Understanding Design: Shape, Size, and Elements

1. Understanding Design Chapter 10

2. Shape & Size • Frame • Large frame vs smaller frame • Wrist size can be used to estimate frame size

3. Size ratios • Comparing areas of the body • How the waist divides the upper and lower portions • Long upper body and short legs • Long legs and short waists

4. Triangle Narrow shoulders and wide hips Inverted Triangle Wide shoulders and small hips Geometric Shape

5. Rectangle About the same width at shoulders, waist, and hips Hour-glass About the same at chest &hips & smaller at the waist

6. Elements of Design • Understanding Line • Straight or curbed • Zigzag • Your eye tends to follow lines in the directions they go • Fig 10-6 pg 175

7. Lines • Straight lines = crisp, formal look • Classic or conservative • Curbed lines = give feeling of movement • Adds softness and roundness • Found in necklines, lapels, ruffles

8. Lines & Illusions • Emphasize or minimize portions of your body • Lines and direction even help camouflage • Vertical = lead eyes up and down giving illusion of more height, taller, thinner • Horizontal = eyes move side to side, add width to shoulders, or hips

9. Diagonal • Slanted lines add movement and excitement • Often chosen for high-fashion lines

10. Shape • When you see the shadow of an object on the wall you are seeing its shape • Shape is the outline that forms when one or more lines come together to enclose an area is sometimes called a silhouette

11. Natural Follows your body’s outline Clothes fit close to body Tubular Is rectangular with vertical emphasis Dominant lines go up and down 4 Basic Shapes

12. Bell Both diagonal and horizontal lines A- line skirt Flared pants Full More horizontal and curved lines Gathered skirts, dresses Full sleeves Pants with wide legs

13. Understanding Space • Space is the area inside the shape • Will lines divide up the space and how much space will be used • Pg 181 fig 10-13

14. Understanding Texture • Texture describes the surface characteristics that determine the look and feel of an object • Results from fiber, yarn, construction and finish used • Soft, crisp, smooth, nubby, bull or shiny

15. Asymmetrical Don’t look the same on both sides Symmetrical Each side of the garment looks the same Simple skirt or jacket for ex. Balance

16. Proportion • Describes how separate parts of a garment relate too each other and to the whole in size • It is also called scale • Clothing looks best when it is in proportion to your own size

17. Emphasis • Focal point of a design, draws attention • Accomplished by color, line, texture, design, trims or accessories

18. Rhythm • Repetition • Pattern repeats • Radiation • Lines or patterns flow from a central location • Gradation • Pattern changes gradually, in size and color

19. Individuality • Create your own style • Be individual • Knowing the principles help you to put together unique wardrobes

20. Summary • Keeping body height, shape, and size in mind can help you decide what clothing designs might be best for you. • The elements of design are color, line, shape, space, and texture.

21. Design elements in fashion can be handled in ways that create optical illusions. • Design illusions can help emphasize, minimize, or camouflage body features.

22. Most clothes are one four four basic shapes; natural, tubular, bell, or full. • The principles of design are balance, proportion, emphasis, rhythm, and harmony. • Effective use of design elements is guided by the principles of design