Design and Its visual elements
- 1. DESIGN STAGES Design is a process of formulating, creating and planning a functional object such as a building to accomplish certain purposes for example accommodation purposes, offices, commercial or storage. Design as a product can be defined as a plan produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment or other object before it is made. Design in architectural projects involves three basic stages 1. Conceptual stage, this comprises of project definition, literature reviews, setting up of design criteria and constraints, site study and envisaging of the design concept. 2. Preliminary design stage, this consists of preparation of design sketches, concept development, and preparation of outline proposal, conceptual models and spatial organization. 3. Final or Scheme Designstage, this the last stage that involves the preparation of architectural drawings such as floor plans, elevations, site plans, sections, 3D drawings and final models. VISUAL ELEMENTS OF DESIGN Line Is a mark between two points or a point extended. Line types include straight lines, squiggly lines and curved lines. A line serves to Connect and support other visual elements. It helps to emphasize plane edges and give its shape. It helps to manipulate the surface appearance of planes. A line orientation impacts it visual perception. Vertical line expresses state of equilibrium with the force of gravity; symbolize human condition and a position in space. Horizontal line represents stability and body at rest. Color Color creates emotions and feelings defining the importance of spaces. For instance red color excites and stimulates when highly deep it disturbs, heavy, aggressive, conscious and alerting. Orange stimulates creating attention, it warms, is luminous, activating and it is motion oriented. Yellow impacts cheering, it elevates, diverts and it irritates particularly when highly saturated. Green impacts during relaxation it is protective, reflective, unattractive, natural, soft and passive
- 2. Shape Shape is a two dimensional profile of an object. Shapes are made when lines joining points enclose to form areas. Shapes are of two types geometric shapes and free-form or organic shapes. Geometric shapes are the ones that can easily be defined using mathematical procedures, they are regular and precise they include squares, rectangles, triangles, oval, pentagons etc. Free-form or Organic shapes are complex to define using mathematical formulas, they are irregular, uneven and come out of nature. Example puddles, trees, animals, leaves, rocks ect. Texture Texture refers to a property that relates to smoothness, softness and coarseness of a surface. Texture helps to create visual interest or a focal point, contrast creation and maintaining balance in a design composition. There are two types of texture real texture and implied texture. Size Size refers to degree of smallness or largeness something looks to be. Size is used to describe the importance, creating visual interest in a design composition and attracting intention among the series of design elements.