CHAPTER 2: The language of Basic Design

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
The word "design" refers to a deliberate plan to imagine, create, or form ideas, to bring them to actual reality.  “basic design” on the other hand entails the fundamentals or insights into design areas, starting from scratch, with special focus on the application of the basic elements of design in terms of line, colour, shape, space, and form. Literally, they are the fundamental languages of design.  
As a subject, Basic Design focuses on leading the students into a candid understanding of the formal elements, guiding principles, and their application to two dimensional designs, as well as to three-dimensional design. Therefore, basic design is an all-encompassing subject which covers visual communication design, textiles, painting, drawing, and other aspects of three dimensional art, including installation and assemblage techniques.  
To design is to “contrive” to “formulate”, it is an intentional action to create on purpose. Hornby (2010) explains design as the general arrangement of the different parts of something that are made, such as a building, book, machine, etc.