IDFX

Design theory

is away to direct design based on a system of beliefs or philosophy. ex. personal world view, historic precedent, environmental design research, functional needs, how humans perceive the environment, and a particular process of design

Environmental design research

focuses on theories of the interaction between human behavior, their environment, society, and culture

Evidence-based design (EBD)

basing design decisions on credible research that links one or more environmental elements with a desired outcome

Functionalism

places emphasis on providing simple, rational solutions to design problems without extraneous decoration

Gestalt Psychology

humans innately perceive things as a whole so that what is perceived is complete and comprehensible

Grouping

humans perceive separate units in the visual field as a group

Simultaneous Contrast

the same color appears to change depending on the background color it is seen against

Closure (form constancy)

the tendency to perceive incomplete forms as complete

Continuity

the tendency to see a line or shape as continuing in a particular direction rather than making sharp turn

Simplicity (a part of Gestalt)

people prefer the simplest, most stable organization of forms or the overall structure of elements in the visual field rather than complex individual parts

Figure-ground

refers to the way people distinguish a form (the figure) from its surrounding (the ground)

Shape constancy

people perceive objects as having their original shape regardless of a change in orientation of the object or the point of view of the observer

Size constancy

people tend to perceive an object as having the same size regardless of the changes in viewing distance to the object

Lightness constancy

people perceive the lightness or darkness of an object as the same regardless of the illumination of the space in which the object is viewed

Color constancy

people perceive the color of an object as the same regardless of the lighting conditions under which the object is viewed

Binocular disparity

the difference in what each eye sees

Behavior setting

particular place with definable boundaries an objects in which a standing pattern of behavior occurs at a particular time

Territoriality

a fundamental aspect of human behavior and refers to peoples need to lay claim to the spaces they occupy and the things they own

Proxemics

created by Edward T. Hall, the study of the degrees of spatial separation that people maintain while interacting, and how these distances are related to social, environmental, and cultural factors

Intimate distance

ranges from physical contact to about 6 in for the close phase to 18 in for the far phase

Personal distance

about 1 1/2 ft to 2 1/2 ft for the close phase and from 2 1/2 ft to 4 ft for the far phase

Social distance

about 4 ft to 7 ft for the close phase and from 7 ft to 12 ft for the far phase

Public distance

about 12ft onward

Form

the basic shape and configuration of an object or space

Point

perceived when a 2 dimensionally perceived object appears relatively small in relation to the plane against which it is seen

Line

an object or form whose actual or visual length greatly exceeds any actual width or depth it may have

Horizontal line

perceived as restful, stable, and related to the plane of the earth

Vertical line

Connote Strength, equilibrium, permanence, and a strong upward movement

Diagonal lines

dynamic and represent movement, either upward or downward

Curved lines

relate more to the natural world and the human body

Plane

a form with 2 dominant dimensional, length and width

Volume

the true 3 dimensional aspect of interior design because an object with volume is clearly perceived as a spatial form having length, width, and depth

Shape

the unique characteristic of an object or space that defines it as distinct from adjacent objects or spaces

Scale

relative size of something as related to another element of known size

Proportion

the relationship of parts of a composition to each other and to the whole

Color

physical property of visible light that is one part of the larger electromagnetic spectrum, which also includes other radiation like X-ray and infrared light

Subtractive color

created with pigments

Primary colors of light

red, green, and blue

Primary colors of pigments

yellow, red, and blue

Hue

the basic color

Value

degree of lightness and darkness

Intensity (Chroma)

the degree of purity of the hue when compared with a neutral gray of the same value

Tint

white is added to the hue, its value is raised

shade

black is added, its value is lowered

Tone

adding gray of the same value or adding its complement

Complement

the hue opposite it on the color wheel

The Brewster (Prang) Color system

organizes color pigments into the 3 primary colors of red, blue, and yellow. When primary color's are mixed in equal amounts, they produce the secondary colors of violet, orange, and green. When a primary color is mixed with an adjacent secondary color a tertiary color is created.

The Munsell Color system

uses three scales in 3 dimensions to specify the values of hue, Value, and chroma (intensity).l

Monochromatic color scheme

one with variations only in intensity and value

Analogous color scheme

uses hues that are close to each other on the color wheel, one primary, one secondary, and the tertiary between them

Complementary color scheme

used hues on opposite sides of the color wheel

Triad color scheme

uses 3 colors equally spaced around the color wheel

Tetrad color scheme

uses 4 colors that are equally spaced around the color wheel

Texture

the surface quality of a material

Pattern

the repetition of a decorative motif on a surface

Balance

the arrangement of elements in a composition to achieve visual equilibrium

Symmetrical balance

consist of identical elements arranged equally about a common axis

Asymmetrical balance

equalizing the visual, or optical, weights of non similar elements in a composition within a visual field or about a common axis

Radial balance

a type of symmetrical balance in which elements are arranged uniformly about a central point

Harmony

the agreement of the parts to each other and to the whole

Rhythm

the repetition of elements in a regular pattern

Gradation

type of rhythm where the size, color, or value of design elements are gradually modified as the elements repeat

Contrast

the juxtaposition of dissimilar elements

Proportion

the relationship between one part of an object or composition and another part and to the whole, or between one element and another

Golden Ratio

When a single line is divided into 2 unequal segments such that the ratio of the smaller part is to the larger part as the larger part is to the whole

Golden section

golden ratio translated into a rectangle. The golden ratio is developed by using a square to geometrically form the golden section

Greek letter phi

approx 1.618. the golden ratio developed by dividing a line according to these proportions is a irrational number named this

Fibonacci series

a sequence of numbers beginning with 0 and 1. Each successive number in the series is the sum of the previous two. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc. when any number is divided by the previous term, the quotient approximates the golden ratio. As the numbers get larger the quotient gets closer to the value of the golden ratio.

Modular system

developed by architect Le Corbusier. Used to maintain human scale using the average male proportions

Programming

a process during which information about a problem is collected, analyzed, and clearly stated to provide a basis for design. It is problem analysis, whereas design is problem synthesis

five-step process

establishing goals, collect facts, uncover concepts, determining needs, stating the problem

Four major considerations during programing

form. function, economy, time

Human factors

involves the correctness of fit between objects and spaces and the needs of the people using those objects and spaces

Anthropometrics

the measurement of the size, proportions, and range of motion of the human body. established for various population groups, ages, and sex

Static Anthropometrics

measures the human body at rest

Dynamic Anthropometrics

measures the human body while preforming activities

Ergonomics

the study of the relation between human physiology and the physical environment

Human Comfort

Based on the quality of: temperature, humidity, air movement, temperature radiation to and from surrounding surfaces, air quality, sound, vibration, and light

British thermal unit (BTU)

amount of heat energy required to raise one pound of water by one degree

Joules

how heat energy is measured in SI (metric)

Watts (W)

acting over a period of one hour, the SI unit corresponding to BTU/hr

convection

the transfer of heat through the movement of a fluid, either a gas or liquid

Evaporation

when moisture changes to vapor

Radiation

the transfer of heat energy through electromagnetic waves from one surface to a colder surface

Conduction

the transfer heat through direct contact between two objects of different temperatures

Air temperature

the primary determinant of comfort

Effective temperature (ET)

a value that was developed that combines the effects of air temperature, humidity, and air movements

Relative humidity

the percentage of moisture in the air compared with the maximum amount of moisture the air can hold at a given temperature without condensing

Air movement

tends to increase evaporation and heat loss through convection

Mean radiant temperature (MRT)

a weighted average of the various surface temperature in a room, the angle of exposure of the occupant to these surfaces, and any sunlight present

Clo

equal to the typical American mans business suit, or about 0.15 clo/lbs of clothing

Ventilation

provides oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, to remove odor, and to carry away contaminants

Questionnaire

written forms that people fill in with requested information. Designed to be short, unambiguous, and easy

Precedent study

the process of looking at previously completed designs, construction methods or material choices to guide or suggest the solution to a current problem

Case study

a detailed analysis of an existing facility or interior that is similar to a proposed project

Benchmarking

a research process that compares project data against data sets from other similar projects, either within the same design firm or across multiple design firms

Site analysis

the investigation and evaluation of conditions within which the project will be competed

Field survey

a thorough understanding and documentation of the space in which the project will be located

Site context

solar orientation, transportation, public facilities and amenities, Historical and cultural elements

Determining space needs

first way is to multiply the area one person needs by the total number of people in the same area, second way is by the size of an object or piece of equipment, third way is through a built-in set of rules or customs related to the activity itself