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Module: 2

Learning Design principles

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What you’ll learn in this module:

2.1 Define your tasks

2.2 Interfacing with other disciplines

2.3 Design concept

2.4 Drawings & plans

2.5 Six design principles

2.6 Finding inspiration

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2.1 Define your tasks

Once you’ve taken your brief from a client, it’s helpful to have an overview of the subsequent

sequence of work that’s involved. Breaking your tasks into categories helps you define them and

apply focus more effectively.

1. Interpret and research. The first task is to interpret your clients brief and to research the

materials, products and services needed and also to look at creative alternatives.

2. Survey. This part of the job starts with taking details on site, like measurements, current condition

of the premises, access, character, building services etc. and then to produce drawings from which

you can plan your work.

3. Design and plan. Now starts the most creative part of the project - choosing the elements that

shape and define the space you’re working on, allowing good circulation to the users and fulfilling

function and aesthetic requirements. Design any purpose-made components and choose suitable

fittings, lighting, furnishings and décor. (More in section 2.3)

4. Specify the products, furnishings, furniture, materials, finishes, light fittings, and also IT &

audiovisual equipment if needed.

5. Oversee the implementation of all work; ensuring work is planned in the most time efficient

sequence and duration for the client.

2.2 Interfacing with other disciplines

There are a number of other professionals who may be involved in the same project you’re working

on. Developing an excellent working relationship with these other stakeholders always helps you do

your job more efficiently and smoothly. Your work will often interface with theirs.

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Architects: Responsible for the building design.

Structural engineers: Responsible for the structural aspects of the building and that they comply with

building regulations.

Service engineers: Responsible for the design of building services and IT requirements.

Surveyors: Responsible for the surveying of a site which includes the condition of the building and the

services.

Furnishing consultants and audiovisual specialists

Facilities managers: If working on an office building, this position is responsible for the management of

the office.

Landscape consultants: Responsible for the external layout and design.

Conservation officers/group: These officials are responsible for ensuring the preservation and good

condition of important historical elements of a building which is subject to preservation laws.

Local authorities: Responsible for approving applications for building and renovations where

necessary and for monitoring standards.

Other specialist designers: Additional designers may be employed for areas such as graphics,

products, textiles or furniture.

2.3 Design concept

Once you’ve taken and interpreted your brief, surveyed the space/building and done research into

possibilities for materials, products and services, it’s time to begin the creative process of coming up

with solutions and ideas - planning and designing. This might take some time if you’re just beginning.

In many cases, as you’re researching products and materials, you’ll be inspired with working

solutions.

It’s useful to view this stage as a design concept. To help clarify your thinking, your challenges can

be divided in to 2 groups with 4 divisions in each:

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2.4 Drawings and plans

Architects, stylists and designers use scale drawings or working drawings to present their ideas.

These are usually done in a scale of 1:100, 1:50 or 1:20. This means, for every 100m, 50mm or

20mm of real space, your paper will show 1mm.

Most interior design plan drawings are done using AutoCAD® design and documentation software.

These easy to learn tools make it easy to present professional drawings that can include all technical

details, measurements and symbols.

As we mentioned in Module 1, developing your ability to hand sketch plans and drawings is also a big

advantage. The skills using line, light and shadow that you could learn in fine art or life drawing classes

are well worth having. They will also increase your ability to interpret vital visual elements like scale,

proportion and depth. A scale ruler will make working out measurements easy and getting perspective

right becomes much easier with practice.

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There are lots of great books available that will help you develop your drawing and sketching ability,

like:

How to Draw What You See by Rudy De Reyna

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards

Plans layouts are used for:

Working out any structural alterations you think would benefit the interior according to your design

plan, for example knocking walls, changing the position of doors or windows. Alterations depicted in

your plan can be used, first of all to show your client the end result of your suggestions and also possibly

when applying for panning permission if needed.

Planning out the best use of space. Any new pieces of furniture you suggest can be drawn to scale on

separate paper, cut out and used to position in various places to experiment with design layout.

Indicating where other work is required from professional contractors you’ll be engaging, like plumbing

or electrical work. A copy of the plans can be given to each relevant professional.

Costing the work. When all planned changes are outlined on the plans, costing can be estimated

efficiently.

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While scaled drawings of floor plans show a bird’s eye view, it’s also helpful to produce elevation

drawings which show ideas viewed from a standing position.

Sectional drawings show the construction of fixtures and fittings in a room and also details furniture,

especially if you’ve specified specially built pieces. A section shows the room as if it has been sliced

through from ceiling to floor.

You’ll also need to make up sample boards and mood boards to bring ideas to life and give a more

effective visual presentation of your ideas.

Rendering is used to explain details on drawings more clearly, for example to illustrate different floor

coverings.

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2.5 Six design principles

When beginning any interior design project you need to be able to step back from the elements and

details and view the job as a whole so you achieve a balanced, unified and harmonious end result.

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Elements should not be worked on in isolation but as integral parts of one whole in which each part

serves to strengthen the totality of the design.

There are six main principles of interior design: scale, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis and

harmony.

2.5.1 Scale and Proportion

These go hand in hand as they both relate to size and shape. Proportion is to do with the ratio of one

design element to another or one element to the whole. Scale is to do with the size of one object

compared to another.

There is a mathematical formula which says that when taking two elements, the ratio of the smaller

of the two to the larger should be the same as the ratio of the larger element to the whole (the

combination of the two elements). This proportion is one which is subliminally pleasing to humans as

it exists in nature and is used by architects and artists also. If you want to delve further into this

interesting theory, investigate fractal geometry.

2.5.2 Balance

One thing we all know as human beings is that when things are out of balance, they rarely work and

leave us feeling uneasy and unsure. Everyone who has cooked a meal knows the importance of

balancing the ingredients. Cycling a bicycle just isn’t going to happen without balance. Every child

learns that to use blocks to build any creation, there must be balance or it will fall down. Life needs

to be balanced between work and play. We look for balance both literally and figuratively. This also

applies to the spaces we live in.

Philosophers have recognized this for centuries. Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian man saw the navel

as the center of the human body and everything circulated from here. There is also the symmetry to

each side of the body. People with perfectly symmetrical faces have been proven to appear more

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attractive. Understanding the principles of balance and the effect on people will help you to design

spaces with aesthetics that are very pleasing to spend time and carry out activities in.

In interior design, balance refers to the equal distribution of visual weight in a room. Balance in a

room can be divided into three components: symmetrical, asymmetrical and radial.

Symmetry always gives a calm, reassuring, orderly, structured feel. It was predominantly present in

classic and traditional interior styles. Each side of a room was an exact mirror of the other; the same

objects appeared in the same positions on either side or a vertical axis. It has a formal feel. It’s the

easiest principle to use when looking for balance. It’s perfectly suited to a bedroom where what you

need is a relaxed, safe place.

Even though, in modern interior design, symmetry is not always used as a basis for the design plan,

because of the qualities it gives, it’s always worth bearing in mind when you need to introduce a

psychologically comfortable backdrop. It reflects the symmetry of the human body and resonates with

this innate natural law. You can use a variety of methods to create symmetry – an architectural feature,

the placement of furniture, lamps, color or fixtures.

In a symmetrical room, anything that’s out of balance stands out. It has a noticeable effect on people.

Particularly sensitive individuals can feel very uncomfortable in a room without symmetry. On the other

hand, it can feel boring to other people in which case you can add interest or liveliness with well-

designed objects or pieces of art.

Asymmetrical balance is more common than symmetry in modern interior design and achieves

balance by using different objects that carry equal visual weight or visual focus. It gives much more

freedom for expression and interest and a more informal feel. You can introduce a much livelier

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theme and give a feeling of movement, experimentation and openness as opposed to the static

feeling of a perfectly symmetric room.

Asymmetrical balance feels less manipulated but can be more difficult to get right. You are working

with a number of unique elements – lines, colors, textures and forms that are not duplicated in the

space. You have to assess how much visual weight each carries and distribute them to achieve a

balance that feels comfortable. The objects and elements must work together to create a

harmonious relationship but it will end up being a much more dynamic interaction than with a

symmetrical arrangement and will also be visually exciting. This is a more contemporary way of

approaching interior design.

Radial symmetry is achieved by arranging elements of a design around a central focal point. An

island in a kitchen or a dining table is example as is a centrally placed spiral staircase or a circular,

dominant lighting fixture. While there is one main focal point there can also be less obvious points of

attention in this kind of room.

You will come across interiors that appear not to have been designed according to the rules of balance

described above, and there are. The reason they can sometimes work well is because the designer was

skilled enough to break the rules and still keep visual balance. Equilibrium is achieved by distributing

objects and accessories according to all the aspects that determine the visual weight - size, overall shape,

texture and surface.

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For example, a dark object of unusual shape or texture feels visually heavier than a light or neutral

colored, translucent object even though they may be of the same size. This kind of balancing requires

experience as well as talent and we’d recommend waiting until you’ve done some designing according to

the principles described above before trying to be radical!

2.5.2 Rhythm

You’ll already be familiar with what rhythm means in music – the beat, the pulse, patterns of

repetition and contrast. These give a sense of continuity, organization and order. Within the structure

of order, there is also surprise and interest. These same principles apply to interior design. You need

to integrate repetition and contrast and also progression and transition. You want to take the user of

the space on a journey, visually leading him or her from one design element to another.

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Repetition is taking one element and repeating it to a greater or lesser degree at other points, like color,

texture, pattern or line.

Contrast is to place two elements which are in opposition to each other, like black and white or circles

and squares. Contrast is naturally more startling than repetition so use it cautiously and sparingly. Don’t

let it upset the balance of the scene you’ve already created.

Progression can be achieved by taking an element and repeating it in a way that either increases its

visual impact or decreases it. Size is a good example of this in action, like placing different sized similar

objects in a room. It can also be done by using a monochromatic color scheme – like choosing cushions

of varying tones of the same color.

Transition could also be called flow. It’s like the effect of a curved path drawing your eye along its line.

You want to lead the user’s eye naturally from one spot to another.

2.5.3 Emphasis or focal point

If everything in a room holds equal importance, there will be no focus of attention and it will seem

either boring or scatter ed. Boredom is definitely something you want to avoid! A well designed room

will have at least one focal point. A large room can have a few. Each focal point must be strong

enough to draw attention and hold it. Architectural features often provide a natural focal point, like a

fireplace or a bow window. You can choose to enhance the inherent feature by arranging furniture

and obje cts around it. If the room doesn’t have a natural focal point you can create one by grouping

furniture, say around a TV, by introducing an unusual piece of furniture or by introducing a

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contrasting color in one area. Be sure to integrate each focal point with the surrounding décor, style,

color or theme and don’t let it be too dominant.

2.5.4 Harmony

Harmony is created when all elements in an interior project work together to give a unified

impression. Just as rhythm creates interest and excitement, harmony creates a sense of peace and

restfulness. Harmony can be very effectively achieved with color. Choose three or four basic colors

for your palette and use them in varying tones and hues throughout a house. A common theme,

mood or style creates harmony.

A well designed space feels unified as one harmonious and unified whole. Balance the amount

repetition with the interest of surprise.

It goes without saying that details matter in interiors. As much as you need harmony, you need the

interest of detail. Pay attention to the smallest of details from handles on furniture to trimmings on

cushions. Details shouldn’t take on a life of their own but work to integrate into the design theme, to

add to it rather than distract from it.

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2.6 Finding inspiration

You’ve been given the job of planning a new interior for a room or a whole house. How exciting! If

you have a naturally flowing sense of creativity, then you’re probably already bursting with ideas.

Sometimes, though, creativity isn’t flowing so smoothly or you’re stuck on some parts. Focusing on

the practical parts of the job can get in the way of coming up with great ideas and solutions to

problems. Or when you’re faced with a problem you can’t seem to solve it can block your natural

talent.

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Luckily, if your creative well is running dry, there’s a world of inspiration you can dip into that will help

you to get it flowing again.

Artistic inspiration can come from anything in the world that takes your interest. Keep open to

opportunities to fill your creative well. You can be inspired by beautiful architecture or the interiors of

public buildings. While travelling, you could see new angles, themes, color combinations or motifs that

lead to a stream of ideas. Always keep your notebook and camera with you to record these things and

refer to when you’re looking for something to inspire you on a new project. Galleries and museums,

especially ones that carry works with a design theme should be visited regularly as they are filled with a

myriad of objects that could spark the solution you’re looking for.

Here are a few ideas for sources of inspiration:

Fashion is teeming with creative expression. What’s more, it’s probably the fastest moving source of

up to date ideas. New collections adorn the catwalks of the world’s major cities a few times a year

and get photographed and featured extensively. You don’t have to search far to feast yourself on

wonderful new creations.

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Concentrate on the big fashion houses. The designers that work here are truly talented artists and

work hard to continually reinvent their trade and tirelessly come up with new looks, pieces and

trends or with inspiring re-workings of previous trends.

Though fashion design can be lots of fun, it is far from frivolous. It ranges from functional clothing to

works of art that will probably make it to a museum one day. It reflects the overall sentiment of a

culture, the zeitgeist of a nation and the economic picture of the world at any given time. Look at

both modern and historical fashion trends – we’re sure you’ll find lots to inspire you.

Look at:

The overall outline and scale of an outfit.

The kind of lines the designer used.

Color schemes.

Dominant themes.

Fabric textures and patterns.

Architecture, no matter where in the world you are, can always be a source of inspiration. The array

of aesthetics, tastes and styles is endless. As well as looking at the buildings within reach of where

you live, research architecture and interior architecture form around the world and throughout the

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ages. You’ll notice themes and lines from classic and traditional disciplines being repeated not just in

architecture from later times but in all kinds of areas of design.

For example, we mentioned the Art Nouveau movement in Module 1. This style was popular at the end

of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. It was defined by lots of fluid and flowing curvilinear lines,

often referred to as whiplash lines. It is said to have inspired the psychedelic art movement of the 1960s.

The Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest is a good example of Art Nouveau architecture.

Whenever you travel to another country make a point of visiting and photographing any building that

takes your interest and add them to your portfolio. At a later date you could find just the inspiration

you’re looking for. But don’t wait for your vacations! Look up architecture online or in good books and

magazines, such as Architectural Digest, on the subject.

Nature

There is no end to the vast array of inspiration present all around us in nature. Trees, flowers,

gardens, insects, rivers, valleys, birds, mountains, lakes, deserts, skies, animals and much more can

give you ideas to work with. If you’re feeling stuck, try to go out for a long walk. Not only will the fresh

air and rhythm of walking clear your mind and help you relax, when you’re not expecting it, a shape,

texture, pattern or color palette could catch your eye and the right side of your brain and give you the

answer you’re looking for.

National Geographic magazines from any time past or present have a wealth of the most stunning

pictures from nature. You’re sure to find something to move you there. Also, look for inspiring

photography in Flickr groups and on photography sites. Another excellent collection of beautiful and

often usual nature photographs is on the Bing archive of daily images.

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http://www.istartedsomething.com/bingimages/

Travel

Visiting new places is a great way of renewing and refreshing lots about us, and one is definitely

creativity. Whether it’s a day trip, weekend away or a full vacation, a change of scenery is a gift of

new ideas. Make a point of going to new places each time you travel. Take time to explore the area

on foot and be observant. Avoid typical tourist hangouts and look for the more unspoiled gems

instead. Maybe take a train instead of flying? You’ll experience much more of the natural terrain.

Art and crafts

Visit fairs, exhibitions and competitions. You’ll often find unique and quirky expression through

individual pieces of craft. Look at the shapes, textures and patterns and how materials interact with

each other like metal and fabric or how light change the look of a glass piece.

Go to art galleries and notice the palette of colors used by artists. What works well? What would

translate well to an interior? Also, look up masters like Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne and

more. Their color palettes were striking and very well balanced.