Design Principles Task 1 Exercise 1

 28.3.2022 - 2.5.2022 (Week 1 - Week 6) 

Teo Javin 0349352

Design Principles / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 1 - Exercise 1 - Gestalt theory and Contrast

Lectures

Week1: Elements of Visual Design

Line - May be actual, implied, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and/or contour.

Shape/Form - 2D element with the area on a plane; 3D element with volume in space.

Size - Relationship of the area occupied by one shape and another.

Space - Distance or area around/between elements in a work.

Colour - A property possessed by an object that people see when light is reflected from it.

Value - How light or dark an object/area/element is based on the brightness of its environment, independent of its colour.

Texture - the surface quality of an object, how it appears to feel. Can be real or implied.

Principles of Design

Emphasis - Created by reinforcing something we want the viewers to pay attention to and to train their eyes on the center of interest or a focal point... the area of interest that the viewer's focal point naturally shifts to.

Balance - Distribution of interest or visual weight in a work. Elements that were arranged in a way that achieves a sense of visual stability, are balance. It can be symmetrical, asymmetrical or even radial, as long as it creates balance in a composition.

Contrast - The juxtaposition of opposing elements. Playing around with tonal values and directions can create contrast. The greater the contrast, the better it stands out.

Repetition - Repeat some elements to create consistency. It can create rhythm (regular, alternating, flowing, random, progressive) and patterns.

Movement - A visual flow through the composition. Movement is implied by the use of static elements to suggest motion and direct a viewer’s eye along a path through the work. 

Harmony - Brings together a composition with similar, related elements. Harmonious elements have a logical relationship, connection, alignment, or progression. They work together and complement each other. 

Unity - Created by using harmonious similarity and repetition, continuance, proximity, and alignment. It is the visual linking of various elements of the work.

Week 2: Balance & Emphasis

Instructions

Visual Research

Continuity

When I was researching the principles of Continuity, Contrast and Figure/ground for my pieces, I stumbled upon these and took inspiration from it.

Contrast 1

Figure1.1

Contrast 2

Figure1.2

Gestalt 1

Figure1.3

Gestalt 2

Figure1.4

Exploration

Contrast  #1

Description    : At that time, I was suddenly inspired to draw some portraits as I have never drawn them for some time now. I also had a sudden urge to draw space, so this happened.

Principle used: Continuity

                          My idea for this sketch was to make the comet the main subject, but I also wanted the audience to look at the man as well. Therefore I enlarged the man, so the audience would hover their eyes towards him, then slowly watch the trails and lastly the comet.

Contrast  #2

Description    : I've always wanted to try out optical illusions, therefore I seized this opportunity to create one.

Principle used: Figure/Ground, Unity

                         I started out making individual 3D shapes, then coloured one of the planes with the opposite colour. This lets the audience to wonder which direction are the shapes facing while knowing it is a 3D shape initially, hence creating an optical illusion.

Gestalt  #1

Description     : The Continuity Gestalt looks fun to create, so I made another sketch related to it. 

Principle used: Continuity

                           I was trying to draw in a way that the kid will the first thing the viewers see, led by the bubbles towards the Atlantis City. 

Gestalt  #2

Description    : For my last sketch I'd like to try the Figure/ground principle with some spooky                                       element.

Principle used: Closure

                           The tree branches lined up in a way that mildly shows an image of a skull.

                            

Feedback

Week1

Contrast 1             : Well produced, strong illustration purpose
Contrast 2             : Good understanding
Gestalt 1               : Spent a lot of time and effort
Gestalt 2               : Have more than 1 idea next time

Reflections

Although I have learnt about design principles previously, it's nice to refresh my knowledge on them as they were all taught by Dr. JinChi interestingly. To sum this up, it was great and I felt enjoyable doing this exercise.