1.1 Key Terms - CEA

1.1.1 & 1.1.2

Aesthetics

The quality of an object that deals with art, beauty, and taste.

Arch

A curved structure for spanning an opening, designed to support a vertical load primarily by axial compression.

Architect

An individual trained in the art and science of designing and constructing buildings.

Balance

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

Bearing Walls

Solid walls that provide support for each other and for the roof of a structure.

Civil Engineer

An engineer trained in the design and construction of public works, such as bridges or dams, and other large facilities.

Color

The aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources that may be described in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources.

Contrast

A visual principle associated with change made in size, shape, color, or tone of graphic elements.

Design Principles

The rules that describe how designers might put together various design elements to create an aesthetic finished product.

Dome

An arrangement of several arches whose bases form a circle and whose tops meet in the center.

Element of Design

A basic visual component or building block of designed objects.

Emphasis

Stress or prominence given to an element of a composition by means of contrast, anomaly, or counterpoint.

Façade

The exterior face of a building.

Form

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

Keystone

A wedge-shaped stone placed in the crown of an arch.

Line

The edge or contour of a shape.

Lintel

A beam supporting the weight above a door or window opening.

Movement

The effect or illusion of motion conveyed by the relationship of structural elements in a design or composition.

Pattern

An artistic or decorative design, especially one having a characteristic arrangement and considered as a unit.

Post-and-Lintel Construction

Wall construction utilizing a framework of vertical posts and horizontal beams to carry floor and roof loads.

Repetition

A principle where some graphic elements are repeated throughout the entire design.

Rhythm

Movement characterized by a patterned repetition or alteration of formal elements or motifs in the same or a modified form.

Architecture

The art and science of designing buildings for human habitation

Building Materials

Materials were choose based on availability and climate

Vernacular Architecture

Methods of construction that use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs

Visual Design Elements

Six integral components used in the creation of a design: Line, Color, Form and Space, Space, Texture, Value

Line

Vertical: Represents dignity, formality, stability and strength. Horizontal: Represents calmness, peace, and relaxation

Diagonal: Represents action, activity, excitement, and movement

Curved: Represents freedom, the natural, having the appearance of softness, and creates a soothing feeling or mood

Color

Color has an immediate and profound effect on a design

Warm Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow

Cool Colors: Blues, Purples, Greens

Colors can affect how human feels and acts

Form and Shape

Form: The shape and structure of something as distinguishes from its substance or material

Shape: The two-dimensional contour that characterizes an object or area

Space

By incorporating the use of space in your design, you can enlarge or reduce the visual space.

Types:

Open, uncluttered spaces

Cramped, busy spaces

Unused vs good use of space

Texture

The surface look or feel of something

Smooth surface: reflects more light and therefore is a more intense color

Rough surface: absorbs more light and therefore appears darker

Value

The relative lightness or darkness of a color

Shade: Degree darkness of a color

Tint: A pale or faint variation of a color

Visual Design Principles

Seven principles encompass an interesting design:

Balance

Rhythm

Emphasis

Proportion and scale

Movement

Contrast

Unity

Balance

Parts of the design are equally distributed to create a sense of stability: both physical and visual balance exist

Types:

Symmetrical or formal balance

Asymmetrical or Informal balance

Radial balance

vertical balance

horizontal balance

Symmetrical or formal balance

The elements within the design are identical in relation to a center line or axis

Asymmetrical or informal balance

parts of the design are not identical but are equal in visual weight

Radial balance

Design elemets radiate outward from the center

Vertical balance

The top and bottom parts are equal

Horizontal balance

the parts on the left and right sides are equal

Rhythm

Repeated use of line, shape, color, texture, or pattern

Types:

Regular rhythm

graduated rhythm

Random rhythm

Gradated rhythm

Regular rhythm

An element is repeated at the same repetition/interval each time

Random Rhythm

The beats of the element are random or are at irregular intervals

Gradated rhythm

The repeated element is identical with the exception of one detail increasing or decreasing gradually with each repetition

Emphasis

The feature in a design that attracts on eye: the focal point

Emphasis can be achieved through size, placement, shape, color, and/or use of lines

Proportion and scale

Comparative relationships between elements in a design with respect to a size

3:5 ratio also known as the golden mean

Movement

flow or feeling of action

Contrast

Noticeably different

can be created with:

color

proportion and scale

shape

texture

ect.

Unity

Unity is achieved by the consistent use of lines, color, material, and/or texture within a design