Design Principles
A state of being as well as seeing. We are most comfortable in landscapes that have a sense of this principle. There are two major types: symmetrical and asymmetrical.
What is Balance
Created by the edges of two materials, the outline of a silhouetted form or along a linear feature. Are used to create shape and form.
What is a line
Naturalistic or organic form(shape) includes meandering lines and fragmented edges. This theme is based on a structure on of arcs (circles and ellipses) and soft curves. Best for designs when there theme is passive, relaxing and contemplative. Typically an Informal Design theme/style used with this form.
What is Curvilinear Form
This scale is used primarily for detail drawings
What is Architects Scale
It is the place where the viewer’s eye is first attracted. It is the strongest element in the design in any given view. A home’s front door or often something close to the front door to enhance the entrance of the home.
What is focal point
Each area of the landscape may include a focal point, but it is certainly not necessary. Landscape designers should not overuse focal points. In any view, people are attracted to interesting plant forms, bright colors and artistic, architectural design as well as art or sculptures. Mix it up, have some fun and create interesting focal points.
Two design elements used together, one is created by an outline that encloses a space and the other is a three-dimensional mass of the shape.
What is Shape & Form
Shape is created by an outline that encloses a space.
Form is the three-dimensional mass of the shape.
Typically used in Formal Design themes/styles. Using geometric forms/shapes; circle, squares and polygons. It is comprised of squares and rectangles that establish 90 degree relationships between all shapes and lines.
What is Rectangular Form
Best for designs when developing extensions of indoor living spaces.
This scale is used primarily for site plans
What is engineers scale
In landscape design, the interval is usually space between objects. Plants, groups of plants, lamp posts, benches or other structures can be repeated within the design principle. This principle gives the landscape a sense of movement and it is what draws you into the space. This principle is what makes landscapes calming to our souls.
What is Rhythm, Pattern and Repetition
Refers to the arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to create visual interest, excitement and drama.
What is Contrast
Circles that create a very strong composition due to the focus of attention at the center of the design where the radii and extended radii originate.
What is Concentric
Refers to the size relationship of all the features in the landscape. This includes vertical, horizontal and special relationships. Short people, tall people and children all perceive space differently.
What is Proportion
Helps to differentiate various objects and surfaces, transform light, and influence scale.
3 types are coarse, medium and fine
What is Texture
Theme or style that uses a combination of arcs from circles and lines form rectangles. Provides a feeling of structure while balancing with soft curves.
What is Arch-Tangent
A tree shading this unit can increase its efficiency by as much as ten percent
What is an Air Conditioner
This principle is easily measured if the other four landscape principles (Balance, Focal Point, Rhythm and Proportion) have been properly executed throughout the landscape.
Can be described as sameness, the belonging of one thing with another. The repetition of design elements like color, texture, shape, and form is one of the easiest ways to achieve this design principle.
What is Unity & Harmony
Unity in design simply means all the separate parts of the landscape work together to create a great total design. Colors, shapes, sizes, textures and other features work together to create a unified space. Patterns and colors are often repeated. Lighting, special features, bed shapes and hardscapes such as walkways all need to work together to create a pleasing look and a unified landscape.
Defined as the relative lightness or darkness of a color. It is an important tool for the designer/artist, in the way that it defines form and creates spatial illusions. Contrast of value separates objects in space, while gradation of value suggests mass and contour of a contiguous surface.
What is value
This theme is comprised of a series of angled lines that work together to create an active and eye-catching design composition.
Difficult to develop
Perpendicular, 45 degree or 60 degree from house. Use obtuse angles.
What is Angular Theme
Best for designs needing extremely bold and dynamic character with rugged, abrupt topography.
The most viewed landscape image
The most viewed image is the iconic default desktop background that came standard with Windows XP. Though it’s difficult to estimate the exact number of people who have seen this image, sources estimate the number is more than one billion. That includes people all over the world.
It is a photograph of a small field located in northern California. It was taken by Charles O’Rear in 1996 and titled “Bliss.”