Textiles IV: the Basic Element of Design – JSS3 Home Economics Lesson Note (Second Term)

The basic elements of design are line, shape, space, texture and colour, and designers use them to plan a garment that looks good on the wearer.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. name and describe the five basic elements of design;
2. explain what a colour wheel is;
3. list the primary, secondary and tertiary colours;
4. group colours into warm and cool colours;
5. apply the points to remember when choosing colours for a garment.

What are the basic elements of design?

There are five basic elements of design: line, shape, space, texture and colour.

• Line: the outline of an object or the obvious lines within it.
• Shape: the form of a solid object, created when lines are combined. The outline of a garment is its shape.
• Space: the three-dimensional area to be designed. It is the entire area within a garment.
• Texture: the way the surface of a fabric looks and feels.
• Colour: one of the most important elements. It has many visual effects and a language of its own.

How is line used in a garment?

Line in a garment is seen in seams, edges, stripes, pleats, darts and trimmings.

• Vertical lines: run up and down, and make the wearer look taller and slimmer.
• Horizontal lines: run across the body, and make the wearer look wider and shorter.
• Curved lines: give a soft, gentle look, as in a rounded neckline.
• Zigzag lines: give a lively, busy look and draw the eye.

How is texture used in a garment?

Texture is described by words such as smooth, rough, shiny, dull, soft, stiff, thick and thin.

• Smooth, dull and thin fabrics: make the wearer look smaller, as in plain cotton.
• Rough, shiny and thick fabrics: make the wearer look larger, as in satin or heavy brocade.
• Examples: lace, velvet, ankara print and aso-oke all have different textures.

What is the colour wheel?

The colour wheel is an arrangement of colours in a circle to show how they are related.

What are primary colours?

Primary colours are red, yellow and blue.

• They cannot be made by mixing other colours.
• All other colours on the wheel come from them.

What are secondary colours?

Secondary colours are orange, green, and purple or violet.

• Each is made by mixing two primary colours.

What are tertiary colours?

Tertiary colours are six colours, and each is a blend of a primary and a secondary colour.

1. Red-violet: red with violet.
2. Blue-violet: blue with violet.
3. Blue-green: blue with green.
4. Yellow-green: yellow with green.
5. Yellow-orange: yellow with orange.
6. Red-orange: red with orange.

What are warm and cool colours?

Colours on the wheel are grouped into warm colours and cool colours.

What are hue, value and intensity?

Hue, value and intensity are the three qualities used to describe any colour.

• Hue: the name of the colour, such as red or blue.
• Value: how light or dark the colour is.
• Intensity: how bright or dull the colour is.

What are colour schemes?

A colour scheme is a set of colours chosen to go well together in one outfit.

• Monochromatic scheme: uses one colour in light and dark shades, such as pale blue with navy blue.
• Analogous scheme: uses colours that sit side by side on the wheel, such as yellow, yellow-green and green.
• Complementary scheme: uses colours that face each other on the wheel, such as red and green, or blue and orange.

What should you remember when choosing colours?

Choose colours that suit the wearer’s size and shape, because colour changes how big a person looks.

How do colours change the look of the wearer?

Which colours go well with black, white, brown and grey?

• Black: can be used with all colours except very dark brown, because there will be no contrast.
• White: goes with every colour, provided it is used sparingly.
• Brown: goes well with yellow, green, light blue, orange, etc.
• Grey: is a neutral colour. It harmonises with red, yellow, blue, green, orange and purple.

Evaluation

1. List the five basic elements of design.
2. What is a colour wheel?
3. Name the three primary colours and the three secondary colours.
4. Give two examples each of warm colours and cool colours.
5. Which colours make a person look smaller than normal?

Assignment

In your notebook, do the following:

1. Write the six tertiary colours.
2. Explain the meaning of shape and texture in design.
3. State three colours that go well with brown, and one colour that black should not be used with.