Principles Of Design For Plant Display

Set up, maintain, and dismantle plant displaysHortykim

Hortykim, Otago Polytechnic 2009

Design Principles

• We have covered the elements of design in a previous lesson : (line, form, shape, size,

texture, color and light).

• Today we will look at the principles of design in terms of unity, balance, proportion, scale, accent, contrast, repetition, sequence, rhythm and simplicity.

• “Design elements and principles describe fundamental ideas about the practice of good visual design that are assumed to be the basis of all intentional visual design strategies. The elements form the 'vocabulary' of the design, while the principles constitute the broader structural aspects of its composition.”

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles


Unity

Unity is the term given to a plant display where the different objects and plants you have chosen relate to each other harmoniously to create one whole.


Unity

Unity is obtained by

the effective use

of elements to

express a main

idea to the

observer.


Unity

Unity can be achieved

by using mass

plantings and

repetition.


Balance

Balance is a term given to

a state of “visual

comfort” where the

observer is made to

feel a plant display is

attractive due to the

equilibrium of a

particular design.


Balance

Symmetrical balance is

achieved when one

side of a display is

the mirror image of

the other side. So

equal lines, forms,

textures and colours

are used to create

this effect.


Balance

Asymmetrical balance will

employ different forms,

colours and textures to

create a visual attraction

where the elements used

will create a balance. For

example, a horizontal

linear dimension may be

balanced with height.


Proportion

The relationship between width, height and depth is integral in a plant display. Proportion refers to the size of objects or plants in a display and how they work together in order to give the viewer a sense of the normal or in this case not so normal!


Proportion

We tend to judge what

something may convey in

terms of feeling

comfortable with how it

relates to, or differs from,

the normal human scale or

human proportion. Are the

elements in your display in

proportion to one another

or puposefully out of

proportion to convey a

message or feel?


Scale

Scale refers to the size of objects or plants in relation to the surroundings. We often use the human form as a point of reference when ascertaining scale.


Scale

Scale is the term used to descibe the size of a space or site. Large scale in design terms is associated with grandeur.


Scale


Small scale refers to more intimate spaces.

Scale

Deliberate

manipulation

of scale can be

quite powerful

and even

humorous.


Scale


Scale

Size refers to definite measurements while scale describes the size relationship between adjacent objects or plants within a plant display.


Accent

In order to emphasize

a part of a design

or plant display

you may want to

use an accent.

What accents are used

in this display?


Accent

Accents can be used to

enhance a view.

Accents may also be

used to create bright

spots in a design.


Accent

Accents could also be a

large mass of plants.

An accent may also be a

small group of

plants.


Accent

Accents may

also

include

hard

surfaces or

objects.


Accent

Using architectural

plants such as

sword-leaved plants

amongst some type

of ground cover

creates an accent

which draws the

eye into the view.


Contrast

Contrast is the tool that

allows the viewer to

distinguish the

relative difference

between things.

Contrast is the essential

tool to achieve a

successful accent.

The contrast should

be sharp and bold.


Contrast

For greatest contrast

and greatest

impact a design

will have an

extreme element

imposed on

something that is

relatively normal.


Contrast

Sudden contrasts can be

very effective unless the

forms or textures used

are both extremes, and

then they may out-show

or cancel each other. A

powerful effect can be

created however, by

placing two dominant

features on either side of

a neutral background.


Repetition

Repetition refers to

the repeated use

of features like

plants and

objects that

share an

identical shape,

line, form, color

and texture.


Repetition

Using too much

repetition may

create a sense of

monotony. If it is

used well,

repetition will give

a sense of unity.

Too much variety in a

display will create

a cluttered, busy

feel which is not

relaxing.


Sequence

Sequence is the

repetition of

similar but not

identical plants,

surfaces, colour or

objects used in a

display.


Rhythm

The repetition of

objects,

surfaces, colour

or materials in a

plant display

will create a

sense of unity

and continuity.

Rhythm reduces

confusion in a

design.


Rhythm

Rhythm is as important in

a plant display as it is

in one of your favorite

songs. Rhythm can

evoke a sense of

motion as the

observer’s eye is

drawn through the

design.


Rhythm

As a creator of a plant

display, you will be

able to evoke a

feeling of ordered

rhythm and purpose

when the same

theme, feature or

pattern is repeated

in a design.


Simplicity

Simplicity

compliments

repetition and is

best achieved by

getting rid of

unnecessary

detail.


Simplicity

If a plant display contains

too much detail or

variety, then it will

evoke a feeling of

confusion. If a designer

can reduce a display to

a simple yet functional

and attractive design,

then the objective is

fulfilled.


Design Principles

Try to identify as many design elements and principles as you can from the following photos taken at the 2009 Ellerslie flower show.


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Design Principles


Resources and references


Blake, James (1999)An Intro to Landscape Design and ConstructionGower Publishing Limited

Ingram, Dwayne L. (1991)Basic Principles of Landscape Design

All photos by Kim Michele Thomas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles

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Principles Of Design For Plant Display