2009 elements of design for plant display

Set up, maintain, and dismantle plant displaysHortykim

Hortykim, Otago Polytechnic 2009

Design elements

Design is how you purposefully combine the following elements in order to create or

convey a concept or feel. This may be in the creation of a piece of furniture, an

interior or exterior design for your home or, for the purpose of this unit, an indoor

plant display!

Design elements may include: line, form, shape, size, texture, colour, and light. These

elements do not stand alone in a display, but it is helpful to understand their

individual characteristics before considering how these elements can interact.

The elements form the 'vocabulary' of the design, while the principles constitute the broader structural aspects of its composition.

The elements form the 'vocabulary' of the design, while the principles constitute the broader structural aspects of its composition.The elements form the 'vocabulary' of the design, while the principles constitute the broader structural aspects of its composition.The elements form the 'vocabulary' of the design, while the principles constitute the broader structural aspects of its composition.


Line

Line is related to the way your eye moves over a plant display and is created by the way plants, and display items fit or “flow” together.


Line

Line is also created vertically by changes in the height of your chosen plant specimens.


Line

Straight lines are aggressive and structural and will direct an observer’s eye to a focal point faster than curved lines.


Line

Curved or more free flowing lines are smooth, graceful, relaxing and can evoke a sense of movement and a more naturalistic feel for the observer.


Form

Form and line go hand in hand.Line is usually related to an outline or edge of an

object but form is more encompassing in that you are looking at the entire shape of

an object.

Form is the 3D of an object opposed to shape which is 2D. You are able to hold a form, walk around it or even inside it.

Four basic forms include the: cube, cone, cylinder and sphere.


Form

Form can also be

looked at in

terms of

individual plant

growth habit.

For example,

upright and spreading as seen in the photo.


Form

Form may also be viewed as the entire planting arrangement in a landscape or plant display.

Form can also be

related to the size of an object or a specific area and can be viewed from many different angles.


SIZE

Size is the different

proportions of objects,

lines and shapes in a

display. It is very

important when you

move into design

principles such as scale

to choose items which

are the right size in

relation to a display is

important.


Texture

Texture describes the surface of an object that can be seen or felt.

It is the level of smoothness or roughness of an object.

Surfaces of some objects may include buildings, walkways, patios, groundcovers and plants.


Texture

As light falls across a surface, every hollow or protrusion casts a shadow. The rougher a surface, the bigger the shadows. The greater the contrast between light and dark, the coarser the texture of the object will appear.


Texture

Extremes of texture, may they be course or fine, are visually powerful. Course textures and fine textures work very nicely in a design, especially if you include a medium

texture as a reference.


Texture

Coarse textures will advance towards the observer in a plant display or landscape.


Texture

Fine textures will recede from the observer. Perspective can then be manipulated by using different textures. This effect is further enhanced by the use of colour.


Colour

Colours are categorized by colour schemes. These include complementary, monochromatic, and analogous.

Colour is an excellent mode for expressing a mood for a design and can be used to create interesting effects.

Colours are often referred to as being warm (red, yellow and orange) or cool (blue, green and violet).

First we will look at the concept of complementary colours. And while we are at it - let’s grab a colour wheel which will help demonstrate the following information.


Colour

Complementary colours appear directly across from one another on the colour wheel. Complementary colours create quite a striking contrast when used together.

What is the complementary colour for

red?


Colour

The following complementary colours:

green and red;orange and blue;yellow and purple;

look fantastic together, especially if mixed in large numbers and used boldly.


Colour

Analogous colour schemes combine colours which are side by side on the colour wheel. For example: green; blue-green; green-blue.

These combinations really groove together and can create a soothing effect.


Colour

Monochromatic colour schemes are made up of different tints or shades of one colour.

Different intensities of one colour can be quite effective in that they are uncomplicated, but then again, using one colour can be dramatic. It all depends on what colour you use.


Colour

One of the most important aspects for us to consider when planning a plant display is not only flower colour but the colour of foliage and stems.


Colour

Foliage and stem colour are ever present, unlike flowers which may impress for one day or several months.

It is very important to choose your foliage and stem colours with care.


Colour

Space can be manipulated by using colour.

For example, yellows and reds are warm colours which advance towards the viewer and may make a space seem smaller and even “feel” warmer.


Colour

Blues and some greens are cold colours and tend to recede from the observer and give a sense of a more open space and a “cool” feeling.


Colour

Here are some more examples of colour theory that you may want to explore for your plant display.

Tint: colour + white

Shade: colour + black.

Tone: colour + gray.


Colour

Value: the amount of lightness or darkness in colour.

Achromatic: a theme with no colour where you use blacks, whites and grays.

Tetrad: a contrast of four or more colours.

Primary colours: red ,yellow and blue.

Secondary colours: two primary colours mixed together.


Light

Light is another important aspect to add to our collection of design tools.

Light may well be the piece de la resistance as we combine the elements we have learned about so far to create a mood for the people observing a plant display.


2009 Ellerslie Flower Show

Before we move onto design principles, let’s have a look at some of the displays at the flower show in Christchurch, New Zealand and critique them together.

You may even get a bit of inspiration to help you with designing your plant

display!


Oderings Wedding Garden SilverAward


Simonetta Ferrari Landscapes Bronze Award


Ryman Healthcare/ SuzanneSullivanBronze Award


Trott OhinetahiGold Award


Texture Plants &OuterspaceLandscapesBronze


Canterbury Hort SocietyGold


Andy Ellis & Danny KamoSilver


Ellerslie Flower Show 2009

The following photos have been down loaded from flickr, an online photo management service which is free for your first 200 photos!Check it out at http://www.flickr.com/

And you can see more of the following photos athttp://www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz/award-winners-2009.html


On The Dark Side of the Moon-Gold,Supreme Construction

IInner Sanctuary - Suzie LeCren - SilverII

Take Five-Gold-Cark Pickens Design-One Earth Matters



BBush Telly - Gold -Supreme Award in Design

“Microcosms”Solid Energy-Gold- Lighting Award


Silotary Confinement-Bach of the Future-Tim Scott


Dig This-Bronze-Liz Briggs Akaroa & Briggs-Gold-Bedding


Let’s Go Play-Merit-Let’s Go Native


References and Resources


http://www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz/award-winners-2009.html

http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG086

Photos for slides (1-35) by hortykim

2009 elements of design for plant display

Education

otago polytechnic

form form

design elements design

texture texture

colour colours

line line

colour complementary

elements form thevocabulary