
described in terms of an individual’s perception of hue,
saturation and tonal value

• Color is the attribute that most clearly distinguishes a form

from its environment.

TEXTURE:

• The visual and especially tactile quality given to a surface

by a size, shape, arrangement and proportions of the parts.

• Texture also determines the degree to which the surface of

a form reflect or absorb incident light.
 SCALE

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

 PROPORTION
• Defined through interpretation, work together to provide a
final solution.

 BALANCE

• These principles undergo interpretation and re-integration

throughout the design process.
 HARMONY

• By which Architectural design grows, matures and prospers

 RHYTHM
in our ever-changing world.

 CONTRAST
SCALE:

• Relates closely to proportional development.

• Scale refers to the size relationship of the

element itself to a known or established
standard.

• Scale is the size of the element; proportion is

the ratio between elements.

• The use of scale in design requires a size

comparison to a known/common standard.

• The most commonly used standard is the

human form.
PROPORTION:

• Perceived equality or ratio between elements of

architectural design.

• To create aesthetically complete compositions.

• To create a sense of order, emphasis, scale and meaning

relative to the overall design solution.
BALANCE: SYMMETRY BALANCE

• Balance occurs when opposing forces or visual

weights appear to be equal and harmonious.

• The need for order seeks a balance in life and

nature so that harmony with the environment can
ASYMMETRY BALANCE
be achieved.

• Balance is both the easiest and most difficult to

resolve.

• Balance can be achieved though the use of three

application strategies:
• symmetry,
• asymmetry and RADIAL BALANCE
• radial balance
HARMONY:

• Harmony in visual design means all parts of the

visual image relate to and complement each
other.

• Harmony can be achieved through repetition

and rhythm.

• Repetition re-emphasizes visual units,

connecting parts and creating an area of
attention.
RHYTHM: Application of rhythm can be achieved in
many forms including:
• Melodic response incorporated into • Structure: The use of column spacing,
the built solution. size and proportion

• A key component of ARCHITECTURE • Pattern: Lead the visual motion within a

and MUSIC streams. space.

• Relates to a regular occurrence • Texture: Enhance a rhythmic cadence in

(rhythmic) of similar and like effects. coordination with pattern.

Textural variance can also contribute to

• Rhythm may be perceived through the the sense of unity and variety.
sense of movement (line and shape)

• Sequence and patterns incorporated

into the design solution.
CONTRAST:

• Specific emphasis to a particular piece The use of contrast can be found

or section of the solution. through variation of design
elements within a structure
including:
• To create a greater sense of the element
in relation to its surroundings. • Size

• The process of "using and reading" the • Shape and mass

building.
• Colour (hue, value, intensity)
• Strong contrast can be used to provide
theatrical like effects for strong impact. • Texture and pattern

• Lighting (natural or artificial)

• Placement or proximity within

the design.