Design Principles: Task 1

6/2/2024 - 20/2/2024 (Week 1 - Week 3)

Seh Zi Qi/ 0355872/ Bachelor of Design(Honours) in Creative Media

Module Name: GCD60804/ Design Principles

Task 1: Exploration

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LIST

Lectures

Task 1:

• Design Principles
• Artwork Exploration

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LECTURE

Click here for the lectures.

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INSTRUCTION

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A24aAjx8Em4SRprfY0hM9uhsSOUTbIvE/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

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TASK 1: EXPLORATION

"Explore the various design principles taught in the module and observe works of design to apply your knowledge."

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Design Principles

[For further understanding, click on the lectures link]

The organisational fundamentals that result from or guide the arrangement of the elements

• Contrast
• Balance
• Emphasis
• Rules of Third
• Repetition/Pattern/Rhythm
• Movement
• Hierarchy
• Alignment
• Harmony
• Unity
• Proportion

Contrast:

• The juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar elements.
• With it, the visual experience will be more varied.
• Provide visual interest, emphasise a point and express content.

Fig 1.1, Contrast examples, 17/2/2024

Balance:

• Refers to the distribution of visual weight in a work of design.
• Visual equilibrium of elements that causes the entire image to look balanced.
• Can either be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Symmetrical Balance:

• Equal "weight" on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum.
• Equal arrangement on either side of a central axis (horizontal or vertical) results in bilateral balance.
• Arranging elements equally around a central point results in radial balance.
• Approximate symmetry = equivalent but not identical forms are arranged around the fulcrum line.

Fig 1.2, Examples of the symmetrical balance of bilateral and radial balance, 19/2/2024

Asymmetrical Balance:

• Unequal visual weight on each side of the composition.
• One side might contain a dominant element which can be balanced with a couple lesser focal points on the other side.
• More dynamic and interesting as it evokes feelings of modernism, movement, energy and vitality.
• Offers more visual variety even though it's much more difficult to achieve as relationships between the elements are more complex.

Fig 1.3, Examples of asymmetrical balance, 19/2/2024

Emphasis (& Dominance):

• To create dominance and focus in design work.
• Various elements like colour, shape or value can be used to achieve emphasis and dominance.

Fig 1.4, Examples of emphasis and dominance, 19/2/2024

Rules of Thirds:

• Composition guidelines to create a more dynamic work of design/ photography/ film/ painting.
• Divided evenly into thirds, both horizontally and vertically; placing the subject on the intersection of those dividing lines/ along one of the lines.

Fig 1.5, Examples of the rule of thirds, 19/2/2024

Repetition (Pattern & Rhythm):

• Can make a work of design look active.
• Creates rhythm and pattern within the work.
• Variety* is essential as it keeps the rhythm exciting and active to avoid monotony.
• Pattern increases visual excitement by enriching surface interest.
• *Variety is about a change or slight difference in elements and objects and avoids boring composition.

Fig 1.6, Examples of repetition, 19/2/2024

Movement:

• Leads the eyes in, around, and through a composition - the path the eye follows.
• When it occurs within a visual image, the objects seem to be moving but it isn't.
• Comes from different kinds of shapes, forms, lines, and curves. 

Fig 1.7, Examples of movement within visual images, 19/2/2024

Alignment:

• The placement of elements in a way that edges line up along common rows/ columns or their bodies along a common centre.
• Creates a sense of unity and cohesion which contributes to the design's overall aesthetic and perceived stability.
• Can also be a powerful means of leading a person through a design.

Fig 1.8, Examples of alignment within food products and web design, 19/2/2024

Harmony:

• Involves the selection of elements that share a common trait.
• Becomes monotony without variety*.
• The sense that all of the elements of your design fit together (theme, aesthetic style or mood.)
• *Variety is about a change or slight difference in elements and objects and avoids boring composition.

Fig 1.9, Examples of harmony using colours and shapes, 23/2/2024

Unity:

• Refers to the repetition of particular elements (colours, shapes or materials) throughout your design to pull a look together.
• Occurs when elements are composed in a way where they look balanced and have a sense of oneness, creating a theme.
• Even if similar to harmony, both play a distinctive role when we experience design.

Fig 1.10, Examples of unity, 23/2/2024

Proportion:

• The parts of an object in relationship to other parts of the same object.
• The relationship of 2 or more elements in a composition and how they compare to one another (size, colour, quantity, degree, setting, ratio, etc.)
• Said to be harmonious when a correct relationship exists between the elements with respect to size/ quantity.
• Effective use often results in harmony & unity.

Fig 1.11, Proportion within product design & artwork, 23/2/2024

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Artwork Exploration

Before choosing the specific artwork that we'll use for the exploration, I was tasked to choose one goal from the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). I chose SDG Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being because not everyone suffers from the same illness, physical illnesses are most typical but mental illnesses are harder to diagnose which also creates a stigma towards people with them since they are seen as either crazy or delusional. 

Fig 2.1, UNSDG 17 Goals, 13/2/2024

After choosing a goal, I had to find an artwork that revolved around said goal and explore it using the design principles learnt above. I went into Behance and searched "mental health digital art" for the specific type of artwork that I wanted, I found a few artworks that I thought felt had good composition and could be talked about using the design principles explored but didn't feel enough when it comes to what I want to show. 

Fig 2.2, Behance, 13/2/2024

Before exploring the artworks, my friend had given me an article that aligned with the goals I've chosen, it was from NJ.com talking about an art exhibition hosted by West Windsor Arts, a group of citizens that wants to showcase their deep community spirit and the transformative power of the arts. 

Fig 2.3, NJ.com & West Windsor Arts website, 13/2/2024

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FINAL Exploration

Fig 3.1, Reimagine, 9 Mins of Healing by Terrance Cummings, 13/2/2024

Credit:

• Reimagine, 9 Mins of Healing
• Terrance Cummings
• Copyright © 2021 Terrance Cummings
• Mixed Media
• 18 x 24 inches
• Year created: 2021
• Source Link kinda?

Exploration:

This artwork connects back to the UNSDG Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being because it showcases the toll that mental illnesses can produce, wanting someone to hold and comfort us through the hard times that people can't see. The original story tells of the reimagining of the 9 minutes of George Floyd’s murder, where the artist contemplated what could’ve happened instead of the murder; a hopeful scenario instead of what actually happened. Where mental illnesses come in different shapes and sizes, all types of comfort always come through and that’s what makes this art piece resonate with me so much because I have had friends who had gone through a lot as their struggles were undermined and they wanted comfort that I was able and also glad to provide. Not everyone is able to open up and show their emotions willingly and I want to change that using this goal.

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FEEDBACK

Week 1:

No feedback since it was the introduction towards the module.

Week 2:

Dr Charles has given me feedback and here are some tips:

1. Explain better in a way where there’s a story
2. Things like hierarchy are present within the artwork so can go through based on that
3. I need to be more specific when it comes to describing emotions (i.e. empathy, despair)
4. I should go straight to the point as this creates a better structure of writing.

Week 3:

Implication and suggestion a very powerful tools when used correctly as they create invisible lines that the human eyes are drawn to; This helps with creating a centre of attention whenever needed so we should remember to include this within our task 3 to create an artwork that helps draws the eyes towards our work.