The Elements of Design: Rediscovering Colours, Textures, Forms and Shapes

Loan Oei

ISBN 10: 0500283397 / ISBN 13: 9780500283394

Published by Thames & Hudson Ltd, United Kingdom, London, 2002

The bark of a plane tree in Paris; a detail of a cotton towel in Japan; sunset in the Egyptian desert; soil in the Yosemite National Park, California; a tiled floor in Bangkok; a wall in Ferrara; an iron cart wheel in Antwerp. Colours, textures, forms and shapes are the basis of this unique sourcebook that reveals the elements common to all design and literally teaches us how to see. Hauntingly beautiful and deeply instructive, The Elements of Design surveys our whole environment, natural and manmade, and shows us how it can be defined in terms of basic elements: variable arrangements of dots; lines that are straight, curving, bending or crossing; planes such as rectangles, squares, lozenges, triangles and circles. All these are represented in this book, with telling juxtapositions, in a wide range of materials and techniques, in one sense timeless and universal, in another datable and culturally conditioned. Ever-recurring design elements, they take us to the heart of the creative process: a creative transformation that may involve inspiration or imitation, representation or limitation. A cult book for artists, designers and craftspeople of all kinds, The Elements of Design is a startling reminder of how the search for something new is a voyage of rediscovery into past and present forms. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR002121051

Synopsis:

The bark of a plane tree in Paris, a detail of a cotton towel in Japan, sunset in the Egyptian desert, soil from Yosemite, a tiled floor in Bangkok, a wall in Ferrara, an iron cart wheel in Antwerp.... Colors, textures, forms, and shapes are the basis of this unique book that reveals the elements common to all design and literally teaches us how to see. Hauntingly beautiful and deeply instructive, it surveys the environment, natural and man-made, showing how it can be defined in terms of basic elements: variable arrangements of dots; lines that are straight, curving, bending, or crossing; planes such as rectangles, squares, lozenges, triangles, and circles. All these are represented, with telling juxtapositions, in a wide range of materials and techniques, in one sense timeless and universal, in another datable and culturally conditioned. Ever-recurring design elements, they take us to the heart of the creative process: a transformation that may involve inspiration or imitation, representation or interpretation. Destined to become a cult book for artists, designers, and craftspeople, this amazing volume is a reminder of how the search for something new is a voyage of rediscovery into past and present form. 177 color photographs.

About the Author: Loan Oei lives in Amsterdam and is a curator of exhibitions. She also writes and lectures on textiles. Cecile De Kegel, based in Antwerp, is a graduate in textile design and teaches weaving.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Elements of Design: Rediscovering ...
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd, United Kingdom, London
Publication Date: 2002
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Very Good