PRINCIPLES AND
ELEMENTS
OF
DESIGN
(Dressmaking)
ART AND DESIGN
•Is the application
of skill and taste
that make a thing
beautiful.
- Clothes are worn to
emphasize the good
points and hide the
defects or imperfection
of our physical trait.
Principles of Design
Good outfit should have
proportion, balance, harmony,
emphasis and rhythm to express art
principles
1. Proportion
• In design involves the
relationship of one part
to another. Uneven space
relationships are more
interesting than even
ones.
In choosing accessories,
proportion should always be
considered.
For example, a woman with
large facial features would not
choose a small bag or a small
hat which will make her feature
even larger, or vice-versa.
2. Balance
• is the feeling of rest
and equilibrium. This
is essential to the
total design of a
costume.
Kinds of balance
1. Formal or
Symmetrical Balance
•Is achieved when two
sides of a design are
alike on either side of
its vertical center.
Balance in the use of
color is essential for a
pleasing effect.
2. Informal balance
or Asymmetrical
Balance
is achieved by using
space, color, and the
varying importance
of objects to produce
a feeling of rest.
3.
3. Radial Balance
When major parts
of the garment
design radiate
from the central
part of the
garment, creating
a sunburst.
3. Harmony
• is the pleasing
combination of hues,
values, and
intensities.
4. Emphasis
• means that one part of a
design must be more
important than the other
parts. The eye should go
first to this part.
5. Rhythm
• is the movement of the eye
from one part of the design to
other parts. Repetition of a
line or shape is one of the
most common ways of
attaining rhythm.
Rhythm could be depicted to:
A. Repetition-
Rhythm could be
achieved by repetition
or regular
recurrence of motifs of
design, shapes,
buttons, tucks, pleats,
laces, edgings, color,
textures, fabric
designs etc.
b. Progression
- Rhythm is also
created by
progression or by
gradation.
Gradation implies a
gradual increase or
decrease of similar
design elements.
c. Transition
Is a fluid
rhythm created
when a curved
line leads the
eye over an
angle
d. Radiation
• Rhythm by
radiation
creates a
feeling of
movement in
different
directions.
e. Continuous line movement-
This type of
rhythm is obtained
by flowing lines of
trims, bands of
color, fabric
designs etc, which
make the eye move
in a continuous
line.
Activit
• y the ff. principles of
Make clothes applying
design
1. Proportion
2. Symmetrical balance
3. Asymmetrical balance
4. Radial balance
5. Emphasis
6. Progression rhythm
7. Transition rhythm
8. Radiation rhytm
ELEMENTS
OF
DESIGN
1. Line
• The basic part of any design
is formed by lines
• The eye tends to follow the
direction of the line in a
dress design or in the fabric of
the dress.
Horizontal Line
Gives the
impression
of shorter
and heavier
Vertical line
- gives the
impression
of height.
2. Form
Refers to the shape of an object as
determined by line.
Silhouette is the term used to describe form
which may repeat, may contrast, or be
transitional
3. Texture
• It appeals strongly to the
sense of touch, whether it is
coarse, fine, smooth, rough,
wrinkled, sleek, glossy,
slippery.
Textures as well as lines
can create illusions, one
must choose textures for
clothes that will
harmonize with the over-
all design.
A soft wool
will give a
quite different
effect from
the gloss and
sheen of the
satin in the
evening dress.
Bulky, rough
fabrics tend
to increase
the size of a
design,
whereas
smooth
fabrics
decrease it.
4. Shapes
• Clothes reveal or disguise the natural body
contour or shape. Choosing the right clothing
shapes will make the person more flattering.
Wide, full shapes clothes will make you look
larger while trim, compact dress will make
you look smaller.
Straight, tubular
shapes will make
the wearer look
taller while fitted
clothes will
reveal the natural
body contours.
5. Color
• Is light contains within itself all the sun‟s
rays, and when it is broken into
wavelengths of light, a sensation is
produced, upon the retina of the eye
Use of color in clothes
1. Black, dark tones or deeply grayed colors
tend to make the figure appear smaller or
slimmer than bright or light colors
2. A plain color makes the figure look
slimmer than a combination of
contrasting colors.
3. A very small figure should not wear
over large designs in prints, plaids, or
stripes;
4. Contrast and accent should be done
with care.
