Principles of Design

Section 1

Proportion

• Relationship of one part of the design –To the other parts –To the whole

Proportion

• Must be in proportion to where it is going to be displayed

• Harmony with the location

Proportion

• Arrangement Height–Should be 1 ½ times the height of

the container–May be increased based on the

room–Material may change the

proportion

Proper Height

• 4 aspects– Physical dimension of the container–Color of the container–Material and texture of the container– Shape of the container

• Heavier darker containers will support taller arrangements

• Glass container is best for shorter arrangements

Proportion

• Should not obstruct the view of those people participating in a dinner conversation

• Arrangements should be kept low or high

Proportion

• Flowers and foliage of equal or nearly equal size

• Large mums should not be mixed with baby’s breath

Scale

• Another word for size• Overall project compared with

other objects• 4 areas of scale

1. Flowers to Container

• Container important because it tells the size of the entire design

• Small=small flowers• Large = massive showy flowers

2. Flowers to Flowers

• Flowers within the composition need to be similar in scale to one another

• Huge flowers can overshadow tiny blossoms

3. Flowers to Foliage

• Size of foliage should be in scale with the flowers

• Various foliages should be in scale with one another

4. Arrangements to Surroundings

• Size of table or area where sitting

• Size of the entire room

Balance

• Equality in weight• Achieved through several

methods

Physical Balance

• Stability of the plant materials within the container

• Will not fall over• Stand freely on it’s own

Visual Balance

• Refers to perception of the arrangement being balanced–Being equal in weight on both sides

of the central axis

• A design that is not visually balanced is much like a crooked picture on the wall

Visual Balance

• From three views–Side to side–Top to bottom–Front to back

• Two types–Symmetrical–Asymmetrical

Symmetrical Balance

• Same balance on both sides of a central axis

• You could fold the arrangement in half and it would be the same

• Exhibited in formal settings• Examples–Oval, round, fan, triangle, vertical

arrangements–Oval and round centerpieces

Asymmetrical Balance

• Unequal material placements

• Informal design• Examples–Crescent, Hogarth

curve, fan, diagonal, vertical, ikebana, scalene, right triangle

Balance

• Three main techniques to help achieve balance–Visual Weight–Centering–Counterbalancing

Visual Weight

• Flower’s perceived lightness or heaviness based on: –Color–Shape–Pattern

• Varying visual weight helps achieve the compensation in asymmetrical designs

Centering

• Placing dominant plant material along a design’s central vertical axis

• Allows for heavier plant material to be placed in the design

Counterbalancing

• Balancing materials on one side of a design with visually equal materials of the opposite end

• Essential in symmetrical designs

• Can help avoid strict mirror imaging

Rhythm

• Creating a pathway for the eye to follow

• Cause the viewer to look at the entire arrangement

• Two types–Regular, repeated–Free, variable

• 5 methods

Regular, Repeated Rhythm

• Materials are repeated at regular intervals from the top to bottom of the arrangement

Free, Variable Rhythm

• Unstructured style• Subtle flowing movement

5 Methods

• Radiation• Repetition• Transition• Variety• Contrast

Radiation

• Stems radiate out naturally from the container

• Top view shows stems appearing as the spokes of a wheel

• Crossing stems is avoided

Repetition

• Repeating something throughout the arrangement–Color –Shape–Space–Lines

Transition

• Change of one material into another

• Should be smooth and gradual

• Lighter flowers near the container edge blend into the heavier ones towards the center

Variety

• Diverse assortment of differing components

• Focuses attention and stimulates interest and imagination

Contrast

• Objects have striking difference

• Beyond mere variety or diversity taking variety to a higher degree

Principles of Design

Section 2

Dominance

• Importance of the design• Interest and attention captured

by one feature• Achieved in 5 different ways

5 Ways to Achieve Dominance

• Using dominant plant material• Using an emphasized design

element• Using a distinct style• Using a theme• Using a focal point

Plant Material

Emphasized Design Element

Distinct Style

Theme

Focal Point

Focal Point

• Center of interest• Not all arrangements need• Several methods for creation

Methods for Focal Point

• Large flowers• Different flower forms• Dark shades• Framing materials• Strong contrast color• Radiation of plant materials to a

specific area• Use of accessories

Line

• Visual movement between two points

• Help create shape or express an emotional response

• Created through line materials

Line Materials

• Snapdragoon• Liatris• Scotch broom• Use to create very

definite horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or curvilinear lines.

Shape and Form

• Form– 3 dimensional outline

• Shape– 2 dimensional aspect of the form

• Can exist naturally or can be created

Common Forms

• Geometric• Naturalistic• Freeform

Geometric

• Most often circle and triangle

• Basic shapes can be varied–Ovals, fans, scalene

triangle, right triangles, crescent

Naturalistic

• Mirror the natural growth of plants

• Often include groupings of plant material

Freeform

• More contemporary

• Take your own liberties

• Create• Don’t have to

follow rules

Flowers

• Form Flowers–Have distinctive shapes– Tropical flowers

• Mass flowers–Round solid flowers–Carnations and mums

• Filler flowers– Light airy flowers– Baby’s breath and sea lavender

Pattern and Texture

• Texture–Surface quality of

the plant material• Rough, smooth,

velvety, satiny or hairy

–Also has visual texture• Fine, airy, lacy,

delicate, or bold

Color

• Most important• Emotion• Helps with other

principles