Why are they afraid to tell you?
I just watched one of the "makeover" shows on TV. The design they created was beautiful. They used creative and unique pieces with well selected colors and textures. The couple loved the results. What annoys me is that the designer gave tips to the viewer throughout the program by saying things like "pick and object like a mirror and use it over and over to repeat the design.
HELLO!? Did anyone go to design school? Did they all forget the Principles and Elements of Design? Why not give the viewer the complete theory so they can go away with enough information to actually repeat the success?!
It is called Repetition of Shape. It is one of the elements that makes up the Principle of Emphasis. Lovely square mirrors surrounded by a frame of wire spokes radiating (another real design element) out from the mirror's edge like the rays of the sun, each with a small round mirror mounted at random (asymmetrically) were hung to create one large square over a credenza. Hung symmetrically - another real term referring to one of the elements of the principle of balance. The molding on the credenza repeated the shape of the small round mirrors as did the rounded cutouts on the back of an accent chair in the living room. The dining chairs were fully upholstered. One might have been tempted to use a chair with a softened arch on the top of the back for variety but this would have been a mistake. Repeating (repetition again) the square corners of the mirrors contributed to the harmony and to setting up the focal point of the chandelier.
The color scheme was a monochromatic scheme of ocean colors, turquoise, blue, green and yellow green. The chandelier had fabulous crystals shaped like long drops of water which followed the theme of the location of the beach front property. Looping back to the mirrors on the wall - the little round mirrors evoke the feeling of water drops spraying off a wave. None of this was an accident. Every decision was driven by the Principles of Design and executed with amazing precision.
There was so much more. So well done. But why do the producers of these shows think they should not use the vocabulary of the industry? Do they think that consumers are not smart enough to understand the big words? Well, my design clients were sure smart enough to keep up. We became partners in the design as I taught them why we were making the choices we did. The result of that partnership was a much richer design than I would have ever thought of by myself - and I am a pretty smart designer.
Come on TV! Keeping the rules of design a secret does not benefit anyone. Consumers who understand the terminology are smarter clients. Telling them why we do what we do does not mean they will not benefit from hiring a designer. Just the opposite - it means they will hire a designer who they can communicate with and that makes for good design for everyone!
HELLO!? Did anyone go to design school? Did they all forget the Principles and Elements of Design? Why not give the viewer the complete theory so they can go away with enough information to actually repeat the success?!
It is called Repetition of Shape. It is one of the elements that makes up the Principle of Emphasis. Lovely square mirrors surrounded by a frame of wire spokes radiating (another real design element) out from the mirror's edge like the rays of the sun, each with a small round mirror mounted at random (asymmetrically) were hung to create one large square over a credenza. Hung symmetrically - another real term referring to one of the elements of the principle of balance. The molding on the credenza repeated the shape of the small round mirrors as did the rounded cutouts on the back of an accent chair in the living room. The dining chairs were fully upholstered. One might have been tempted to use a chair with a softened arch on the top of the back for variety but this would have been a mistake. Repeating (repetition again) the square corners of the mirrors contributed to the harmony and to setting up the focal point of the chandelier.
The color scheme was a monochromatic scheme of ocean colors, turquoise, blue, green and yellow green. The chandelier had fabulous crystals shaped like long drops of water which followed the theme of the location of the beach front property. Looping back to the mirrors on the wall - the little round mirrors evoke the feeling of water drops spraying off a wave. None of this was an accident. Every decision was driven by the Principles of Design and executed with amazing precision.
There was so much more. So well done. But why do the producers of these shows think they should not use the vocabulary of the industry? Do they think that consumers are not smart enough to understand the big words? Well, my design clients were sure smart enough to keep up. We became partners in the design as I taught them why we were making the choices we did. The result of that partnership was a much richer design than I would have ever thought of by myself - and I am a pretty smart designer.
Come on TV! Keeping the rules of design a secret does not benefit anyone. Consumers who understand the terminology are smarter clients. Telling them why we do what we do does not mean they will not benefit from hiring a designer. Just the opposite - it means they will hire a designer who they can communicate with and that makes for good design for everyone!
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