The Feeling Of Motion: How Is It Important As A Design Element?

Art or design is actually a concept in motion, never static but perpetually in motion. It is the whole idea in design. Capture or freeze a moment but allow movement to continue.

Movement is all there is in design. Basically art or design is just a concept created on paper. But like any creation, it is embellished with a balance of all the element of design. However, the most crucial addition is movement. A design must generate a feeling of motion to be interesting. A perfect rendering of a waterfall for instance delivers the flow of water lucidly. At the same time give viewers the feel of mist on their bare skin. Or feel the rush and danger of a train about to crash. Once viewers feel the emotion the designer crafted, movement has truly been magnified.

Create movement in your design and it becomes a perfect work of art. A design where movement is absent is like food that tastes bland. No amount of aesthetic preparation could refine the taste. Movement is the one theory in the principles of design that dictates the true inspiration of the art. It is the element that suggests life and activity within the borders of the composition. Viewers will be immersed in the rendering, that they experience realism instead of just looking at a two-dimensional creation. A perfect rendering forces the viewer’s eye to move on purpose and grasp the true intent of the design.

There are several ways to infuse movement in a design. Again, movement in design is not born an orphan. There are methods added to  a design that could suggest movement.
•    Implied action: This refers to freeze frame images. A cat caught about to spring shows motion is imminent. A person in an awkward position suggests continuing motion. Or a basketball about to swish the net is motion frozen in space.

•    Blurry images: This pertains to objects that moved fast and creates certain indistinct outline characteristics that imply motion.

•    Overlapping shapes: These are multiple objects that appear one over the other in varying degrees of monochromatic intensity. It also denotes a feeling of motion.
While monochromatic intensity is an effective medium to define motion, color as well creates similar effect. Objects rendered in differing, decreasing or ascending color intensities is also construed as moving. The whole idea being to train the viewers eye to imagine the varying color gamut that objects go through while in motion.

Remember, movement in design is a critical element.  It defines the extent of the importance of a work of art.