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Elements and Principles:
from the AIFD Guide to Floral Design
The term “Elements and Principles of Floral Design” is a collective one which refers to the attributes, characteristics, and artistic guidelines, tangible as well as intangible, that are part of every floral composition. Specifically, the elements of design are the directly observable components, or ingredients, of a design and include such aspects as line, color, and texture, among others. The principles of design are the aesthetic influences, derived from the observation and the interpretation of the natural world, the so-called “Laws of Nature,” which customarily serve as guidelines for the artistic organization of the elements into a pleasing composition. Among the recognized principles are such concepts as balance, contrast, and rhythm.
Taken together, the elements and principles of design provide us with a common language by which we may learn, teach, describe, understand, and evaluate floral art. They are the fundamental and essential aspects of all floral compositions, and they provide the foundation upon which any successful design is created. They are not, however, limited to the realm of flower arranging, but rather, they are universal to every form of design or artistic expression, from painting to sculpture to fashion design to architecture. Nor are these concepts finite; new ideas and observations continually emerge, and applications for floral design are frequently drawn from other disciplines. Other texts may list fewer elements or other principles than those described below, confirming the notion that the concepts are continually evolving.
A floral artist learns to see any given plant material in terms of its elemental qualities ... the line of its stem, the shape of its bud, the color of its petals, the texture of its leaves, etc. By skillfully applying the principles of design to combine these characteristics with those of other plant materials-or with containers, props, accessories, and the surrounding environment-the desired composition takes shape. An intuitive designer understands the mood and energy expressed by a single, shapely and colorful blossom or by the sinuous contortions of a piece of driftwood, and acts accordingly
None of the elements or principles of design exists in a vacuum; that is, the expression of each is influenced by the application of another. For example, the color
red may appear more intense when placed alongside green, its direct complement, than when positioned next to orange, an analogous hue. The rounded form of a carnation may be strengthened by the nearby presence of other circular shapes, such as a gerbera or a lotus pod. Color can determine balance and line can create rhythm and vice versa. Texture can suggest continuity as well as contrast. Space can either emphasize individual forms or obscure them. Practically any principle can be applied to any element to affect its appearance and expression, subject to the decisions made by the designer.
For a floral designer, the elements and principles extend beyond the floral composition itself. From a sales perspective, they apply to visual merchandising in that the elements of an effective display must be arranged according to the principles of design so as to generate interest and appeal in the mind of a potential customer. They. pertain as well to the placement of a flower arrangement within its surrounding environment, whether it is a private living room or a commercial office space. The floral design should express a harmonious relationship with its setting.
A beginning flower arranger may feel intimidated by the elements and principles of design. But rather than being limiting and restrictive, they actually provide us limitless possibilities, for they are the keys that unlock the secrets of pleasing floral design. They are fluid and flexible and they can be expressed in myriad ways and countless combinations. Just as a furniture maker uses tools to manipulate his lumber, adds some paint or varnish, perhaps some fabric, and a selection of hardware to realize his vision of a chair, so does a floral designer apply the principles of design to the elements at hand, to produce new floral compositions that are limited only by the imagination of the artist.
THE ELEMENTS OF FLORAL DESIGN
The directly observable components, ingredients, and physical characteristics of design.
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LINE
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PATTERN
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FORM
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FRAGRANCE
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SPACE
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SIZE
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TEXTURE
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COLOR
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