balance
Contrast
Emphasis
Pattern
Rhythm
Unity
Variety

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Principles of Design

designPrinciple

Artists, and art students, need to understand how art elements interact with each other in order to create successful works of art.

The basic components of art are the Art Elements, which can be considered the building blocks of any piece of art, but the Principles of Design determine how these building blocks are arranged and how they affect each other.

Any given artist or art educator will list a different set of principles of design but there are some that are more consistently included than others.  Some of the most common principles of design are balance, contrast, emphasis, pattern, rhythm, unity and variety.

Becoming familiar with the principles of design will help you consciously organize your artwork into successful visual expressions. Click on the principles at left to learn more about them.

S. Girardi; Iguana in Motion; Intaglio; 1998

Some sites about the Principles of Design are:

Art, Design and Visual Thinking
Composition and Design Principles
ArtsConnected: Illustration of the Principles of Art