Categories of Design a Motif

CATEGORIES OF DESIGN – A MOTIF

In art, a motif is an element of a pattern, image, or part of one, or theme. A motif may be repeated in a design or composition, often, many times, or may just occur once in a work. Primarily it is a theme for a design, which incorporates attributes, related to specific periods, styles, or imagery. Motifs can be as diverse as the designers using them in their projects. Although there are specific categories for Design Elements, you will find many Design Motifs interrelate with each other and often share common shapes, colors, textures, and forms.

Design Motifs:

RANDOM DESIGNS: THESE DESIGNS INCORPORATE A MULTITUDE OF SHAPES, FORMS, COLORS, AND LINE WORK. THERE IS NO REAL CENTRAL THEME OTHER THAN THAT OF MIXING A CREATIVE AMOUNT OF ELEMENTS, WHICH APPEAR PLEASING TO THE EYE.

GEOMETRICAL DESIGNS: THESE DESIGNS ARE CENTERED IN THE APPLICATION OF HARD EDGED MATHEMATICAL FORMS. THEY ARE OFTEN VERY LINEAR AND COMBINE SPHERES, TRIANGLES, CUBES, STARS, RECTANGLES, AND OTHER GEOMETRICALLY BASED FORMS.

NATURAL DESIGNS: THESE DESIGNS UTILIZE INSPIRATION FROM THE NATURAL WORLD WEATHER USING ANIMATE OR INANIMATE OBJECTS SUCH DESIGNS EMPLOYING A MULTITUDE OF PLANT AND ANIMAL FORMS TO CELESTIAL AND NATURAL FORCES SUCH AS WIND, FIRE, WATER ETC..

REPEATED DESIGNS: THESE DESIGNS ARE THE MAJOR COMPONENT IN CREATING A PATTERN. NOT CONNECTED TO ANY PARTICULAR CATEGORY OR MOTIF, REPEAT DESIGNS CAN INCORPORATE ALL TYPES OF DESIGN MOTIFS WITHIN THEIR STRUCTURES. THEY PRIMARILY REPEAT A SERIES OF SHAPES, OBJECTS, COLORS, OR LINES INTO A RHYTHMIC PATTERN.

SYMMETRICAL DESIGNS: THESE DESIGNS EMPLOY A VARIETY OF MOTIFS OR THEMES WITHIN THEM PROVIDING A GREAT VARIETY OF CREATIVITY. THEY ARE OFTEN SECTIONED INTO MATCHING HALVES WHERE UPON EACH DESIGN APPEARS PERFECTLY BALANCED AS A MIRRORED IMAGE. THESE DESIGNS MAY BE DISSECTED INTO HALVES, QUARTERS, EIGHTS, OR SIXTEENTHS. THEY MAY BE RADIAL, RECTANGULAR, OR TRIANGULAR. THE ONLY RULE IS THAT ONCE SEPARATED INTO HALVES, THEY ARE A MIRROR IMAGE OF EACH OTHER.

A-SYMMETRICAL DESIGNS: THESE DESIGNS ARE THE OPPOSITE OF A SYMMETRICAL DESIGN MOTIF IN THAT THEY DO NOT CONTAIN PERFECTLY BALANCED IMAGERY. IF DISSECTED INTO HALVES, THEY WILL NOT MIRROR EACH OTHER.