Course - Form and Color - TPD4007
Form and Color
New from the academic year 2026/2027
About
About the course
Course content
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of form and color composition as central building blocks of visual design. Through practical and analytical exercises, students learn to see, structure, and create visual wholes where form and color are examined as isolated but interacting components.
The course emphasizes developing a visual language and a reflective awareness of how form and color affect expression, balance, rhythm, and movement in a composition - regardless of function and context.
Learning outcome
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
Knowledge
- Understand basic principles of composition, balance, contrast, rhythm and visual hierarchy.
- Know key theories within color theory (color circle, color temperature, contrasts, harmonies).
- Understand how form and color individually and together affect visual experience.
Skills
- Develop and apply simple compositions where form and color are used as tools.
- Explore visual expression through analog and digital techniques.
- Analyze and reflect on visual works with a focus on structure, dynamics and expression.
General competence
- Develop an aesthetic and analytical awareness that forms the basis for further work with complex design processes.
- Communicate visual ideas and compositional principles in a clear manner.
Learning methods and activities
The course consists of a series of basic exercises in which form and color are examined separately before being put into interaction. The exercises are carried out both individually and in groups, and may include:
- Form Studies: Abstract exercises in composition, balance, proportion and rhythm.
- Color Studies: Experiments with color contrasts, saturation, temperature and harmonies.Integrated
- Compositions: Exercises in which form and color are combined in holistic expressions.
- Visual Analysis: Discussion and reflection on one's own and others' work.The teaching consists of short lectures, workshop work, supervision and group reviews.
Further on evaluation
(the information may be changed until June 15th)
The portfolio consists of documentation of six mandatory exercises: Polarities/Form, Polarities/Colour, Polarities/Material, Order through Polarities/Composition Method, Composition and Colour and Composition and Materials. The works are practical model exercises that are documented with photos and collected in a digital PDF folder.
The assessment basis is the entire portfolio, including model work, photo documentation, any process images and a short reflection note of 1–2 pages. Process and progression are assessed through the student's development from basic polarity studies to more complex composition exercises.
The exercises are carried out in a fixed order, as they build on each other academically. Partial submissions are planned along the way as a basis for guidance and progression control, while the entire portfolio is submitted for grading at the end of the semester.
The guidance is provided through joint introductions, individual guidance, group guidance and joint reviews. The works are carried out and submitted individually. Any collaboration in the process must be clearly documented, but the basis for assessment must be individual.
The entire portfolio is included in the grading basis. There is no selection of individual works. The assessment is based on professional quality, precision in model work, understanding of form, color and materiality, as well as reflection on process and progression.
In case of repetition, all assessments in the subject must be repeated. Postponed exams can be given in the next semester.
Specific conditions
Admission to a programme of study is required:
Industrial Design Engineering (MTDESIG)
Recommended previous knowledge
- TPD4010 Design 1 - Intro
- TPD4128 Form, Materials and Process
Credit reductions
| Course code | Reduction | From |
|---|---|---|
| TPD4113 | 7.5 sp | Autumn 2026 |
Subject areas
- Form and Colour Studies