Chapter 8 Elements and Principles of Interior Design 219 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. ■ The interior designer may use elements and principles of design in a conversation with experts in another discipline but with different meanings. For instance, architects use primary elements and ordering principles of architecture in which the elements and principles have different meanings. This may complicate communication with team members from other disciplines. The elements and principles are the language of the profession. Similar to learning a foreign language, it is important to learn not only how to apply them but to speak the language accurately as you explain, defend, and eval- uate designs to your client or the public. The elements and principles communicate design decisions—they become your vocabulary to explain your choices. Elements of Interior Design The elements of interior design are key tools in devel- oping design plans for your clients. For this text, the elements of interior design include line, shape, form, space (volume), texture, pattern, color, and light. Line As the most basic element of design, a line connects two points, Figure 8-2. Lines serve as visual grammar throughout the world. Lines ■ exist as a single dimension ■ are greater in length than width ■ can create order in a composition ■ shift direction Design by Lita Dirks & Co., LLC Photography by Matt Puckett Figure 8-1 Quality interior design results from proper use of the elements and principles of design. Vlue/Shutterstock.com Figure 8-2 Lines exist in a single dimension and connect two points.