Elements of design in picture books

Line:

• Lines may be thick, thin, whole or broken.
• The direction of the line can convey meaning.
  • Horizontal lines may express rest or peace.
  • Vertical lines may suggest stability.
  • Diagonal lines express action and movement.

Space:

• Space can show isolation or closeness.
• Space may express reality and fantasy.
• Borders which enclose space can give meaning to the story.

Colour:

• Colour can denote setting, theme or mood.
• Children of all ages like colour, but bright colours are often used in books for young children, while black and white is more often found in books for older children.
• Use of black and white may be dictated by cost; it is less expensive than colour.
• Colour is often used in nonfiction books, even those intended for older children.

Shape:

• Shapes can be distinct or vaguely suggested, simple or complex.
• Shapes can fill the page or clutter it; they can give weight to the picture.
• Shapes can suggest character and setting.

Perspective:

• Perspective is the place or angle from which the reader is viewing the picture.
• Changing the perspective or focus can show action.

Texture:

• The picture may seem solid and heavy, light and weightless, or anything in between.
• They may have a ‘touchable’ feel.