Elements & Principles of Design in Relation to Floristry (2024)

Aug 08

Elements & Principles of Design in Relation to FloristryYvette

Elements & Principles of Design in Relation to Floristry (1)

The elements & principles of design are universal, absolutely everything we use or create from a single flower to large scale arrangements incorporate the use of the elements and of design. Correct use of the elements and principles of design ensures a pleasing arrangement. All arrangements include the elements of design almost by default, the designers job is to incorporate the elements using the principles as a guide.

The elements of design are as follows:
  • Colour
  • Form
  • Texture
  • Space
  • Line
The principles are:
  • Balance
  • Dominance
  • Contrast
  • Rhythm
  • Proportion
  • Scale
  • Harmony

Floral designers need to correctly apply the principles to each element. When practicing, a designer can look at one element at a time. For example, a designer may ask themselves the following questions “Have I correctly balanced the colour within my design? Have I used rhythm by the use of colour? Have I used scale to ensure the colours are from light to dark? Have I used colours of dominance? Have I used contrasting colours? Has that created a harmonious arrangement?”

Another example is texture “Do I have contrasting textures? Have I used scale between the two contrasting textures? Do any of the textures used create dominance? Have I created visual balance by using textures seeming to be heavy into the base and lighter textures through the top? Have I used the Rhythm in the textures and within, to harmoniously guide throughout the arrangement?”

When designing your arrangements ensure that you have incorporated each of the elements and principles of design.

Now let’s look at each individual principle:

Balance

Balance is made up of two parts one is the aspect of Physical balance, the physical weight distribution within your arrangement to ensure that it does not fall over. The second component of balance is the visual balance for example is the use of colour visually balanced? Is the use of texture visually balanced? Is the use of line visually balanced? Is the use of space visually balanced? and Is the use of form and shape visually balanced?

Dominance

Dominance is often referred to as a focal point, an area within the arrangement that the eye is the first drawn to. Dominance again can be created by any of the elements of design however is most commonly created by the use of colour and or size.

Contrast

Contrast can be created by use of any of the elements of design like dominance it is also often created but the use of colour. Contrast can create depth and interest within a design for example contrasting colours, using 2 colours opposite each other on the colour wheel. It may also be a Contrast from light to dark within one colour Hue. Contrast is also well used with texture from shiny to dull, contrasting shapes and contrasting sizes from small to large.

Scale

In order for contrast to be harmonious we must use scale. Scale is the use of contrasting elements from small to big, light the dark, hard to soft, thick to thin, straight to curvy and everything in between in other words ensuring there is a graduation from one contrast to another.

Proportion

The next principle is proportion it is extremely important for a floral designer to consider proportion when choosing vases and containers for their arrangements. For example an arrangement too large for its container would be out of proportion and vice versa an arrangement too small for its container would also be out of proportion.

Rhythm

Rhythm is flow or movement, this can relate to the individual flowers and can also be created by the designer linking materials together to create a flow. This is well achieved with the use of line it can also be created by use of any of the elements of design to direct the viewers and also create connections between one part of the arrangement to another

Harmony

Harmony is the final principle of design and rightly so as harmony is achieved by the correct application of all of the elements using the principles of design. Harmony is when one’s eye is pleased by the arrangement, thanks to the designers use of the elements and principles of design.

Have fun designing your next creation,

Yvette x

The above information forms part of the Bloom College Floristry Career Change Course

Elements & Principles of Design in Relation to Floristry (2)

Elements & Principles of Design in Relation to Floristry (2024)

FAQs

Elements & Principles of Design in Relation to Floristry? ›

The elements are Line, Form, Space, Texture and Pattern, Color, Size, and Fragrance. Principles of Design – are the “tools” of design. They are guidelines - the “ways” in which we compose a design – the manner of placement. These guidelines govern the organization of materials in accordance with the laws of nature.

What are the elements of form in floral design? ›

Form, in floral design, refers to the shape, height, width, and depth of both the overall flower arrangement, and of the individual flowers within the arrangement. (Some flower varieties are also called “form flowers” because they have an unusual shape, like the calla lily.)

Why are the principles of floral design important? ›

The principles of floral design are a set of guidelines which help create pleasing and saleable designs. They assist the designer throughout the process of selecting plant material, visualizing a design, and constructing it.

What are the elements of floral design concerned with? ›

The elements of design are all of the things that go into creating an arrangement. In floral design, the elements are used to create an artistic expression using floral materials. The elements of floral design include color, line, form, and texture.

What are the 5 elements in floristry? ›

I myself have worked in a flower shop and understand that an arrangement just can't be thrown together. Tought and the elements of design must all be put into effect. The five elements of design are line, color, form, space and texture. I will discuss each element and what the importance of each element is.

What are the 7 design principles and elements? ›

The fundamental principles of design are: Emphasis, Balance and Alignment, Contrast, Repetition, Proportion, Movement and White Space. Design differs from art in that it has to have a purpose. Visually, this functionality is interpreted by making sure an image has a center of attention, a point of focus.

What is design in floristry? ›

Floral design or flower arrangement is the art of using plant material and flowers to create an eye-catching and balanced composition or display. Evidence of refined floral design is found as far back as the culture of ancient Egypt.

What is the 3:5-8 rule in floristry? ›

One of the European designs that we create in floristry is called the Form Linear, in which we apply flowers by using the 3:5:8 rule, with 3 main focal groups: 3 = Sub-dominate Group/Placement. 5 = Contrasting Group/Placement. 8 = Dominate Group/Placement.

What do the basic floral design shapes include? ›

Basic floral design shapes include round (circular), triangle, horizontal, crescent, hogarth (s) curve, and right angle. Balance- is achieved in a floral design when flower size and container flow together and complement each other.

What is the golden rule in floral design? ›

Employ The Golden Ratio

According to Bruni, the "golden ratio" for floral arranging is creating a visual where the arrangement is two-and-a-half sizes bigger than its container.

What are the basic principles and rules for flower arrangement? ›

Select flowers and leaves of different size. Usually buds and small flowers are used at the top and edges of an arrangement, while large leaves or fully opened flowers are placed low in the arrangement. A large element is often used as a focal point. In floral design, size also applies to apparent or visual size.

What are the basic principles of design? ›

There are twelve basic principles of design: contrast, balance, emphasis, proportion, hierarchy, repetition, rhythm, pattern, white space, movement, variety, and unity.

What do floral designs symbolize? ›

In ancient Greece and Rome, the rose was associated with Aphrodite and Venus, the goddesses of love. Lilies are commonly associated with beauty while carnations convey fascination or admiration. Chrysanthemums indicate friendship and cheerfulness while daisies and dandelions are for faithful love.

What are four major lines used in floral design? ›

The four major lines used in floral design are curved, zigzag, diagonal, and horizontal. Curved lines are created when two points are connected by a curve. Curved lines can be either soft or hard.

What is the 3 5 8 rule in floristry? ›

One of the European designs that we create in floristry is called the Form Linear, in which we apply flowers by using the 3:5:8 rule, with 3 main focal groups: 3 = Sub-dominate Group/Placement. 5 = Contrasting Group/Placement. 8 = Dominate Group/Placement.

What are the floristry design techniques? ›

Grouping • Banding • Binding • Shadowing • Sequencing • Framing • Zoning • Parallelism • Skeletonizing Let's examine each of these design techniques in detail. The act of covering the area at the base of a floral arrange- ment is generally known as basing.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 5939

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.