Our contributor, Rachael Teufel of Intricate Icings Cake Design, is back for the next post in our Design Tips series. Join Rachael as she shares a new cake while teaching us the basics of great design.
Over the last couple of months, I’ve discussed a few of the key principles of design: inspiration, balance and movement. Today we’re tackling the topics of proportion and scale, using my gold honeycomb cake as an example, with a few sketches thrown for fun too. Let’s first talk about what these terms mean and then we’ll relate them to cake design, starting with proportion.
Proportion is the relationship between elements within a design and is typically measured by size and quantity. Using the relative size of elements against each other can attract attention to a focal point. Whether this be the height/width of the tiers or the size of the objects on the cake, how they are arranged is key to creating a piece that is in proportion.
To help illustrate this concept, I’ve created several sketches for you. In the first sketch, you’ll see a traditional tiered cake with 4 inch tall tiers. The solid gold tier becomes the focal point because of its bold color.
In this next sketch we have a more modern layout with a variety of tier heights (4×4, 5×4, 6×1, 8×5). In this design, the solid gold tier is reduced in height and the honeycomb pattern becomes the focal point, spanning the tallest tier. The simple change in heights creates a different focal point despite using the same decor elements.
Now, let’s talk about scale. Scale refers to the size of an object in relationship to another object. We usually perceive scale in relation to the human body or things we are used to seeing naturally in the world. When elements are designed larger than life, scale is being used to show drama. This can be demonstrated by using a gigantic flower that covers several tiers or enlarging the head on a figurine as on one of Mike McCarey’s bobble head cakes.
In this last sketch, I’ve simply enlarged the scale of the flowers, creating a new, more dramatic floral focal point.
Now let’s take another look at the finished cake to see how it all came together. As you design your own cakes, think about which element should be your focal point and use these principals as a guide to create your own masterpiece.
VENDORS & CREDITS
Cake : Intricate Icings Cake Design
Learn From This Baker : Online Cake Classes with Rachael Teufel on Craftsy
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Design Tips : Inspiration
Design Tips : Balance
Design Tips : Movement
it’s Look awesome…Nice creativity..
So beautiful and informative! Thank you! I so appreciate this little lesson.
Wow this is a beautiful cake. I’m in love with all things pink and gold right now, so this cake definitely makes me smile. Also, great professional design tips on proportion and scale…thanks for sharing 🙂
Cake is meant for eating but if they are designed so beautiful how anyone can dare to cut it and eat it…. 🙁
That cake is phenomenal! It looks like a cake made for a king, so beautiful.
Wow!!! Amazing!!! Please let me know how to make the honeycomb like this? Is there any tutorial?
I’m also wondering how she achieved the honeycombs, I’m wondering if she used cookie cutters to imprint then pain in gold or did she used a impression mat. Did she ever reply to your question?
Hi. What a beautiful cake! Just wondering if anyone could help with a question. I need to make an engagement cake for 80 people and im finding it hard to figure out what size cake i will need to make. I have 4′ 6′ 8′ pans. Would a 8′ base tier (3 filling layers and 4 layers of cake) then same for a 6′ or will it need to be bigger? Thanks!