Assignment 01
Design Principles (Point & Line)

This assignment will introduce you to the basic elements of design. Understanding these visual concepts will help you develop a vocabulary and allow you discuss your work and the work of your peers. You will create 8 compositions this week. Your compositions must be 5×5" squares. They can be designed on the computer. The final versions must be mounted on ³⁄₁₆" white foam core. Don’t be literal. Don’t make pictures.
Your compositions will be graded as pass/fail. If the composition does not successfully illustrate the design principle in question you will be required to re–work your idea and present your latest version on the ‘Revisions’ week. Please print out the corresponding grading sheet and hand this in with your compositions.

Deliverables
8 compositions, 5×5"
mounted on ³⁄₁₆" foamcore
— 4 Point
— 4 Line

Recommended Materials
³⁄₁₆" (three sixteenth inch) thick foamcore, white
Double tack (double-sided sticky adheasive sheet)
X–acto knife or cutting tool with #11 blades
Cork–backed ruler
Self healing cutting mat
Bone Folder


Point
A point is an element that has position, but no extension. It is a single mark in space with a precise, but limited, location. Alone it can provide a powerful relation between negative and positive space, but when grouped with other points the Gestalt grouping principal of closure tends to kick in and the brain compulsively connects the points together. Line or form is a natural result of multiple points in space.
Using only a ½" circle with no less than 3 and no more than 9 circles you must create separate compositions that illustrate the following design principles. All points must be 100% black, no stroke.
— Symmetry
— Asymmetry
— Random
— Order


Line
A line is an element characterized by length and direction. Lines create contours and form, and are often used to convey a specific kind of feeling or point to an important feature in a design. Lines are also used to create perspective, and dominant directional lines are often adopted to create a sense of continuance in a composition. In addition, lines that are grouped together often create a sense of value, density or texture.
Using at minimum 1pt stroke weight and at maximum 3pt stroke weight you must create separate compositions that illustrate the following design principles. All lines must be 100% black.
— Depth
— Light
— Rhythm
— Weight





Background
The principles of design represent the basic assumptions of the world that guide the design practice, and deal with the arrangements of objects in any given composition. The elements of design are the basic components used as part of any composition. They are the objects to be arranged, the constituent parts used to create the composition itself. In most situations the elements of design build upon one another, the former element helping to create the latter. Source

Further reading
Elements of Form
Armin Hofmann, Graphic Design Manual
Principles of Composition
Programming Design Systems by Rune Madsen

This has been adapted from an assignments given by Jim Downer at Monroe Community College and Julien Bittner at Yale University. Thank you.