Arwinda Nurul Izza / 0349913
Design Principles / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Exercise 1 (Contrast and Gestalt Theory)
LECTURES
The lecturer, Ms. Jinchi Yip, welcomed us in our first meeting to the design school. She provided us with necessary information for our module this time like matters about exercises and projects requirement and due date. It's also highlighted that most of our lecture material will be delivered in saved video. Therefore, we have to watched the materials first before went into class. Towards the end, she also mentioned about our first exercise.
Topic 1.1: Introduction
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| Fig.1 |
The first recorded lecture was about the importance of elements and principle in design. In here, the lecturer highlighted about the actual aim in visual communication which to effectively conveying purposeful message to targeted audience.
Element of Design acts as the individual properties or "building blocks" in design.
- Points
- Line
- Shape (geometric & organic)
- Form Texture ( implied in 3D & 2D works)
- Space
-in 3D space, we experience mass from outside and volume from inside.
- in graphic design, positive (filled space) and negative space (empty space) have a major role in deterring its shape.
- Colour
- Three variables that human only can perceive : Hue, Value (Saturation), Intensity
- Black, white, and gray pigments has a big role in changing color values.
- Color scheme : monochromatic, analogous (adjacent), complementry (directly opposite)
Principle of Design is the properties of structured fundamentals that came from arranged elements. (Contrast, Balance, Emphasis, Rules of Third, Repetition/Pattern/Rhythm, Movement, Hierarchy, Alignment, Harmony, Unity, Proportion)
Topic 1.2: Contrast and Gestalt Theory
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| Fig.2 |
Contrast as one of the feature in Design Principle determines how different two elements are.
Example.
- Interior/architecture design : shape, position, color
- photography : light, color, central attention
As stronger the contrast between elements, the emphasis point will be more appealing to the audience.
Gestalt Theory : a theory that decides how people perceive their surroundings.
The aim from this theory is to create a rule that minimize complex scene to simple shapes and proves that our eyes recognize shapes as a single united form.
Principles in Gestalt Theory
- Similarity (form a connection between similar group, shapes, pictures)
- continuation (follows some sort of paths)
- closure (able to identify a form with incomplete shapes)
- proximity (grouping related design elements together)
- Figure/Ground (objects can be equally placed in the front and back)
- symmetry & order (similar to similarity, but instead the objects perceived to be a unified group)
INSTRUCTIONS
Exercise 1 - Contrast
1. Visual Research
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| Fig.1.1.0 Contrast Visual Research_1 (sources. Pinterest) |
The figure above gave me a memorable design with their minimum use of color palette to create a color contrast yet still can produce eye-catching characters. Also, illustration like this usually being applied in sticker collage and have this doodle element in it. Personally, this type of design really appealing and interesting to me. I want to try to recreate a character to with a similar technique with this figure. Therefore, I attached this design as one of the material for my visual research.
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| Fig.1.1.1 Contrast Visual Research_2 (sources. Pinterest) |
As I did my further research on contrast, I also found this design which in a way might be the same type as the fig 1.1.0. However, the contrast in here emphasize more on the positive and negative space which I want to apply in my design later.
2. Idea Exploration
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| Fig.1.1.2 Blueberry Sketch Reference (sources. Pinterest) |
When looking at fig 1.1.0, You might notice how some of the characters there are based on a fruit therefore I also inspired to search for a fruit that they haven't done. That's the reason why I choose a blueberry. I use the fig.1.1.2 as my reference for the blueberry shape.
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| Fig.1.1.3 Shape Sketch reference (sources. Pinterest) |
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| Fig.1.1.4 Final Sketch in Procreate |
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| Fig.1.1.5 First Final Draft Attempt (revised) |
When I got a feedback of my 1st draft, it was mentioned that the contrast are not apparent enough. Therefore, I was suggested to revise an explore more.
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| Fig.1.1.6 Color Exploration Reference (sources. Pinterest) |
I finally encountered this book cover design That have a good color contrast for the blueberries in it. Later on, I decided to use the 3 hue in here on my color palatte.
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| Fig.1.1.7 Color Exploration Attempt(1) |
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| Fig.1.1.8 Color Exploration Attempt (2) |
The fig 1.1.7 and 1.1.8 show my exploration on color to achieve the best contrast color. Although, I ended up only using the white and light blue color to my final draft because the dark purple color's value are too low and it's quite hard to work with. Additionally, I changed the typography for the "blueberries" to follow a motion and its rather feels better than the previous draft type placement.
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| Fig.1.1.9 work progress in illustrator |
The sketching process was being done on Procreate and the final exercise was edited on adobe Illustrator. I also use pen tool to create the blueberries in here.
3. Final Outcome
Fig.1.1.10 Final Draft for Task 1_Contrast
Feedback
W4 - I have to give more explanation of why I choose the object with contrast principle is 'Blueberry' and what technique or inspiration that I got from the visual research. As in my final draft, the color contrast has to be fixed because it was too weak to be called as contrast.
Exercise 2 - Gestalt Theory
1. Visual Research
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| Fig.1.2.0 Visual Research_1 (Source: lecture presentation) |
In this exercise, I choose law of symmetry & order for my gestalt theory task 1. Fig 1.2.0. caught my attention of how smooth the transition between the tire and manhole. As both object being placed symmetrically the illusion make us perceive it as a unified group.
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| Fig.1.2.1 Visual Research_2 (sources. Pinterest) |
Another visual research here also have the law of symmetrical and order with a different approach. The design has not just one symmetric but we can see several objects here. For instance, the swan figure, fish, the water and many more. I planned to create more than one symmetrical object too therefore, this is a great reference for my work later.
2. Idea Exploration
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| Fig.1.2.2 Sketch for Gestalt Theory |
In this exercise, I decided on a symmetrical pattern between the sun and moon. I came up with the idea after seeing a song named "AM PM". From there, I was thinking about an object that have a similar shape that can compliment each other. Hence, my decision to use the sun and moon as my object. Also I want to show how different the atmosphere between day and night with this gestalt theory.
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| Fig.1.2.3 Work Progress on Procreate |
To be able to express my idea, I use city as a landscape to give a contrast between the two atmosphere in day and night time. Therefore, You can see building pattern here which later I will duplicate and mirrored to make it symmetric.
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| Fig.1.2.4 1st Attempt |
On my first attempt, the landscape was almost done. However, I wasn't satisfied with the color yet because the one which had to be perceived as night time was too bright.
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| Fig.1.2.5. 2nd Attempt |
In this second attempt, I have fixed the color using the gradient map feature in procreate.
PINK - dusk momement or when the sun still up there in the sky.
BLUE - describe night/dawn time.
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| Fig.1.2.6. Final Touch |
3. Final Outcome
Fig.1.2.8 Final Draft for Task 1_Gestalt Theory
Feedback
W3 - The gestalt theory sketch idea is already well executed. However, I might have to improve more on the building or landscape that I'm going to use. Except for that, I can go and generate my final work.
W4 - I have shown my revised work and there is no further comment except it was better than before and I'm good to go.
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