Design Basics - The Elements of Design

The Elements of Design are simply the bits you put together to make your finished card. They are like the choices you make in carpet, paint, wallpaper, curtains and furnishings that make a room a pleasant place to be. Similarly in your wedding stationery most of these elements will directly relate to the materials you choose to use. The Elements we will be focusing on are Point, Line, Texture, Pattern, Form and Space.

Point – This is a focal point, usually the area of a design the eye is drawn to first. It could be a flower (as shown below) used as a main embellishment, a photo of the bride and groom or boldly printed text. Of course you may have two points on your card, in which case the viewer’s brain automatically draws a line between them. If you have three points, the brain will see a triangle and so on.

Line – The line is what the eye sees when there is a change in colour or texture. The initial lines to consider are the edge of your base card which frames your invitation design. Other lines could also be a ribbon laid across the card, the edges of a coloured card layer or lines your brain draws to make sense of focal points on the card.

Texture – This can be physical touchy feely texture or visual texture. Whichever you use varying textures will create different finished designs. Delicate translucent materials such as Angel Hair paper and organza ribbon will create a light airy feeling. Satin ribbon and metallic crinkle papers (like the marble paper shown here) will give a luxurious rich effect whereas the rustic texture of handmade papers will give you a shabby chic finish.

Pattern – In invitation design this will most likely come from decorative papers or stamps. Be wary of using too many or contrasting patterns in a design as they can clash with one another and jar the eye.

Form – The first consideration to form you will need to think about is the shape of card you want to use, and which way round you want to use it. It is also the three dimensional space your design occupies. For example if you have a gatefold card when your card is open, the inside text will be seen at the same time as the outside design. This means the relationship between the two must be harmonious. Other ways your card may have a three dimensional form are by using embellishments with depth or raising areas of your design on 3d foam pads.

Space – The areas left blank in the design, showing the background card, can be just as important as the bits you fill. They allow the other elements of the design to take centre stage and shine.

Try looking at the Wedding Crafter Gallery, interiors, magazines and adverts and identifying the elements of design you like and want to use in your stationery. This will allow you to make an informed choice of what materials to use to get the effect you want from your wedding invitations.

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