The Elements of Design and My Purpose for Blogging

<div style="text-align: center;">There are lots of terms specific to this business that people comprehend fully, but there are also others that can be confusing. And because I oftentimes find myself defining these terms with my clients, I feel this post -- perhaps my last post to be published on Design In the Woods :( -- would be an appropriate place to discuss the basic elements of design.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Side-note</i></b></span><i><b>:</b> Just because I'll no longer be posting on this Blogger account, doesn't mean I'm retiring. I'll just be packing up my virtual sketch board and relocating it to a new address that can be found at the end of this post.</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Now hang in here with me, alright? I'm going to be referring back to my college textbook for a moment and need you to pardon some of the "boring" definitions I'm about to lay in front of you. However, with that said, I still promise this post to be highly valuable to all walks of life. So stay with me, okay?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Elements of Design"</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is a term that describes some of the basic tools used to come up with a design solution. This term is often used to define anything that makes up the whole, however the textbook definition describes it thusly:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"There are several elements of design that interior designers use according to some basic principles to create spaces that satisfy the functional and aesthetic goals of a problem. These design elements and principles are used by painters, graphic designers, sculptors, and other visual artists."*</i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></blockquote> In other words..<i>.these are the tools of the artist.</i></div><div><div align="center"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">1. </span><b style="background-color: white;">Form</b><span style="background-color: white;"> - linear, flat, round, curved, cylindrical, square......all types of forms make up interior spaces.</span></div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UOwGuIt9_DRFaYbP88rD-EiabioNi7gxZtdaiFmRwd7Jcd_FgEh8tJwECnajhDe7W64945TXwFIv_A95MPNv5EM6vZ_wRZaQ1u7Bnh4lHc5M6xCjy1lOZwOZs_wrhxzIVa_AImWBLoC5/s1600/Amelia+Handegan+-+Southern+Accents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UOwGuIt9_DRFaYbP88rD-EiabioNi7gxZtdaiFmRwd7Jcd_FgEh8tJwECnajhDe7W64945TXwFIv_A95MPNv5EM6vZ_wRZaQ1u7Bnh4lHc5M6xCjy1lOZwOZs_wrhxzIVa_AImWBLoC5/s400/Amelia+Handegan+-+Southern+Accents.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>blogpost - <a href="http://designinthewoods.blogspot.com/2011/08/curvy-shapes-in-interiors.html">Curvy Shapes in Interiors</a></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. <b>Scale</b> - "the relative size of something as related to another element of known size"*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdxiXfKdJ9WuVMP109LltC0NSSuaI1BBkt5nu_MSbtviQUJIBKr7cgI8OTIOHC25D-Jvq2-mp8XErZaNm430R_TZ09AqitSXWVPjhPdQRsBmfyT6vSt1dQUl8tl6z83zhedIXnTmATSTd/s1600/ED+Dick+Bories+and+james+Shearron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdxiXfKdJ9WuVMP109LltC0NSSuaI1BBkt5nu_MSbtviQUJIBKr7cgI8OTIOHC25D-Jvq2-mp8XErZaNm430R_TZ09AqitSXWVPjhPdQRsBmfyT6vSt1dQUl8tl6z83zhedIXnTmATSTd/s400/ED+Dick+Bories+and+james+Shearron.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">blogpost - <a href="http://designinthewoods.blogspot.com/2012/02/when-scale-doesnt-matter.html">When Scale Doesn't Matter</a></i></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">3. <b>Color</b> - color can be a powerful design tool and is "one of the most dominant perceptions of the physical world"*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsxpsHSh6wjzau4zhwE8xQbh92XhycX1rx6IkOTSsc2u8mALkDaOCag77_K7jbNnxQqayagJ5_Jj5S4rwBOMxYxiTHtOzzK1WPnyBbC7YA1fqUD9NbmtBi4vPgtgW6f4W_cZbX8tga3Gp/s1600/hbx-decorating-Berger-1-0709-xlgcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsxpsHSh6wjzau4zhwE8xQbh92XhycX1rx6IkOTSsc2u8mALkDaOCag77_K7jbNnxQqayagJ5_Jj5S4rwBOMxYxiTHtOzzK1WPnyBbC7YA1fqUD9NbmtBi4vPgtgW6f4W_cZbX8tga3Gp/s400/hbx-decorating-Berger-1-0709-xlgcopy.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">blogpost - <a href="http://designinthewoods.blogspot.com/2012/05/color-powerful-element-of-design.html">Color - The Most Powerful Element of Design</a></i></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">4. <b>Texture</b> - adds another layer to the complexity of a space, can be tactile or just visual</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1kMLtMzjQH0Z4tAw4B2B8xQ65L9-TwBxnARHtgMvCRXvnYjw8egK5-CNKvQS-lGjHgq1MQZ7AOc3cdNyGSFCOa87xQHCEgEBhwLJ5Oih1CrM1ryQ9nMcfWIfM-r2bG7zD3udZkhckJDw/s1600/MacDougal+Pros+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1kMLtMzjQH0Z4tAw4B2B8xQ65L9-TwBxnARHtgMvCRXvnYjw8egK5-CNKvQS-lGjHgq1MQZ7AOc3cdNyGSFCOa87xQHCEgEBhwLJ5Oih1CrM1ryQ9nMcfWIfM-r2bG7zD3udZkhckJDw/s400/MacDougal+Pros+024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">blogpost - <a href="http://designinthewoods.blogspot.com/2011/11/project-reveal.html">Project Reveal</a> - all about texture</i></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">5. <b>Pattern</b> - the repetition of a decorative motif or image</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5Khr3BIxc3pv68SSs7W6PCPrg9v1lXc2sNcmvgD93zytbposvNGstFZk6kulCUKn-SEUujky76SHtdds4FpuKWCS4WgEQnyKZh-BcuipgRtyDazbAzv73p9NfQisnKDfRPlftiZohoqJ/s1600/House+Beautiful+-+Gideon+Mendelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5Khr3BIxc3pv68SSs7W6PCPrg9v1lXc2sNcmvgD93zytbposvNGstFZk6kulCUKn-SEUujky76SHtdds4FpuKWCS4WgEQnyKZh-BcuipgRtyDazbAzv73p9NfQisnKDfRPlftiZohoqJ/s400/House+Beautiful+-+Gideon+Mendelson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">blogpost - <a href="http://designinthewoods.blogspot.com/2012/05/pattern.html">Pattern</a></i></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">6. <b>Light</b> - light affects all of the above, how we perceive objects and spaces</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6Yv3gAKxhtfGF1vlxPyIUkCiv-pFDht6I_6cJppJyibPySTdlcsSr94Z3e0C71HH8lC_T-1q3qgdRetlOI_AgfhouRtk4OqNKuw_IApooPwisAAAn_SVksQiHhudTTRnT8d25u1mQY6S/s1600/moroccan-light-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6Yv3gAKxhtfGF1vlxPyIUkCiv-pFDht6I_6cJppJyibPySTdlcsSr94Z3e0C71HH8lC_T-1q3qgdRetlOI_AgfhouRtk4OqNKuw_IApooPwisAAAn_SVksQiHhudTTRnT8d25u1mQY6S/s400/moroccan-light-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">blogpost - <a href="http://designinthewoods.blogspot.com/2011/06/patterns-of-light.html">Patterns of Light</a></i></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The unique combinations created when these elements are combined are endless.  The absolute BEAUTY behind them is that these principles are UNIVERSAL.  Once you've learned them, you can apply them to <i>any</i> aesthetic endeavor , and they will help you<i>...</i></div><i><br /></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>...understand</i>...<i>develop</i>...<i>create.</i>.. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...in <i>any </i>visual medium, whether it's interior design, fine art, advertising art, fashion, product design, photography, landscape design, architecture, etc.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Why do you think it's easy for designers to "cross over" into other markets?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ralph Lauren designs everything from clothing to bedding and furniture.  </span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Michael Graves is an architect who was also tapped by Target for product design.  Now you can buy an incredibly unique broom at Target that feels good in your hands, functions beautifully, and looks good too. </span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Phillipe Starck, architect and designer, now designs clothing, even automobiles.  </span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;">These legends are able to "cross-over" because they understand <i>The Elements of Design.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The universal truths all designers use as the backbone of their work<i>.</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I prepare to leave this blog and move on to my new one, I wanted to revisit the basic Elements of Design so I could tie up some loose ends and remember the purposes behind why I ever began creating this tiny bit of space in the digital universe for my thoughts. You see...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To talk about <i>design </i>in its purest form is a pure experience in itself. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's at the crux of </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WHY things are done on a project from the beginning,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WHY decisions are made along the way,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WHY <i>everything</i> impacts the whole,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WHY the end result is a combination of many elements and not just one,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WHY design is multifaceted and complex yet so simple and straightforward,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WHY design is <i>important</i> and why understanding it is even more so.<br /><br />AND HOW...<br /><br /><b><i>DESIGN influences BEHAVIOR</i></b><br /><br />...subtly and without pronouncement, but with<br /><br /><b>PROFOUND IMPACT.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Can you tell I'm a little passionate about this???  ;-)<br /><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">I'll be continuing to use these as my guide with my new site, but also with so many other endeavors in my life.</span><br /><br />Although I'm having a little anxiety over leaving my google ranking, I'm going to leave this baby here in it's entirety. I'll refer back to it from time to time and you can feel free to do the same. It's been a great place to get my feet wet, to find my voice, to experiment, and take some missteps without making too much of a wave.  I'll always be able to look back on it and remember <i>why I wrote some of those posts</i>, what problems had come up on projects, what issues I was having with clients or contractors, what I had successfully been able to express to my clients and the viewers of my work and, of course...<i>what I had not. </i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends and family often ask me why I waste time with this "blog-thing," and I reply that it's just become a part of me.  It's my creative outlet where I can say anything I want about something I care deeply about. I can't NOT do it! To my followers, supporters and those who stopped by once in awhile, I would've been here whether you came or not, doing exactly this...but it was so nice to share it with all of you. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>For all who have read this far...</b></i><br /><br />Thank you. I value your friendship more than you know, and hope it can continue to grow even stronger as we take our relationship to the next level on my new website...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/KjjK7t" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2EBytYIY_HjrarpLzUlw10-8QLBZXj64csD8nnLDg-QbE7xQ8JKJEIaBS2GP0m6GZHYUtP5tZN2RJwMYXuLACDRVdxCDzVexepWcO4ZuBHUFIrA-YsAXueMW-AXEQ3xP7n8czZda5Osr/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-06-19+at+8.39.26+PM.png" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">{ </span><a href="http://carlaaston.com/designed/tour-carla-aston-new-website" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">CarlaAston.com</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"> }</span><br /><br />I hope you'll join me there...<br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Image Sources</b>: Amelia Handegan - Southern Accents,  Dick Bories and James Shearon - Elle Decor, Jonathan Berger - House Beautiful,  Aston Design Studio, Gideon Mendelson - House Beautiful, Zamzam Riad Boutique Hotel</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i><br />* Definitions taken from <u>Interior Design Reference Manual</u>, David K. Ballast.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">*All information in quotes taken from Interior Design Reference Manual by David K. Ballast, AIA</span><br /><br />

The Elements of Design and My Purpose for Blogging

There are lots of terms specific to this business that people comprehend fully, but there are also others that can be confusing. And becaus...

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