Elements of design: Perspective and principles
All about perspectives and principles of design
A design is a plan or specification for the construction of an object or system or for the implementation of an activity or process, or the result of that plan or specification in the form of a prototype, product or process. The design usually has to satisfy certain goals and constraints, may take into account aesthetic, functional, economic, or socio-political considerations, and is expected to interact with a certain environment.
What is perspective?
The process of designing a space is known as perspective. It all depends on how do we see space and perceive it. It is one of the most fundamental elements of design that we need to understand to create realistic and visually pleasing designs.
Types of perspective?
- One-point perspective
A one-point perspective means that the drawing has a single vanishing point, usually directly opposite the viewer’s eye and usually on the horizon line. All lines parallel with the viewer’s line of sight recede to the horizon towards this vanishing point.
2. Two-point perspective
Two-point perspective occurs when you can see two vanishing points from your point of view. Two-point perspective drawings are often used in architectural drawings and interior designs; they can be used for drawings of both interiors and exteriors.
3. Three-point perspective
Three-point perspective has three vanishing points. Two vanishing points somewhere on the horizon; however, unlike two-point perspective, there also exists a vanishing point above or below the horizon line that the vertical lines disappear to.
Gestalt principles of design
- Closure
This principle states when we see any complex structure or any pattern, our brain tries to look for the recognizable pattern.
2. Proximity
This principle states that objects that are close together appear to be more related than objects are in distance, don’t share the same hierarchy, or different in color.
3. Similarity
This principle states objects that share similar visual properties appear to be similar regardless of their proximity to each other.
4. Figure-ground
This principle states how our brain interprets between a design’s foreground and background. Usually, we interpret the smaller area as foreground and the larger area as background.
5. Common fate
This principle states that people group together objects that point towards or moving in the same direction. They could be a bunch of different objects but because they move like a grouped object, or point towards the same direction we consider them a single phenomenon.
6. Focal point
This principle states that in a group of objects or a composition, whatever stands out visually or captures the viewer’s attention first that is Focal Point.
7. Continuity
This principle states that the human eye will follow the similarities or a line that goes from one end to another. Continuity is a collection of objects that form a shape of a line or curve related to each other than other elements on the frame.
I have made around a hundred compositions to understand perspective and gestalt principles of design. I have made compositions on Figma and paper. I have chosen five from each.
Compositions on paper
- Hailstones
At first glance, this composition might seem like raining stones or bubbles or asteriods. It depends on the perspective of the viewer. According to my perspective, this is a composition of hailstones.
This is an example of proximity where things that are closer together appear to be more related to each other.
2. Manufacturing facility
At first glance, this composition might seem like a building or mouth of a robot. According to my perspective, this is a composition of a manufacturing facility where products are being transferred onto a conveyor belt from a machine.This is an example of figure-ground where there is visual relationship between foreground and background.
3. A game of tennis
What was the first thing that came to your mind when you saw this composition?
According to my perspective, this compositon depicts a game of tennis where two players are seen playing tennis on a tennis court.
4. Workers working in an assembly line
At first glance, this might seem like a ladder or a board meeting. According to my perspective, this composition depicts workers working in an assembly line.
This is an example of similarity where objects that share visual properties appear to be similar and this case the rectangles with circles in this composition are an example of similarity.
5. Snake
What was the first thing that came to your mind when you saw this composition?
At first glance, this might seem like the number 3 or the game of tetris. It depends on the perspective of the viewer. According to my perspective, this composition depicts a snake where the rectangles make the body of the snake.
Compositions on Figma
- A person holding a baby
What’s the first thing that came to your mind when you saw this composition?
According to my perspective, this composition depicts a person holding a baby under the night sky.
2. Why did the chicken cross the road? game
This composition depicts the popular game from the 90s. “Why did the chicken cross the road?”
This composition is an example of proximity where the rectangles depict vehicles on the road. As the rectangles are closer together they appear to be more related to eachother than those at a distance.
3. Bee Man
Why Ant Man? when you have Bee Man. Introducing the Bee Man. Not all heros wear capes, but this bee certainly wears one.
I created this interesting composition when I was exploring the shape tools on Figma. This composition depicts a fictional character which I have named it as Bee Man.
4. Space tower
At first glance, this might seem like light emitting from an object or a weapon of some sorts. According to my perspective, this is a space tower.
This composition is an example of proximity, where the objects that are closer appear to be more related to each other than those that are at a distance.
5. Villain from Power Rangers
At first glance, this might seem like a spaceship or a weapon. According to my perspective, this composition depicts a villain from Power Rangers, called as monsters.
This is an example of proximity where the objects that are closer to each other appear to be more related to each other, than the ones that are at a distance.
Through this design exploration, we can conclude that perspective and principles are one of the fundamental elements of design. It’s all about one’s perspective and how we see things from our perspective. Experience and the surroundings we live in play a major role in how we perceive things.
All I would say is keep exploring.
Thank you