Principles of Design The development of a successful design depends on the understanding of basic design principles. Principles of design are the rules that govern how design elements are mixed in the most appropriate way. These include proportion, balance, emphasis, rhythm and harmony. Although each principle is a separate entity, combining them successfully produces an appealing product.
Proportion: Proportion concerns the relation of one part of an object to another. A good design does not permit easy dissection. The elements are so skillfully blended that where one leaves off and the other one begins is not really apparent. This relationship may be created in size, color, shape and texture.
All these need to be pleasingly related to each other and to the whole. This is generally based on the proportion of golden mean which is represented by ratios like : : to : and so on. The smaller part has the same relationship to the larger part as the larger part has to the whole . The garment is horizontally divided into : , : or section.
These sections appear at the waist line, yoke and hemline. A dress appears pleasing if the blouse, skirt and total body represents the ratio of : : . For example, in a skirt and blouse dress, the blouse represents , the skirt should represent , and combined effect represents ; similarly, in a shirt-pant dress, the shirt should represent and pant should represent and combined effect created is . Proportion of colour : Different colours can be worn as shirt and pant to create proportion of colour by using the golden mean.
Proportion of texture : This is achieved when various textures of material used for making a dress increase or decrease the size of the person wearing the garment e.g., heavy and bulky textures appear overpowering on a thin and petite person. Proportion of shape and form : The size and positioning of motifs or print in a dress are in proportion to the size of the wearer. Width of the figure, length of waist or torso, length of legs