The Principles and Elements
of Design
an interactive quiz
“We Cool” Watercolor by Cathy Tomasik
The Principles and Elements
of Design Objective
The objective of this interactive quiz is for
you to demonstrate your knowledge of the
Principles and Elements of Design.
The Elements of Design
Line: is a mark with greater length than width. Lines can be horizontal,
vertical or diagonal, straight or curved, thick or thin. Line is the most basic
element of design. We make marks, which appear as lines, to communicate
in languages both verbal and visual. In the visual language, line is perhaps
the most expressive of the elements, and indeed embodies some, if not all,
simply by existing.
Shape: is a closed line. Shapes can be geometric, like squares and circles;
or organic, like free formed shapes or natural shapes. Shapes are flat and
can express length and width.
Form: is a three-dimensional shape, expressing length, width, and depth.
Balls, cylinders, boxes and triangles are forms.
The Elements of Design
• Space: is the area between and around objects. The space around objects
is often called negative space; negative space has shape. Space can also
refer to the feeling of depth. Real space is three-dimensional; in visual art
when we can create the feeling or illusion of depth we call it space.
Color: is light reflected of objects. Color has three main characteristics: hue
or its name (red, green, blue, etc.), value (how light or dark it is), and
intensity (how bright or dull it is).
Texture: is the surface quality that can be seen and felt. Textures can be
rough or smooth, soft or hard. Textures do not always feel the way they
look; for example, a drawing of a porcupine may look prickly, but if you
touch the drawing, the paper is still smooth.
The Elements of Design
Choose the correct answer for each Element of Design.
Line Line Line
Shape Shape Shape
Form Form Form
The Elements of Design
Choose the correct answer for each Element of Design.
Correct!
The Elements of Design
Choose the correct answer for each Element of Design.
Correct!
The Elements of Design
Choose the correct answer for each Element of Design.
Correct!
The Elements of Design
Choose the correct answer for each Element of Design.
Incorrect. Try again.
The Elements of Design
Color is an element of design. Choose the main characteristic of each circle.
Incorrect. Try again.
The Elements of Design
Color is an element of design. Choose the main characteristic of each circle.
Correct!
The Elements of Design
Color is an element of design. Choose the main characteristic of each circle.
Correct!
The Elements of Design
Color is an element of design. Choose the main characteristic of each circle.
Correct!
The Elements of Design
One of these shapes represents negative space
and the other positive space
Positive space Positive space
Negative space Negative space
The Elements of Design
One of these shapes represents negative space
and the other positive space
Correct!
The Elements of Design
One of these shapes represents negative space
and the other positive space
Correct!
The Elements of Design
One of these shapes represents negative space
and the other positive space
Try again!
The Elements of Design
One of these shapes represents negative space
and the other positive space
Try again!
The Elements of Design
Color is an element of design. Choose the main characteristic of each circle.
Value Intensity Hue
Intensity Hue Value
Hue Value Intensity
The Elements of Design
Each one of these shapes represents what implied textured?
Soft Smooth
Smooth Rough
Rough Soft
The Elements of Design
Each one of these shapes represents what implied textured?
Correct!
The Elements of Design
Each one of these shapes represents what implied textured?
Correct!
The Elements of Design
Each one of these shapes represents what implied textured?
Incorrect. Try again.
The Principles of Design
Balance: Includes all elements including white space. Can be formal
(symmetrical) or informal (asymmetrical). Do not mix both designs.
Harmony: Elements blend together in; tone, weight, color, lines, shape
and or style.
Emphasis: Most important elements are emphasized by; contrast,
placement or attention getting devices.
Movement: adds excitement to your work by showing action and directing
the viewers eye throughout the picture plane.
Rhythm: is a type of movement in drawing and painting. It is seen in
repeating of shapes and colors. Alternating lights and darks also give a
sense of rhythm.
The Principles of Design
Unity: is seen in a painting or drawing when all the parts equal a whole.
Your work should not appear disjointed or confusing.
Proportion: or scale refers to the relationships of the size of objects in a
body of work. Proportions gives a sense of size seen as a relationship of
objects. such as smallness or largeness.
Repetition: works with pattern to make the artwork seem active. The
repetition of elements of design creates unity within the artwork.
Variety: is the use of several elements of design to hold the viewer’s
attention and to guide the viewer’s eye through the artwork.
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions represents balance.
Choose the one that is symmetrical?
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions represents balance.
Choose the one that is symmetrical?
Correct!
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions represents balance.
Choose the one that is symmetrical?
Incorrect. Try again.
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions represents harmony.
Choose the one that best represents harmony?
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions represents harmony.
Choose the one that best represents harmony?
Correct!
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions represents harmony.
Choose the one that best represents harmony?
Incorrect. Try again.
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions shows emphasis.
Choose the one that best represents emphasis?
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions shows emphasis.
Choose the one that best represents emphasis?
Correct!
This is an example of an attention getting device.
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions shows emphasis.
Choose the one that best represents emphasis?
Incorrect. Try again.
The Principles of Design
Each one of these compositions shows movement.
Choose the one that best represents movement and variety?
The Principles of Design
Correct!
The Principles of Design
Try again!
The Principles of Design
Try again!
The Principles of Design
Choose the one that best represents rhythm and unity.
Choose the one that best represents proportion and repetition.
The Principles of Design
This image best represents proportion and repetition.
The trees are a repetition of elements. The bird is in proportion to the trees.
The Principles of Design
This image best represents rhythm and unity.
The rhythm is created by the brushstrokes that create the sun, water and tree.
Unity it achieved by using the same strokes in the creation of this composition.
The Principles and Elements
of Design Summary
The objective of this interactive quiz was
to demonstrate your knowledge of the
Principles and Elements of Design.