Design Principles_Task 1_ Exploration
Week 1-3 (2/6/24 - 2/20/24)
Jessica Tjoe / 0361482
Design Principles/ BDCM/ Institute of Innovation and Technology
Task 1 - Exploration
Instruction
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Lectures
Introduction - Elements and Principles of Design
What is Visual communication?
Visual communication is utilizing design in order to convey a purposeful
message to certain audiences.
It must be well thought out and well executed in order to convey the message
properly achieving effective communication through design.
Elements
Individual building blocks of design.
Individual building blocks of design.
- Point
- Line
- Shape
- Form
- Texture
- Space
- Colour
Principles of Design
Organizational Fundamentals that came from guides and arrangements of the elements.
Organizational Fundamentals that came from guides and arrangements of the elements.
- Contrast
- Balance
- Emphasis
- Rules of third
- Repetition
- Movement
- Hierarchy
- Alignment
- Harmony
- Unity
- Proportion
(The following key is applies E for Elements, D for Design principles)
E1. Point
The simplest
element of design, often used
repetitively to form lines
and as the point
moves in space
other 2D and 3D figures and forms are created.
E2. Lines
Lines can be Active or Static, Aggressive or Passive, Sensual or
Mechanical. They can indicate directions, define boundaries of shapes
and spaces, imply volumes or solid masses and suggest motion or emotion.
Last but not least they can be grouped to depict qualities of light and
shadows or patterns and textures.
E3. Shapes
It refers to the the expanse within the outline which becomes visible
when a line or lines enclose an area or when an apparent change in value
such as colour and texture sets it apart from its surroundings. Two
general category of these shapes are geometric and organic. Geometric
being circles, squares and triangles while organic are more irregular,
often curved or rounded, more relaxed and informal rather than geometric
shapes.
E4. Form
A three dimensional shape is called form, when it encloses a space its
called volume. It is the main/ major element in architecture and
sculpture. Form is usually implied in illustrations, painting
especially in 2d mediums its what you usually call depth. (From my
personal experience I find this a lot when working with Live2D as
illustrations are given implied form in order to elevate the movement
of model/image as a whole.)
Refers to textile qualities of surfaces or to the visual
representation of those qualities. They can be experienced by touching
or visual suggestion. The two categories of texture are actual and
simulated (touch) or implied (visual created to look like the
real thing.)
E6. Space
Indefinable, general receptacle of all things and is seemingly empty. A
3 dimensional space where we experience being in it in relations to
objects, people, and voids at various distances compared to ours. From
the outside we experience Mass, from the inside we experience
Volume.
E7. Colour
The Visual by product of the spectrum of light, either transmitted from
a transparent medium, or absorbed and reflected off a surface. Colour is
the light wavelength that is received by the human eye and processed
from a reflected source. Its split into 3 terms;
Hue: Colour spectrum
Saturation / intensity: Purity of a Hue. Its the most
intense form of a given colour.
Value / brightness: refers to how bright or dark a colour is.
Adding pigments to said colour will change the value. White gives you
tints and Black gives you shade.
Colour schemes
Monochromatic: Variations of value and intensity of a single hue (One
Colour hence Mono)
Complementary: Hues that are directly opposite on the colour wheel.
-End of Lecture 1-
Principles of Design
D1. Contrast
Contrast is the juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar elements (layman's
terms: different elements). Contrast is important to us in many ways
without it visual experience would be monotone in so many ways. Contrast
is important in design because it provides visual interest, is used to
provide emphasis to a point and express content.
Example of contrast from the movie joker (above; original example, below;
with my own spin)
Another example taken from slides where the yellow chair is the main
contrast against the white background.
Gestalt Theory
What is the Gestalt theory?
To put it simply the gestalt theory is the way human brains are wired to
perceive patterns, logic and structures. Gestalt refers to shape or form
in German.
Gestalt principles are laws on how the human eye perceives environments.
These Principle show how the human eye perceives complex scenes into
simple shapes. They also aim to explain how are eyes perceive shapes as a
united single form rather than separate elements.
- Principle of similarity
the human eye tends to perceive similar elements in a design as a complete
picture, shape or group, even if those elements are separated.
the brain seems to craft a link between elements pf a similar nature
- Principle of Continuation
The human eye follows paths, lines and curves of a design, and prefers
to see a continuous flow of visual elements rather than separated
objects.
- Principle of Closure
The human eyes prefer to see complete shapes. If the visual elements are
not complete, the user can perceive a complete shape by filling in the
gaps with missing visual information.
example of principle of closure
- Principle of Proximity
The process of ensuring related design elements are placed together.
Any unrelated items are placed apart. Close proximity indicated that
the items are closely related to each other or have a relationship
with one another and become one visual unit. which helps to organize
and structure the layout.
- Principle of Figure/Ground
Objects are instinctly perceived in the foreground and the background,
They either stand out prominently in the foreground or recede into the
background.
- Law of Symmetry and Order
Elements that are symmetrical to each other are perceived as au unified
group. The rule suggest that objects similar to each other will likely be
grouped with each other rather than objects that are not symmetrical with
each other similar to the principle of similarity.
-End of Lecture 2-
D2. Balance
Refering to the distribution of visual weight in a work of design, It's
the visual equilibrium of elements that causes the image to be balanced.
Balance can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
- Symmetrical balance
Having equal weight on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum. Equal
arrangement of elements on either side of the central axis (horizontal/
vertical) results in bilateral balance. Arranging elements equally
around a central point results in a radial balance. Approximate Symmetry
is when the balance is equivalent but not identical forms are arranged
around the fulcrum line.
example of symmetrical balance
- Asymmetrical balance
The opposite of asymmetrical balance. Its unequal visual weight in each
side of the composition. Elements are more dominant on one side, which
is balanced out be a couple lesser focal points on the other side. It
can evoke a feeling of modernity, movement, energy and vitality.
Offering more visual variety, despite being more difficult to achieve
due to the relationship between elements being more complex.
As you can see here I edited this example to highlight the side with the
dominant elements.
Another example I would love to highlight is the character design of the
zombie idol vtuber Kureiji Ollie from Hololive Indonesia's second
generation. Her design is a good example of asymmetrical balance as her
outfits have a lot of symmetry to them. In her base live2d model (left)
the hem of her dress and the bandages on her leg is the more dominant
element on the bottom half of her model and play a more interesting
role. The right side has more interesting elements on the top half. with
bandages, bows and the sword sticking out of her hair.
I also want to highlight one of her outfits (right) where the elements
of interest are more dominant on the right with little next to nothing
on the left.
- The Golden Ratio
Also known as "phi", The Golden ratio is a mathematical concept and a
number that goes on indefinitely. The ratio itself comes from the
Fibonacci sequence of numbers that can be found everywhere, from the
number of leaves on a tree to the shape of a sea shell. Over the
centuries, many have perceived the golden ratio as the representative of
perfect beauty (I don't get why, but good for them) or is uniquely found
throughout nature.
The Golden Ratio has been used for centuries as a guide to create the
visual balance in architecture and paintings. For designers, illustrators
or digital artists, the Golden ratio can be used to bring harmony, balance
and structure to one's work. It can also increase the appeal of the design
work.
Examples of this concept is jjba part 7 where Gyro Zeppeli taught Johnny
Joestar how to activate his stand using the Golden Ratio. (Don't worry I
too am confused as to how gyro managed to pull off drawing the perfect
golden ratio on the ground without the use of a ruler \(o Ao *)!/? )
Example of golden ratio from the slides
Example of the golden ratio jjba part 7
D3. Emphasis
Used to create dominance and focus in a design work, Various elements can
be used to create emphasis such as colors, shapes or value.
You can clearly tell that the emphasis is on the flowers and birds. The
background being plain provides contrast to the main focal point being the
bird and flowers which stand out due to its bright colors.
D4. Rules of third
It's the composition guideline to create more dynamism to a work of
design, photography, film and painting. An Image is divided evenly into
thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and the subject of the image is
placed at the intersection of those dividing lines, or along one of the
lines itself.
As you can see from the examples below the focal point is usually
somewhere long the points of the grid intersecting. This technique is
really useful when studying composition and adding it to your own
technique whether it'd be photography, cinematography or concept art.
(own example of rule of thirds taken from twitter.)
-End of lecture 3-
D5. Repetition
Repetition makes a work of design seem active, elements of design creates
rhythm and pattern within the work. Variety is essential to keep
the rhythm exciting and active to avoid monotony. Patterns increase visual
excitement by enriching surface interest.
use of patterns in fabrics and textiles, it is a repeating pattern but
the variety in colour and shape prevent it from becoming stale and
monotonous.
- Subtext: Variety
A change or slight difference in elements and objects in composition,
to avoid a boring composition. Variety can also involve varying
angles, exposure, composition, etc.
D6. Movement
Movement (Also known as flow) is the way the design leads the eye in,
around and through a composition - the path the eye follows. Motion or
movement in a visual image occurs when objects seem to be moving in a
visual movement.
In a visual image, Movement comes from the kinds of shapes, forms, lines,
and curves that are used.
this is a page from Gokurakugai sanban dori no ken. A one shot created by
Yuto Sano more well known as Gokurakugai after it was picked up to be
serialized in jump+, shonen jump's online manga subscription service. As
you can see here Sano (the artist) uses lines and curves to emphasize
movement and the action of the characters. The lines becoming more extreme
as the character come into physical contact with each other. Motion blur
is also used in order to show just how fast these characters are moving,
from when Alma is running to jumping to kicking the thug in the face.
This might be another example from Dr. Yip Jinchi's slides but in my
opinion its the best one. Why? because it depicts flow the best. It
perfectly captures the viewer's eye guiding it throughout the
illustration also acting as an emphasis on the character's movement.
D7. Hierarchy
The choreography of content in a composition, Heirarchy's purpose is to
communicate information and convey meaning. In visual terms it directs
viewers to the most important first and identifies navigation through
secondary content.
This example is from the slides. The first thing you see in this image
is the headline 'Better thinking'. Which communicates to the viewer that
this is a campaign that thinks about the viewer. It leads to a smaller
subtext with '01/design simplicity. Which conveys to the viewer that
this campaign is simple to understand. Good hierarchy will highlight the
most important piece of information first to grab your
attention.
D8. Alignment
The placement of elements in a way that edges line up among common rows or
columns, or their bodies along a common centre. Used to create a sense of
unity and cohesion, alignment contributes to the design's overall
aesthetic and perceived stability. It's also a powerful means of
leading a person through a design.
Example from the slides. This seems to be a great example of Alignment
as all elements present are all aligned in a straight line. In
typographic systems this would be knowns as an
Axial
system. Where all elements would be organized either to the left or the
right of an axis.
- End of Lecture 4 -
Task 1 - Exploration
For this task we were given the chance to choose a topic of choice according
to the 17 goals of the united nations. I chose number 3.
Health isn't always physical, sometimes it hurts somewhere we can't see.
Mental health is an everyday struggle in the modern world. I chose this
artwork because mental health is an issue I struggle with in my everyday. At
times I wish to go back to when I was ignorant about the world and reality.
But I chose this because it reminds me of my own mental state and how I
connect to the world.
"Lucid" by Arushi Patel is one of the works in "Well-Being Ourselves:
Reflect, Reimagine, Connect," opening Tuesday, Aug. 31, at West Windsor
Art's two exhibit locations. West Windsor Arts Council
Despite knowing the SDG refers to physical well being I would also like to shine a spotlight on mental well being as well. This piece is titled Lucid created by Arushi Patel, it is one of his works covering the topic of reflecting, reimagining and connecting.
My interpretation of the composition layout is that these three children
present in the portrait are siblings, two older sisters and a baby brother.
Emphasizing the fact the piece is very asymmetrical the girl on the left has
more weight on her side because she is the oldest. While the baby has the
lightest weight because he is the youngest. The first two being in the
foreground the middle child has been relegated to the background letting her
siblings take the spotlight.
the foreground represents clarity. While the background representing the
imagination of the children are chaotic and loud. The light brown provides
contrast separating chaos from clarity providing a focal point to lead the
viewer's eyes.
-End of task 1-
Feedback
Week 1 - No feedback first week
Week 2 - Change the format of the passage. Explain more on the artwork and limit the explanation of the topic.
Reflection
Findings
Lectures were actually fun to do this time around. I found that I didn't like
having to watch the videos so I learned from the slides provided in the teams
files. As someone who is a visual learner I really appreciated that because I
have more freedom to explore design how I would my way. Associating
things I like with learning also really helped me understand the
subject.
Observation
There are so many design principles in our day to day life we just don't
notice it.
Experience
I learned more when I associate things I like with certain subjects. Please
don't take down my examples I went to town on their explanations! My blogs on
typography were super boring last year, all of that sleep deprivation and the
sleep paralysis demon wasn't worth it. At least let me have the freedom of
putting things I like in the blog to associate with learning to make it fun. I
have a hard time learning stuff I don't find it interesting!!!
Sources/Further reading
Bulletin, C. (2021) Central jersey art exhibit delves into the depths of mental health and well being, nj. Available at: https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/08/central-jersey-art-exhibit-delves-into-the-depths-of-mental-health-and-well-being.html (Accessed: 22 February 2024).
https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/08/central-jersey-art-exhibit-delves-into-the-depths-of-mental-health-and-well-being.html
Well-being ourselves: Reflect, Reimagine, Connect (2024) West Windsor Arts Center. Available at: https://westwindsorarts.org/exhibition/well_being_ourselves/ (Accessed: 22 February 2024).
https://westwindsorarts.org/exhibition/well_being_ourselves/Understanding hue, saturation & lightness (HSL) for photo retouching (2016) Giggster. Available at: https://giggster.com/guide/basics/hue-saturation-lightness/ (Accessed: 22 February 2024).
Thebannanaworkshop et al. (no date) I have a theory about Araki and the golden ratio. that I think might be true: Fandom, JoJo’s Bizarre Wiki. Available at: https://jojo.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000000049104 (Accessed: 22 February 2024).
https://jojo.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000000049104 (For the record this is an image cite)
Leeuwe, M. (no date) Mitch Leeuwe (@mitchleeuwe) · x. Available at: https://twitter.com/MitchLeeuwe (Accessed: 22 February 2024).
gviunk (no date) R/manga on reddit: Just read the one-shot Gokurakugai Sanbandori ... Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/manga/comments/gviunk/just_read_the_oneshot_gokurakugai_sanbandori_no/ (Accessed: 22 February 2024).
Kureiji Ollie: Talent: Hololive Official Website (no date) hololive（ホロライブ）公式サイト. Available at: https://hololive.hololivepro.com/en/talents/kureiji-ollie/ (Accessed: 22 February 2024).
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