There’s a huge difference in the result of something that is well and poorly designed.  Have you ever looked in a clothing store window wondering, “Who designed that?!”  Perhaps you’ve driven past a house, and thought, “Why would anybody design or buy that?!” These questions points to a bigger question, “What is good design?” 

Never assume that just because something was created and produced that it’s “well-designed.” Poorly designed clothing fills the stores and a drive down any street can take you by poorly designed homes. 

Good design is rarely an accident and should not be left up to chance.  Never assume that just because a dress was manufactured it would look good on you. It might not look objectively “good” on anyone. It is not widely known that there is an objective, aesthetic appeal to any garment when you consider who can wear it.

You want to learn to recognize these “design disasters” so that you can avoid purchasing these disastrous garments that would not look good on anyone. Art may be just pure creative expression, but good design goes far beyond mere creativity.

A building with all the windows in the ground and all the doors in the roof would be creative — but who would want it?!  Anytime art has a function, creativity is great as long as it supports the end product being functional as well as beautiful. 

Sometimes, it’s obvious, but often it takes training to see good design. An object can be very creatively put together, but if it doesn’t serve the function it is intended for, you can justify it being “good design.” Part of the intention with fashion should be function as well as visually appeal.

Visual design involves arranging Design Elements to produce a specific desirable result.  Being a designer of anything (architecture, cars, fashion, or interiors, or even a meal) involves a clear understanding of the effect and results desired and who will benefit. For “good design” all the parts must cohesively harmonize and produce an appealing whole.

The good designers in every visual field study design elements and how to use them. They then apply principles to accomplish their desired outcome. Some may choose to ignore or break these “rules” of good design, but there is a cost.

The competent designer’s job is to create the plan for a design. The plan needs to be well-thought out – and so should your wardrobe. It should be intentionally conceived to accomplish a particular purpose or to achieve a particular function for the end-user. This may sound like a lot to think about, but when you’re new at it – driving a car was a lot to think about. Now, it’s probably second-nature.

You can learn to apply universal design principles to your look.  First, you want to understand the basics design elements: line, shape, space, texture, and color – and then learn how they apply to you as an individual. Next, by knowing how to use design principles of harmony, balance, and unity, you can create the type of looks you’ve wanted. And when you don’t like the result you are getting, you’ll know what to change!

You can be your own image designer. Mastering these principles will give you the ability to use them beautifully and effectively. These are what make excellent visual design.  You can get to the point when you design your Self – and know how to re-design any time you want.

You have your own personal visual design that you are born with and have all your life. Understanding your desired outcome – and Harmony — you can use principles to create good design any time you would like to!

You don’t need to leave your look to luck anymore. Imagine being able to plan your wardrobe so that every part of it works on you and it all goes together. You can know generally how all this works for fashion and accessories, then the key is to know how it applies to you. Once you do, you’ll be able to make educated decisions about your clothing and wardrobe purchases. You can create a look that is romantic, casually chic – or elegant for evening.

Harmony Design will work for you every day. Why? Because Harmony applies to all the clothes you wear, your accessories, and how you finish off your look, even down to your hairstyle.  Learning design elements and principles becomes fun when it enables you to design your visual image, so that the final result is the one you wanted.