Introduction to Mass as an Element of Design

Mass is size. There is physical size and visual size. Size can be relative. A physically small brochure can have a great deal of mass through the use of heavy text and graphic elements. A physically large brochure can appear smaller, lighter by using text and graphics sparingly.

While the paper projects you create have a certain size because of the size and weight of the paper, visual mass — how light or heavy it appears — is also an element of the design. Go through your sample folder of ads, newsletters, business cards, books, and other projects and look at each piece and analyze mass in terms of physical size of the piece and the visual mass. Does it have a heavy, imposing look due to the size or weight of the paper or the density of text and graphics? Is it small and compact or light and airy? Hold the items in your hand to see if they feel light or heavy. Compare the physical size to the visual mass of each piece.

Exercise
Find four examples of mass as follows:

1. physically large
2. physically small
3. visually massive
4. visually small or light

Separate these four (or more) examples in your Class Samples collection before going on to the next lesson.

Remember, this first set of lessons is an introduction to each of the elements of design. You'll be taking an in-depth look at mass^* and other elements in subsequent classes in this course.

Next > Lesson 4 - Introduction to Texture

_{Elements of Design Classes > Introduction to the Elements of Design > Lines > Shapes > Introduction to Mass}

^*If you found this page via search and are not following this lesson-by-lesson course on the Elements of Design, jump to the in-depth lessons on mass for more detailed information.