I.  ELEMENTS OF DESIGN: The visual characteristics of all components contributing to floral art.

• LINE – one-dimensional visual path through design (long/short, straight/curved, weak/strong, thick/thin, delicate/bold).
• FORM – a three-dimensional object (sphere, cube, pyramid, cone).
• LIGHT – illumination necessary for vision. Either natural or artificial light can affect colors and depth.
• COLOR – characteristic of light by which the individual perceives objects or light sources. The Pigment System of color is used (Primary, Secondary, Intermediate, and Achromatic). Properties of color include Hue, Value, and Intensity.
• TEXTURE – Surface quality of a material (rough/smooth, coarse/fine, glossy/dull, hard/soft).
• SIZE – the perceived or visual dimensions of component rather than the actual dimensions.
• SPACE – the open area in and around a design (total space, spaces within plant material, and spaces established within design).
• PATTERN – created by the spatial divisions of solids and voids (color/texture formed by placement of shapes, growth patterns, uncluttered silhouette).

II.  PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: The basic art standards by which all visual art is judged.

• BALANCE – achieved by placing equal weight on opposite ends of an imaginary central axis. Either Symmetrical (formal) or Asymmetrical (informal).
• CONTRAST – achieved by placing opposite or unlike characteristics of a single element together in order to emphasize their differences.
• DOMINANCE – the greater impact within each of the physical characteristics contrasted above.
• PROPORTION – comparative relationship of areas and amounts.
• SCALE – the size relationship of one object in a design compared to another.
• RHYTHM – created by a dominant visual path of line(s), form(s), and/or color(s) throughout a design.