DK Ching VD - Design

design

the creation and organization of formal elements in a work of art

form

the shape and structure of something as distinguished from its substance or material

shape

the outline or surface configuration of a particular form or figure; suggests an outline with some emphasis on the enclosed area or mass

line

the edge or contour of a shape

texture

the visual and esp. tactile quality of a surface, apart from its color or form

visual texture

the apparent texture of a surface resulting from the combination and interrelation of colors and tonal values

tactile texture

the physical, dimensional structure of a surface apart from its color or form

organic

of or pertaining to shapes and forms having irregular contours that appear to resemble those of living plants or animals

nonobjective

of or pertaining to shapes and forms not representing natural or actual objects; also called "nonrepresentational"

geometric

of or pertaining to shapes and forms that resemble or employ the simple rectilinear or curvilinear elements of geometry

abstract

of or pertaining to shapes and forms having an intellectual and effective content dependent solely on their intrinsic lines, colors, and relationship to one another

symbol

something that stands for or represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, deriving its meaning chiefly from the structure in which it appears

sign

a mark or figure having a conventional meaning and used in place of a word or phrase to express a complex notion

massing

a unified composition of two-dimensional shapes or three-dimensional volumes, esp. one that has or gives the impression of weight, density, and bulk

additive

characterized or produced by addition, accumulation, or uniting, often resulting in a new identity

subtractive

characterized or produced by removal of a part or portion without destroying a sense of the whole

articulation

a method or manner of jointing that makes the united parts clear, distinct, and precise in relation to each other

form

the manner of arranging and coordinating the parts of a composition so as to produce a coherent image

content

the significance or meaning of an artistic work, as distinguished from its form

organization

the systematic arranging of interdependent or coordinated parts into a coherent unity or functioning whole

detail

an individual, minute, or subordinate part of a whole

structure

the organization of elements or parts in a complex system as dominated by the general character of the whole

texture

the characteristic structure given to a surface or substance by the size, shape, arrangement, and proportions of the parts

fabric

an underlying framework or structure of connected parts

parti

the basic scheme or concept for an architectural design, represented by a diagram

diagram

a drawing, not necessarily representational, that outlines, explains, or clarifies the arrangement and relations of the parts of a whole

composition

the arranging of parts or elements into proper proportions or relation so as to form a unified whole

pattern

an artistic or decorative design, esp. one having a characteristic arrangement and considered as a unit, of which an idea can be given by a fragment

design principle

a fundamental and comprehensive concept of visual perception for structuring an aesthetic composition

order

a condition of logical, harmonious, or comprehensible arrangement in which each element of a group is properly disposed with reference to other elements and to its purpose

unity

the state or quality of being combined into one

harmony

the orderly, pleasing, or congruent arrangement of the elements or parts in an artistic whole

repose

harmony in the arrangement of parts or colors that is restful to the eye

coherent

logically or aesthetically ordered or integrated to afford comprehension or recognition

agreement

correspondence in size, shape, or color among the elements in work or art

similarity

the state or quality of being alike in substance, essentials, or characteristics

proximity

nearness in place, order, or relation

uniformity

the state or quality of being identical, homogeneous, or regular

homogeneous

uniform in structure throughout or composed of parts that are all of the same nature or kind

regular

uniformly or evenly formed or arranged

continuity

the state or quality of being continuous

alignment

arrangement in or adjustment according to a straight line

monotony

the state or quality of lacking variety

complexity

the state or quality of being a while composed of complicated, intricate, or interconnected parts

variety

the state or quality of having varied or diverse forms, types, or characteristics

emphasis

stress or prominence given to an element of a composition by means of contrast, anomaly, or counterpart

collage

an artistic composition of often diverse elements in unlikely or unexpected justaposition

hierarchy

a system of elements ranked, classified, and organized one above another, according to importance or significance

contrast

opposition or juxtaposition of dissimilar elements in a work of art to intensify each element's properties and produce more dynamic expressiveness

opposition

the state or position of being placed opposite another, or of lying in corresponding positions from an intervening space or object

juxtaposition

the state or position of being placed close together or side by side, so as to permit comparison or contrast

tension

a tenuous balance maintained in an artistic work between opposing forces or elements, often causing anxiety or excitement

anomaly

a deviation from the normal or expected form, order, or arrangement

contradiction

the state or condition of being opposed, inconsistent, or logically incongruous

point

the major idea, essential part, or salient feature of a narrative or concept

salient

prominent or conspicuous

counterpoint

a parallel but contrasting element or theme in a narrative or concept

balance

the pleasing or harmonious arrangement or proportion of parts or elements in a design or composition

equilibrium

a state of rest or balance between contrasting elements or opposing forces

equipose

an equal distribution of weight, relationship, or forces

counterpoise

a counterbalancing weight or force

symmetry

the exact correspondence in size, form, and arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane, or about a center or axis

bilateral symmetry

symmetry resulting from the arrangement of similar parts on opposite sides of a median axis

radial symmetry

symmetry resulting from the arrangement of similar, radiating parts about a center point or central axis

central plan

the plan for a building organized around a large or dominant space, usually characterized by two axis crossing each other at right angles

local symmetry

a symmetrical condition occurring in one part of a design, often serving to center an irregular pattern

axis

a straight line to which elements in a composition arc referred for measurement or symmetry

axis of symmetry

an imaginary line about which a figure, body, or composition is symmetrical

movement

the rhythmic quality of a composition suggesting motion by represented gestures or by the relationship of structural elements

direction

the line along which something is moving, pointing, or facing, with reference to the point toward which is directed

gradation

a process or change taking place by degrees or through a series of gradual, successive stages

rhythym

movement characterized by a patterned repetition or alternation of formal elements or motifs in the same or modified form

repetition

the act or process of repeating formal elements or motifs in a design

interval

a space between two objects, points, or states

concatenation

a series of linked or interconnected things or events

proportion

the comparative, proper, or harmonious relation of one part to another or to the while with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree

eurythmy

harmony of proportion or movement

proportion

the equality between two ratios in which the first of the four terms divided by the second equals the third divided by the fourth

golden section

a proportion between the two dimensions of a plane figure or the two divisions of a line, in which the ratio of the smaller to the larger is the same as the ratio of the larger to the whole

Fibonacci series

the unending sequence of numbers where the first two terms are 1 and 1, and each succeeding term is the sum of the two immediately preceding

harmonic series

a series whose terms are in harmonic progression

harmonic progression

a sequence of numbers whose reciprocals form an arithmetic progression

scale

a certain proportionate size, extent, or degree, usually judged in relation to some standard or point of reference

human scale

the size or proportion of a building element or space, or an article of furniture, relative to the structural or functional dimensions of the human body

module

a unit of measurement used for standardizing the dimensions of building materials or regulating the proportions of an architectural composition

mechanical scale

the size or proportion of something relative to an accepted standard of measurement

visual scale

the size or proportion an element appears to have relative to other elements or components of known or assumed size

ergonomics

an applied science concerned with the characteristics of people that need to be considered in the design of devices and systems in order that people and things will interact effectively and safely; also called "human engineering"

anthropometry

the measurement and study of the size and proportions of the human body

anthropomorphize

to ascribe human form or characteristics to nonhuman things or beings

structural dimension

any of the dimensions of the human body and its parts

functional dimension

any of the dimensions determined by bodily position and movement, such as reach, stride, or clearance

static fit

the correspondence between the size and posture of a human body and a building element or article of furniture

dynamic fit

the correspondence between the sensory experience of bodily presence and movement, and the size, shape, and proportion of a space

kinesthesia

the sensory experience of bodily position, presence, or movement derived chiefly from stimulation of nerve endings in muscles, tendons, and joints

haptic

relating to or based on the sense of touch

olfactory

relating to or based on the sense of smell

barrier-free

of or pertaining to spaces, buildings, and facilities fully accessible and usable by all people, including the physically handicapped

territoriality

the pattern of behavior associated with defining and defending a territory or domain

proxemics

the study of symbolic and communicative role of the spatial separation individuals maintain in various social and interpersonal situations, and how the nature and degree of this spatial arrangement relates to environmental and cultural factors