Design for fabric and apparel

The essentials

Design is the arrangement of the elements of art according to the principles of design to create something both useful and beautiful. In clothing and textiles, good design flatters the wearer, suits the occasion and is pleasing to look at.

Key points

• Elements of design: colour, line, texture, shape/form (and space).
• Line: vertical lines create an illusion of height and slimness; horizontal lines add width; diagonal lines suggest movement.
• Texture: the surface feel and look of fabric; shiny and bulky textures make a figure look larger.
• Colour dimensions: hue (the name of the colour), value (lightness or darkness), intensity (brightness or dullness).
• Tint = hue + white; shade = hue + black.
• Prang colour system: primary colours red, yellow, blue; secondary colours orange, green, violet; tertiary colours by mixing a primary with a neighbouring secondary.
• Colour schemes: monochromatic (one hue in different values and intensities); analogous (neighbouring hues); complementary (opposite hues, e.g. red and green); split complementary; double complementary; triad (three hues equally spaced); achromatic (black, white, grey).
• Warm colours (red, orange, yellow) seem to advance; cool colours (blue, green) seem to recede.
• Principles of design: balance (formal/symmetrical or informal/asymmetrical), proportion, emphasis (centre of interest), rhythm (repetition, gradation, radiation), harmony (unity).

Exam tips

Use the colour wheel to answer scheme questions. Link each principle to a garment example: a belt at the waist dividing the body into unequal parts shows proportion; a brooch draws emphasis.

Common mistakes

Confusing value (light/dark) with intensity (bright/dull), and tint with shade.