PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN AND APPLICATION

Lesson 5: Principles of Design - Balance and Rhythm

Rhythm

A scene of order, a quality of gracefulness, a feeling of easy movement- all lead to a principle of design which is called rhythm. Rhythm can be defined as related movement or the sense of leading the eye easily from one part of a design to another in an easy, flowing manner. In simple view, it is the regular repetition of like features in a design. It must be recognized that not all movement in design is rhythmic. Sometimes movement is distracting. In, art rhythm means an easy, connected path along which the eye may travel in any arrangement of lines, forms or colours. The moment a pattern is placed upon the plain space, the eye will begin to travel along lines suggested by the pattern and at that moment movement is created. The movement may be organized and easy and thus rhythmic or it may be very restless distracting and lacking in rhythm. Visual movement is very important principle of design. If certain elements of art are used to create a rhythm, there will be visual movement.

Kinds of rhythm