Design Theory: WEEK 5: Form & Mass and Space & Volume

Elements of Design

The components used to create an object, composition, or environment.

One and Two Dimensional Elements

• Point = One Dimensional

• Line = One Dimensional

• Shape and Plane = Two Dimensional

Shape

An object defined by an outline or identifiable contours.

• The primary means by which we distinguish one form from another.

Plane

A closed line that creates a shape. It is 2-dimensional and expresses length and width with hardly any depth.

Different types of shapes

• Rectilinear shape

• Angular or Triangular shape

• Curvilinear shape

Three Dimensional Forms

Are made up of shape on different planes

• Express length, width, and depth

• Have the properties of surface, orientation and position

Typical or Regular Geometric Forms

• Cube

• Sphere

• Cone

• Cylinder

• Pyramid

Mass

A single form can be a mass and you can combine multiple forms of various shapes to express mass.

Space

Forms may be composed of solid, or positive space and void, or negative space and hollow spaces.

Positive Space

The area taken up by an item or subject.

Negative Space

The area remaining around it.

Space

The area defined by elements being around one another, whether on top or below such as ceiling or floor, or in front or behind such as a wall or series of columns.

• Space has layers: a background, a middle ground, and a foreground. The background indicates depth and the foreground is what is closest to the viewer.

Volume

The amount of three dimensional space enclosed with forms or planes.