The Design Element of a Point

What is a point?

• A point is a location in any space marked by a dot.
• There is no limit on the size, shape, colour, length or height.
• It is the smallest element of visual communication.

Why is a point important?

• It is a focal point
• It draws visual attention to an area of space
• Even if these points are random, our brain will make it mean something. Our brains seek relationship and order (Gestalt Theory)
• Continuity plays a part in the compositional elements of point placements: the eye is compelled to move through one object and continue to another object. The mind has an urge to ‘connect the dots’ in order to accept outliers and digest the visual information presented to them.
• Similarity also is intrinsically linked to the presentation of points. The viewer will try to group similar shapes, sizes and colours of points to find a pattern and understand the visual information.
• Proximity emerges as a key aspect of this design element. Objects in close proximity will be assumed to have some sort of relationship/grouping.

Types of point

• Collinear points: three or more points that lie on the same line
• Non Collinear points: three or more points that don’t lie on the same line
• Coplanar points: a group of points that lie on the same plane
• Non-coplanar points: a group of points that don’t lie on the same plane