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Balloon decorating is not just throwing balloons together and hoping they look good, balloon decorating is an art form. Balloons are a creative and fun way to decorate any event or occasion. As with any other form of art, balloon decorating has basic principles and techniques that need to be followed to create a successful and visually appealing work of art. This is where the elements and principles of design come in.
The elements and principles of design are common across all disciplines of art; whether you are creating a piece of artwork, working in interior design, graphic design, or working with balloons. In this article, I will focus on how the elements and principles of design pertaining to balloon design.
What Are The Elements Of Balloon Design
There are seven basic elements of design; color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. As they pertain to balloon design we will focus on color, line, shape (form), space, and texture.
The elements of balloon design are the physical parts of your design; these include the design’s colors, lines, shape (form), space, and textures. The elements of design physically exist, you can see and even touch them.
What Are The Principles Of Balloon Design
There are twelve basic principles of design; balance, contrast, emphasis, hierarchy, movement, pattern, proportion, repetition, rhythm, white space, unity, and variety. As it pertains to balloons we will focus on balance, harmony, rhythm, proportion/scale, and unity.
The principles of balloon design are how the physical parts work together to create an aesthetically pleasing composition; such as balance, harmony, rhythm, proportions/scale, and unity. Principles of balloon design try to explain why or why not a balloon creation is visually appealing to people. The principles of design do not physically exist, they are concepts or ideas.
The Rule Of Proportion
What is the rule of proportion? The rule of proportion is a guideline for sizing balloon decorations to a specific space.
Elements Of Design
Color
Balloons come in various colors, and it is essential to choose the right color harmony for your specific design. Colors can be perceived as advancing or receding visually. Warm colors (such as red, orange, and yellow) appear to be advancing or appearing closer and cool colors (such as green, blue, and violet) appear to be receding or appearing further away.
Color Harmonies
There are several different variations of color harmonies, the four basic color harmonies are complimentary, analogous, monochromatic, and triadic.
Complimentary colors are any two colors located opposite each other on the color wheel.
Analogous colors are any three colors located next to each other on the color wheel.
Triadic colors are any three colors located evenly spaced from each other on the color wheel.
Monochromatic harmonies use a single color hue and its tints, tones, or shades to create color contrast.
Line
The line refers to the line that the viewer’s eyes should follow while viewing the balloon creation. Lines can draw the viewer’s eyes to a focal point.
A design can have a single line or it can have several lines. Lines in a design can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and even curved. In general vertical lines create drama, horizontal lines represent tranquility, diagonal lines express uncertainty, and curved lines reflect grace.
In this image, notice the pink balloon leading your eyes up to the Happy Mother’s Day Balloon, while the curved silver balloons send your eyes out so you can take in the balloon creation as a whole.
Shape (Form)
Shape or form refers to the configuration of your design as it relates to the height, width, and depth of your balloon creation. Shape/form can be divided into three main categories; round, triangle, and oblong.
In the image of the organic balloons garland by Shimmer and Confetti, notice the round shape of the garland as it curves over the table.
Round
Triangle
Oblong
Space
As it relates to balloon design, space is the area around or between the components in your balloon creation.
In this white and silver balloon column, Balloon Column Entry # 14 from the World Balloon Convention 2012, notice the space between each of the balloon components.
Texture
Texture refers to how a design feels or appears to feel. Texture can refer to how a design
Texture can be both physical and visual.
Designs should have textural differences to create the maximum impact, but they shouldn’t contain more than four textures.
This picture from the World Balloon Convention 2012, A Post Card From Australia, is a great example of texture. From the bird’s feathers to the water to the boat, this sculpture used texture to bring the whole thing to life.
Principles Of Design
Balance
Balance refers to the visual and physical weight of a design. Physically balancing a design is achieved when proper weight and structure are used to prevent a design from falling over.
Balloon decorations must be balanced to create visually appealing designs. Balance in a design visually can be achieved through a variety of methods.
One way that visual balance is achieved is by using darker colors or heavier materials toward the bottom of a design while using lighter colors or lighter materials toward the top of a design. Another way that visual balance is achieved is by using symmetrical or asymmetrical compositions.
Symmetrical Design
When creating a symmetrical design, the decorations are arranged equally on each side of the display. Visually the weight of the design is equal on both sides.
Asymmetrical Design
On the other hand, an asymmetrical design showcases a sense of movement and flow that gives a sense of excitement to the overall display.
Harmony
Harmony in design refers to the overall unity and balance of elements in the composition. In balloon decorating, harmony can be achieved by using complementary colors and sizes of balloons, as well as arranging them in a cohesive and pleasing manner.
Rhythm
Rhythm in design refers to the repetition or movement of elements in the composition, creating a sense of visual flow and movement. In balloon decorating, rhythm can be achieved by using balloons of varying sizes and shapes, as well as incorporating patterns and arrangements that guide the eye through the display. For example, a balloon arch can create a sense of rhythm by leading the eye from one end to the other.
Proportion / Scale
Proportion refers to the size (or visual weight) of each element as it relates to the other elements and the overall composition of the design.
The proportion of the balloons in a balloon creation is essential to ensure that the overall design is aesthetically pleasing. The balloons used in a balloon creation must be of the appropriate size in relation to the display area, the event’s theme, and the other components of the display. Balloon decorators should select the appropriate size of balloons, with proper dimensions in mind.
The scale refers to the size of the balloon creation and how it relates to its surroundings.
Pro Tip: Balloon creations should be at least 1-1/2 times the size of their container.
Unity
Unity in balloon decorations refers to how the decorations work together as a cohesive unit. Decorators must ensure that each balloon used and the color of the balloons works together to create a harmonious and visually pleasing overall display. It is important to consider the event’s theme, colors, and any specific requests made by clients to bring about unity.
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