Elements of Design

In this section, students were introduced to the most basic ideas concerning the elements that make up visual design. The elements of design are the building blocks used to create a work of visual communication.

These elements of design included:

Students examined how each of these elements of design can be used when creating compisitions and had the opportunity to create a compisition of their own photographs.  In the next lesson, students will start to explore the principles of design, which go hand in hand with the elements of design.

Before continuing on, please review the lesson objectives that were presented to you at the beginning of the lesson. If you have any questions, please contact your teacher before moving on.

By the end of Session 1: "Elements of Design", students should be able to:

• define the elements of design

• identify the elements of design using examples

• describe the impact of each element on the visual message; e.g., line, shape (2D) or form (3D), colour, texture, depth (perspective), light, direction (motion), mass (visual weight), tone (black and white) or value (colour), space (positive and negative)

• identify copyright restrictions and permissions and put them into practice