Glossary
Ambiguous Figure/Ground
A figure/ground relationship where elements function as both figure and ground simultaneously, creating uncertainty in perception.
Example:
A camouflage pattern where the animal blends seamlessly into its environment creates an ambiguous figure/ground relationship, making it hard to distinguish the subject.
Asymmetrical Balance
A type of balance where visual elements are not identical on either side of a central axis but still achieve a sense of equilibrium through varied visual weights.
Example:
A designer places a large, dark shape on one side of a layout and several smaller, lighter shapes on the other to achieve asymmetrical balance, creating dynamic harmony.
Balance
The distribution of visual weight in an artwork, creating a sense of equilibrium and stability.
Example:
A photographer carefully positions subjects and negative space to achieve visual balance in their composition, preventing any one area from feeling too heavy or empty.
Connection
Placing objects together in an artwork to highlight their similarities or create a sense of unity.
Example:
An artist arranges a group of objects with similar textures and colors to create a visual connection between them, making them feel like a cohesive set.
Contrast
The intensity of difference between values, colors, textures, or other elements in an artwork.
Example:
A graphic designer uses high contrast between a bright yellow text and a dark blue background to ensure readability and visual pop, making the text stand out.
Emphasis
Making one area of a design stand out to draw the viewer's attention and create a focal point.
Example:
In a still life, a single bright red apple placed among muted green and brown objects creates strong emphasis, immediately drawing the viewer's eye.
Figure/Ground Relationship
How the foreground (figure) and background (ground) interact to create positive and negative space, influencing perception.
Example:
In a silhouette portrait, the dark profile of the face is the figure, and the light background is the ground, clearly defining the subject.
Hierarchy
Arranging visual information to show importance, guiding the viewer's eye to key elements in a specific order.
Example:
In a poster design, the main title is significantly larger and bolder than the supporting text, establishing a clear visual hierarchy that tells the viewer what to read first.
Juxtaposition
Placing objects or elements together in an artwork to highlight their differences or create a striking contrast.
Example:
A photographer places a delicate, wilting flower next to a sharp, rusted piece of metal to create a powerful juxtaposition of fragility and decay.
Movement
Creating the illusion of motion or guiding the viewer's eye through the artwork's composition.
Example:
In a dynamic painting, swirling brushstrokes and diagonal lines create a strong sense of movement, leading the eye across the canvas as if following a gust of wind.
Opacity/Transparency
The degree to which design objects can be seen through, influencing layering and how elements interact visually.
Example:
A digital artist uses a low opacity brush to create a misty, ethereal effect over a landscape painting, allowing the background colors to subtly show through.
Proportion
The relative size of parts within a single object or form.
Example:
A portrait artist carefully adjusts the proportion of the eyes to the nose to ensure the facial features appear realistic and harmonious, avoiding a distorted look.
Radial Balance
A type of balance where elements radiate outward from a central point, like spokes on a wheel or petals on a flower.
Example:
The intricate design of a stained-glass rose window demonstrates radial balance, with all patterns emanating from its central medallion.
Repetition
The repeated use of an object, element, or motif in an artwork.
Example:
An artist creates a textile pattern by using the repetition of a small, stylized leaf motif across the fabric, creating a cohesive and decorative surface.
Reversible Figure/Ground
A figure/ground relationship where the foreground and background can be perceived interchangeably, competing for attention.
Example:
M.C. Escher's 'Sky and Water I' where interlocking fish and birds create a reversible figure/ground effect, allowing the viewer to see either as the dominant shape.
Rhythm
The visual tempo created by the spaces between elements, often through repetition and variation, guiding the eye with a sense of flow or movement.
Example:
A sculptor arranges a sequence of progressively smaller, identical figures to create a visual rhythm that suggests a receding path, drawing the viewer's eye into the distance.
Scale
How different elements relate in size to each other within the entire composition.
Example:
An artist paints a tiny figure next to a colossal tree to emphasize the vast scale of nature compared to humanity, making the figure appear insignificant.
Stable Figure/Ground
A clear and unambiguous distinction between the foreground (figure) and the background (ground).
Example:
A bright red apple clearly standing out against a plain white wall demonstrates a stable figure/ground relationship, with no confusion about what is in front.
Symmetrical Balance
A type of balance where visual elements are mirrored on both sides of a central axis, creating equal visual weight.
Example:
A traditional mandala design often exhibits perfect symmetrical balance, with identical patterns radiating from the center, creating a sense of calm order.
Time
How elements change over time, either literally (as in video art) or implied through composition to suggest a paused moment or passage of duration.
Example:
A series of photographs showing a flower blooming over several days illustrates the passage of time, capturing its transformation.
Value
The lightness or darkness of a color, ranging from pure white to pure black.
Example:
In a charcoal drawing, the artist uses a wide range of value from deep blacks to bright whites to define the form of a crumpled cloth, giving it a sense of three-dimensionality.