Design Principles Task 1
Design Principles Task 1 - Exploration
03.02.2025 - 21.02.2025 Week 1 - Week 3Jolin Ceria (0363784)Bachelor of Design (Honors) in Creative Media
Table of Contents
Lecture Notes
Elements of Design:- Point: Simplest element of design, used as a repetitive mark forms a line and will create two/three dimensional figures and forms as it moves in space
- Line: Can be active or static, aggressive or passive, sensual or mechanical to indicate directions, define boundaries of shapes and spaces, imply volumes or solid masses, and suggest motion or emotion and can be used to depict qualities of light and shadow and to form patterns and textures by grouping them together.
- Shape: Refers to the expanse within the outline of two dimensional area or within the three dimensional object.
- Form : A three dimensional area containing volume
- Texture: Refers to the tactile qualities of surfaces or to the visual representation of those qualities. Can be implemented in two ways, one through visual suggestion and one through touch.
- Space: The indefinable, general receptacle of all things the seemingly empty space around us. The actual space of each picture s surface is defined by its edges the two dimensions of height and width.
- Color: The visual byproduct of the spectrum of light as it is either transmitted through a transparent medium, or as it is absorbed and reflected off a surface. Color is the light wavelengths that the human eye receives and processes from a reflected source.
Instructions
Task
Principles
Gestalt Theory
The gestalt theory focuses on the whole of the picture itself rather than it's parts. Therefore, specific arrangements of certain parts may form a new, different image entirely. This is thanks to the human brain's deliberate attempts to simplify and organize complex images consisting of many parts to create a whole image.
- Point: Simplest element of design, used as a repetitive mark forms a line and will create two/three dimensional figures and forms as it moves in space
- Line: Can be active or static, aggressive or passive, sensual or mechanical to indicate directions, define boundaries of shapes and spaces, imply volumes or solid masses, and suggest motion or emotion and can be used to depict qualities of light and shadow and to form patterns and textures by grouping them together.
- Shape: Refers to the expanse within the outline of two dimensional area or within the three dimensional object.
- Form : A three dimensional area containing volume
- Texture: Refers to the tactile qualities of surfaces or to the visual representation of those qualities. Can be implemented in two ways, one through visual suggestion and one through touch.
- Space: The indefinable, general receptacle of all things the seemingly empty space around us. The actual space of each picture s surface is defined by its edges the two dimensions of height and width.
- Color: The visual byproduct of the spectrum of light as it is either transmitted through a transparent medium, or as it is absorbed and reflected off a surface. Color is the light wavelengths that the human eye receives and processes from a reflected source.
Instructions
There are 10 principles in the Gestalt Theory:
- Similarity: The human eye's tendency to perceive similar elements in a design as a complete picture, shape, or group, even if those elements are separated.
- Continuation: The human eye's tendency to follow paths, lines, and curves of a design, and prefers to see a continuous flow of visual elements rather than separated objects.
- Closure: The human eye's tendency to fill in missing information within shapes when visual elements are perceived as incomplete.
- Proximity: The process of ensuring related design elements are placed together and separating any unrelated elements.
- Figure: The human eye's tendency to perceive an object as being either in the foreground or the background.
- Law of Symmetry and Order: Elements that are symmetrical to each other tend to be perceived as a unified group. Similar to the law of similarity, this rule suggests that objects that are symmetrical with each other will be more likely to be grouped together than objects not symmetrical with each other.
- Law of Uniform Connectedness: The human eye's tendency to perceive elements that are visually connected as being more related
- Prägnanz: The human eye's tendency to perceive complex things as simplified forms to easily recognize and understand what they see.
- Common fate: The human eye's tendency to group elements moving in the same direction as one.
Fig 1.1 Salvador Dalà - Mysterious Mouth Appearing on My Nurse's Back (1941) - The scenery and the nurse sitting on the sand resembles a face
This artwork created by Salvador Dali was part of the surrealist movement which he was a major part of. The scenery also seems peaceful, almost dreamlike, helped by the fact that many dreams tend to have surrealistic elements. It feels like a dream that was getting good but you shortly wake up after. I chose this specific artwork as it was the first thing that caught my eye when I was looking for images similar to this. I quickly noticed the shape of the lower half of the face first before digesting the entire picture. I think Dali did a good job with subtly creating the illusion of a face using the landscaping, terrain, buildings, and even used one of the subjects, and despite the fact that the elements may seem disconnected at first due to the presence of the sea, I can still fill in the gap within the nose bridge and imagine the shape of the cheeks, which fulfills the closure principle of the gestalt theory.
Contrast
There are 10 principles in the Gestalt Theory:
- Similarity: The human eye's tendency to perceive similar elements in a design as a complete picture, shape, or group, even if those elements are separated.
- Continuation: The human eye's tendency to follow paths, lines, and curves of a design, and prefers to see a continuous flow of visual elements rather than separated objects.
- Closure: The human eye's tendency to fill in missing information within shapes when visual elements are perceived as incomplete.
- Proximity: The process of ensuring related design elements are placed together and separating any unrelated elements.
- Figure: The human eye's tendency to perceive an object as being either in the foreground or the background.
- Law of Symmetry and Order: Elements that are symmetrical to each other tend to be perceived as a unified group. Similar to the law of similarity, this rule suggests that objects that are symmetrical with each other will be more likely to be grouped together than objects not symmetrical with each other.
- Law of Uniform Connectedness: The human eye's tendency to perceive elements that are visually connected as being more related
- Prägnanz: The human eye's tendency to perceive complex things as simplified forms to easily recognize and understand what they see.
- Common fate: The human eye's tendency to group elements moving in the same direction as one.
Fig 1.1 Salvador Dalà - Mysterious Mouth Appearing on My Nurse's Back (1941) - The scenery and the nurse sitting on the sand resembles a face
This artwork created by Salvador Dali was part of the surrealist movement which he was a major part of. The scenery also seems peaceful, almost dreamlike, helped by the fact that many dreams tend to have surrealistic elements. It feels like a dream that was getting good but you shortly wake up after. I chose this specific artwork as it was the first thing that caught my eye when I was looking for images similar to this. I quickly noticed the shape of the lower half of the face first before digesting the entire picture. I think Dali did a good job with subtly creating the illusion of a face using the landscaping, terrain, buildings, and even used one of the subjects, and despite the fact that the elements may seem disconnected at first due to the presence of the sea, I can still fill in the gap within the nose bridge and imagine the shape of the cheeks, which fulfills the closure principle of the gestalt theory.
Contrast refers to the use of complementary visual elements to capture a viewer's attention, guide the viewer's eye to a focal point, highlight important information and add variety. This is mainly implemented with the use of color, but can also be implemented with the use of other elements such as shape, size, angles, etc.
Fig 1.2 Pablo Picasso - The Old Guitarist (1903) - The use of warm colors for the guitar against the cold colors within the rest of the painting draws attention to the guitar
Contrast refers to the use of complementary visual elements to capture a viewer's attention, guide the viewer's eye to a focal point, highlight important information and add variety. This is mainly implemented with the use of color, but can also be implemented with the use of other elements such as shape, size, angles, etc.
Fig 1.2 Pablo Picasso - The Old Guitarist (1903) - The use of warm colors for the guitar against the cold colors within the rest of the painting draws attention to the guitar
This painting was made during Picasso's blue period (1901-1904), and as the name suggests, he used colder colors, grays, and blacks during this time. Where he was affected by his friend, Carlos Casagemas, taking his own life after spiraling into depression due to a failed love affair, and being very poverty-stricken during this time, thus relating to outcasted members of society.
This painting is a representation of that, as the colder colors create a heavy, somber feeling with the sickly, desolate man, with the guitar being given a warmer brown color, representing the old man's little hope for survival, being his only means to live with the little income he earns from playing on the streets. In a way, it also reflects Picasso's state of mind, as he was likely dependent on creating art for his own survival.
The way the elements are used, such as the colors and the posture, are very intentional, as a means to draw a specific reaction from viewers, presumably one of melancholy. You see this artwork and feel bad for the old man, just like how you would feel bad seeing a beggar at the side of the street.
Emphasis
Emphasis refers to intentionally using visual attributes to create a focal point so viewers will focus on a certain element of the artwork. This can be done by using contrasting elements (i.e. contrasting color schemes and light and dark colors) placing elements in a certain way, isolating certain elements, converge certain elements together to point towards a point of focus, etc.
Fig 1.3 Andrew Wyeth - Christina’s World (1948)The placement of Christina within this artwork and the house being small in the distance compared to Christina emphasize the difficult journey with using her legs as she is physically disabled.
This painting depicts a woman named Anna Christina Olson, who suffered from a degenerative muscle disease which caused her the inability to walk. Despite the difficulty, she refused to use a wheelchair and insists on crawling everywhere. This inspired Wyeth, who saw her crawling across a field.
This painting uses perspectives and angles to emphasize the difficulty of Christina's journey, as the house being small and placed at the very top of the painting represents the distance and how it feels unreachable, where an average person may not think about it too much, but Christina would have to crawl up to her house on her own, which would feel exhausting, tiring, and time-consuming. Yet she still persists. Despite the difficulties, she refuses to give up, and will always take that painstaking journey of crawling up to her house.
Emphasis refers to intentionally using visual attributes to create a focal point so viewers will focus on a certain element of the artwork. This can be done by using contrasting elements (i.e. contrasting color schemes and light and dark colors) placing elements in a certain way, isolating certain elements, converge certain elements together to point towards a point of focus, etc.
Balance
Balance involves using the visual weight of elements in a composition. Balance is used to add stability, add structure, create emphasis and to create dynamics. In design, one should attempt to place visual elements in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement, or particular arrangement to fulfill a purpose or achieve a particular look and feel. The elements do not necessarily need to be symmetrical, they need to fill in an equal amount of space so one side does not feel empty.
Fig 1.4 The Hierophant from Rider–Waite Tarot - Pamela Colman Smith (1909)
Balance involves using the visual weight of elements in a composition. Balance is used to add stability, add structure, create emphasis and to create dynamics. In design, one should attempt to place visual elements in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement, or particular arrangement to fulfill a purpose or achieve a particular look and feel. The elements do not necessarily need to be symmetrical, they need to fill in an equal amount of space so one side does not feel empty.
I personally picked this card as I had watched a film called Dark Nuns recently which was about two nuns exorcising an evil spirit despite not being legally allowed to do so, and this card was the first thing that I thought about as I was thinking about this principle. The presence of tarot cards weren't prevalent, but it was noticeable. But this specific card ended up being used as a Chekov's gun, and they even use objects to depict the visual imagery of this card. I think that it's interesting that although some aspects of the art may look identical, there are other elements that don't make it seem too mirrored, such as the two men at the bottom wearing different robes and the hierophant himself holding a staff in one hand.
Repetition
Repetition involves reusing certain pictorial elements, whether fully or partially. This can be done by reusing the same (or similar colors), the use of the same or similar lines, fonts, sizes, and textures, or certain shapes of elements. This is done to create texture within an artwork or create a sense of unity.
Fig 1.5.1 Golconda - Rene Magritte (1953)
Repetition involves reusing certain pictorial elements, whether fully or partially. This can be done by reusing the same (or similar colors), the use of the same or similar lines, fonts, sizes, and textures, or certain shapes of elements. This is done to create texture within an artwork or create a sense of unity.
I very much preferred the complete spot paintings. Even though the dots may look identical in shapes and size, they are all different colors. Hirst has mentioned that he sees the spot paintings as what his art looks like under a microscope and that the differently colored dots represent different emotions. The way the spots are placed makes it look machine-painted, but the colors that represent emotions are what makes us human.
Movement
Movement is the illusion of motion, flow, action, or progression within an artwork. This is done to guide the viewer's eye throughout a piece and create some sort of "pathway" throughout the artwork.
Fig 1.6 Link here - @darknoodleart on Instagram (2024)
Movement is the illusion of motion, flow, action, or progression within an artwork. This is done to guide the viewer's eye throughout a piece and create some sort of "pathway" throughout the artwork.
I just think this piece is very abstract and neat, although there are a lot of shapes and there is a lot to process, the lines flow smoothly and consistently into one direction, which follows this principle.
Harmony
Harmony involves using the elements in art to create a sense of togetherness in a way, creating relationships between certain elements to create a sense of wholeness. Unity is created when the elements all come together to convey a certain message.
Fig 1.7.1 Aztec Sun Stone (c. 1502-1520)
Fig 1.7.2 Harmony and Unity can be seen in interior design too, as seen in Keltie Knight's living room using harmony through colors (2021)
Harmony involves using the elements in art to create a sense of togetherness in a way, creating relationships between certain elements to create a sense of wholeness. Unity is created when the elements all come together to convey a certain message.
Fig 1.7.1 Aztec Sun Stone (c. 1502-1520)
Fig 1.7.2 Harmony and Unity can be seen in interior design too, as seen in Keltie Knight's living room using harmony through colors (2021)
The Aztec Sun Stone is very busy and chaotic due to the amount of carvings in it, but in a way, the business and chaos end up harmonizing beautifully as it creates a pattern. All of the carvings end up creating a single cultural symbol.
Symbol
Symbol is the use of a visual representation to communicate a certain idea, concept or meaning. This usually involves the use of simplified graphics to convey a message.
Fig 1.8 https://europeitoutsourcing.com/blog/graphic-design/principles-icon-design/
Symbol is the use of a visual representation to communicate a certain idea, concept or meaning. This usually involves the use of simplified graphics to convey a message.
Fig 1.8 https://europeitoutsourcing.com/blog/graphic-design/principles-icon-design/
I feel that these symbols are simple, yet they are distinguishable enough to represent different types of food/food-related items. I think they look cute :)
Words and Images
Words and visual elements can be combined to convey information, evoke emotions, and communicate messages effectively. This relationship is fundamental to various design disciplines, including graphic design, advertising, branding, web design, and publication design.
Fig 1.9 https://id.pinterest.com/pin/712342866092067383/
Words and visual elements can be combined to convey information, evoke emotions, and communicate messages effectively. This relationship is fundamental to various design disciplines, including graphic design, advertising, branding, web design, and publication design.
The captions seem to emphasize the yellow chick being the odd one out, which I think is very fitting. The big yellow text, which lacks the word "one", uses the single yellow chicken as a substitute for the number one.
Exploration
Fig 2.1 Departure of the Winged Ship
Information
Title: Departure of the Winged Ship
Year: 2000
Artist: Vladimir Kush
Size: 80” x 100”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Online Source: Here
Principles
The first element I noticed being used in this painting is the emphasis principle, specifically in size and use of values, as the butterflies are scaled to a much larger size to grab a viewer's attention and so the butterfly wings would work better as a substitute for normal sails, and the humanoid figures and the rocks nearing the foreground being painted black to create depth using shadows. Besides that, I also noticed that the ship itself and the butterflies are painted with predominantly warm colors, as opposed to the blue sky and sea, which creates contrast.
I find that this painting also has a good use of the movement principle, as the clouds are painted and shaped like the wind pushing the ship in one direction, and the butterfly nets are painted in a way that makes them look like they're flowing opposite from the wind. The amount of butterflies placed on the ship could account for repetition, as one butterfly as a sail may not be able to move the ship by itself, many butterflies can work together to move the ship. In a way, this could also be interpreted as creating some sort of harmony.
Reasoning
While searching around for artwork, I came across this painting. It was beautiful, but what piqued my interest in it was despite being attributed as one of Salvador Dali's works called "Butterfly Sails" in 1937, I was very skeptical because many elements in this work I felt did not match up to Dali's works during his surrealism period in 1929-1940. These were the things I noticed:
- The amount of detailing specifically in the sky and water does not match up with the way he would normally paint them during this time
- The lack of distorted/warped images, objects and shapes commonly seen in his works during this time
- Although this is a stretch, I found that many of his works also feature a brownish-yellow color, or the color scheme of this artwork just did not match the general color palettes he used. This could honestly be attributed to aging, but I noticed that a lot of his artwork had a sandy yellow flat floor.
- Composition overall seemed somewhat tame in comparison to his other works. Despite there being somewhat surrealistic elements like the butterflies being used as sails, I feel that it wasn't as disturbing as I would've expected from his other work.
Feedback
Week 2 (02-10-2025)
- I was told to separate the topics so the reader isn't confused as to what information goes where.
- I was told to separate the topics so the reader isn't confused as to what information goes where.
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