Design, Culture, and the near environment Exam 1 study guide Terms and definitions

line

Created by a moving point; can create movement direction and emotion

shape

A two-dimensional enclosed area defined by lines or boundaries

color

An element of design that creates visual interest and can communicate emotion or meaning

hue

The name of a color such as red blue or yellow

tint

A hue mixed with white

shade

A hue mixed with black

color family

A group of colors related by a common hue

color scheme

A planned combination of colors used together in a design

primary

Colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors; red yellow and blue

secondary

Colors created by mixing two primary colors; orange green and violet

tertiary

Colors created by mixing a primary color with a neighboring secondary color

complementary

Two colors opposite each other on the color wheel

split-complementary

A color scheme using one color and the two colors beside its complement

analogous

Colors located next to each other on the color wheel

monochromatic

A color scheme using variations of one hue

formal balance

Symmetrical balance where visual weight is distributed evenly on both sides

informal balance

Asymmetrical balance where different elements create equal visual weight

radial balance

Visual elements arranged around a central point

focal point

The area of a design that attracts the most attention

craftsmanship

The quality of skill and care shown in making an object

taste

An individual's ability to judge or appreciate what is aesthetically pleasing

good design

Design that expresses its material; has an aesthetically pleasing form; and fulfills its purpose

abstraction

Reducing or changing recognizable subjects into simplified or altered forms

nonrepresentational art

Art that does not represent recognizable objects or subjects

discernment

The ability to recognize and judge differences in quality or meaning

inspiration

An idea or influence that stimulates the creative process

creativity

The ability to develop new and original ideas or solutions

actual line

A visible line that physically exists in a design

implied line

A line suggested by the positioning or direction of objects rather than physically drawn

line in combination

Lines used together to create shapes patterns textures movement or other visual effects

horizontal line

A line that moves from side to side; often associated with rest and calm

vertical line

A line that moves up and down; often associated with strength and stability

diagonal line

A slanted line that suggests movement energy or action

depth

The appearance or perception of distance from foreground to background

deep acute curve

A strongly curved line that creates a sense of depth or movement

curved line

A line that changes direction smoothly rather than moving straight

lettering

The use of letters as visual elements that can communicate meaning emotion or identity

border

A line or design element that defines or surrounds an area

groundsheet

A background or surface that provides a visual area on which design elements are placed

actual shape

A shape that physically exists and has visible boundaries

geometric shape

A shape based on precise mathematical forms such as circles squares and triangles

implied shape

A shape suggested by lines objects or spaces even though it is not completely outlined

mass/form

Mass is the visual weight of an object; form refers to its three-dimensional structure

two-dimensional

Having height and width but no physical depth

three-dimensional

Having height width and depth

perspective

A method of creating the appearance of depth and distance in a two-dimensional design

dress

Any intentional modification of appearance; it is a behavior

appearance

All aspects of the body that are observed by others

culture

The shared beliefs values behaviors customs and material objects of a group

material culture

The physical objects created and used by a culture such as clothing tools and buildings

cultural authentication

The process of determining whether a cultural object or practice is genuinely associated with the culture it represents

multicultural society

A society containing multiple cultural groups with different backgrounds traditions and identities

ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture should be the standard for judging other cultures

pluralism

The idea that multiple cultures can coexist and be respected within the same society

symbolic interaction theory

The theory that people create and communicate meaning through social interaction and symbols such as dress

self-identification process

The process of developing and communicating an understanding of who one is

role theory

The theory that people occupy social roles and use behavior and appearance to communicate those roles

identity

A person's understanding of who they are including personal social and cultural characteristics

collective selection theory

The theory that fashion develops through the collective choices and interactions of groups

fashion

A culturally influenced form of dress or appearance that is temporarily accepted or desired by a group

zeitgeist

The spirit of the times; the social cultural economic and technological conditions of a particular period

trend

A direction of change or development in fashion or appearance

fashion lifecycle

The process of fashion moving from introduction to acceptance popularity decline and replacement

fashion innovator

A person who adopts or introduces a new style before it becomes widely accepted

fashion leader

A person who adopts and promotes a fashion early and influences others

early adopter

A person who adopts a new fashion relatively early in its acceptance

late adopter

A person who adopts a fashion after it has already become established

fashion follower

A person who waits until a fashion is widely accepted before adopting it

classic

A style that remains accepted and fashionable for a long period of time

fad

A style that becomes popular quickly and then disappears quickly

megatrend

A major long-lasting trend that influences many areas of society

gatekeeper

A person group or organization that influences which fashions are introduced promoted or accepted

fashion change

The process of dress and appearance changing over time because of social cultural economic and technological influences

trickle-down theory

The theory that fashion moves from higher-status groups to lower-status groups

trickle-across theory (horizontal)

The theory that fashion spreads horizontally among people of similar social status

trickle-up theory (street fashion)

The theory that fashion moves from lower-status or street groups into mainstream or higher-status fashion

social identity theory

The theory that people define part of their identity through membership in social groups and use dress to communicate group membership

uniqueness theory

The theory that people seek to distinguish themselves while still maintaining an acceptable connection to a group

nondiscursive

Communication that occurs without spoken or written language

polysemic

Having multiple possible meanings or interpretations

undercoding

When a sign or appearance does not have one clear or universal meaning

traditional (ethnic) dress

Dress associated with a particular cultural or ethnic group that communicates heritage and identity

channels of communication

The ways information or meaning is transmitted from one person or group to another

perceptual elements of clothing

Visible characteristics of clothing such as color texture line shape and pattern

context

The social cultural physical historical or situational circumstances that influence how something is interpreted