Design Principles | Exercises

29/03/21 - 02/07/21 (Week1-Week14)

Heng Yuan Wei | 0347739

Design Principles | B' in Creative Media

Exercises

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Lectures

Week 1: Contrast & Gestalt Theory

For week 1, we have learnt 6 elements and 7 principles of design. Contrast is literally means difference, different from something else in juxtaposition or close association. The opposite elements can be straight and curved line, light and dark color, large and small shapes. 

On the other hand, Gestalt theory is about how a human brain wired to see patterns, logic, and structures. There are some principles that come from Gestalt Theory, such as closure, similarity, continuation, proximity, and figure ground.

Visual Research

These are my favourite artworks that searched from Pinterest, as the story can be told when you see these images, it is like you reading an image instead of just staring. Here are some good example:

Figure 1.0,1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4 Pictures from Pinterest

Idea exploration

Figure1.5, 1.6 rough sketch of my idea

After exploring and Dr.JinChi's slides, I have come out 2 visuals for Contrast and Gestalt. 

Here's a visual that i search from Google images and use the idea of it to create my own visual:

Figure 1.7 Idea for Contrast

 

Figure 1.8 My Outcome for Contrast

Figure 1.9 Idea for Gestalt

Figure 2.0 Outcome for Gestalt

• Final design outcome

       

                  Figure 2.1, 2.2 Final Outcome for Gestalt and Contrast               

Feedback from Lecturer

There is no need for the line break for figure 1.0, and it all works for gestalt and contrast. 

brief Reflection 

After experiencing my first exercise, I can now more understanding the basic design principle and gain a some knowledge about it. I can't wait for the others knowledge that I will be learning!

Lectures

Week 2: Emphasis & Balance 

For this week, we learnt about emphasis and balance, the golden ratio and rule of thirds from the recorded lecturer by Dr. Jinchi. After that, Dr. Charles started explained the principle of emphasis more deeply by using his toys in different arrangements and direction for better understanding. 

Emphasis: create dominance and focus in an artwork, bring attention to the focal point which is an area that has the most important message that the artist wants you to stay focus. Easily to catches viewers' eyes and draw its attention to the focal point. Here are a couple ways to create emphasis: Shape, Line, Color, Space, Value, and Texture. 

Balance: the distribution of visual weight in a design work, for example, colours, texture, and space. All these elements is to make the design feel "stable". There are 3 main balance: Symmetrical balance (formal) , asymmetrical balance (informal) and radial balance.

The Golden Ratio: known as phi, Golden Mean, Golden Section, it is a mathematical concept and a number that goes on indefinitely 1.618..... It can use to bring harmony, balance and structure to a design work and increase the appeal of a design work.

Rule of Thirds: simplification of Golden Ratio, a composition guideline in order to create dynamism to a design work, film painting or photography. 

visual Research (for Emphasis and Balance)

Figure 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 Pictures from Pinterest

Idea exploration

Figure 2.8 rough sketches of my ideas

After I did some research and sketches, I use these images (Figure 2.9 & 3.0) as my references to create my own designs. 

Figure 2.9, 3.0 picture from Pinterest

I drew a shape and cut it out to paste it on a black paper:

Final design outcome

Figure 3.1 Final Outcome for Balance

Figure 3.2 Final Outcome for Emphasis

Feedback from lecturer

The feedbacks from Dr.Charles was he likes my idea of using the butterfly to apply on principle of balance, it was so nice and he also think the outcome for my emphasis works very well too. 

Brief Reflection

I found it quite hard to explore and create the design of Balance as we only can use maker pen or color pencils, It would be great if we can digitally create these design. However, I still managed to create the design for balance at the end. I hope I can learn and understand all the design elements as quick as possible.  

Lectures

Week 3: Repetition and Movement

As usual, we are assigned to watch Dr.Jinchi's recorded lecture. After that, Dr. Charles explained it more deeper by doing some practical exercises. 

• Repetition: 

        - repeat

        - could make a design work seems active and seems it is like moving.

        - create rhythm and patterns within the work.

        - for expression or organised (business) and creativity

           - very equally distributed, limited colors (Black, Grey & White) 

• Moverment:

       - it leads the eye in, around and through a composition 

       - happens when objects seem to be moving in a visual image. 

       - come from shapes, forms , lines, and curves

• Hierarchy: 

       - priority, set priority of what you want the audience look at the first at your  

         work

       - choreography of content in a composition to communicate information and 

         convey meaning. 

       - direct viewer to the most important at first, and identifies navigation through        

         secondary content. 

• Alignment:  

       - placement of a element in a way edges line up along common rows & 

         columns or common centre.

       - create sense of unity and cohesion 

       - important especially when doing complicated design, so your work won't 

         going everywhere.

visual Research (for Movement & Repetition) 

Figure 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 pictures from Pinterest

 

Idea Exploration

Here are the images that I search from Pinterest and use the idea of it to create my own art work:

Figure 3.7 "movement" idea from Pinterest 

Figure 3.7 "repetition" idea from Google image

I sketched out the shape of my fishes, some rocks, and few leaves:

Figure 3.8 sketch from me

Final design Outcome

Figure 3.9 Final Outcome for "movement"

I have added several white lines as the movement for the pond, made it looks like the water in it is moving.

Figure 4.0 Final Outcome for "repetition"

I drew line and patterns for the sunset and wave, it is about the repetition of waves and the light of sunset. 

Feedback from Lecturer

Dr.Charles commented: You are connecting with yourself in a newer level and I like it! This is reflected in your most recent work. Keep investing your self like this. I can see how much you want to feel for your design and you have made some bold decisions. have this consistency for your future works. You are developing well!

Brief Reflection

I think it is a bit hard for the research for "Repetition" or just simply I didn't get the meaning of it. Moreover, the outcome for "Movement" can also be the outcome for "Repetition" as the rocks in it is repeating appeared. By the way, I really enjoyed this week's exercise as I never do any serious water color artwork before. 

Lectures

Week 4: Harmony and Unity

For this week, we have learned about the other design principles which are Harmony, Unity and Proportion from Dr. Jinchi's recorded lectures. During Dr. Charles's class, we discussed some artworks of how it reflect harmony and some of our classmate's favourite artists. After that, Dr. Charles also gave me the feedbacks for week 1 to 3. 

• Harmony: 

        - sameness, share common traits

        - how similar things are to each other

        - becomes monotony without variety and contrast.

         

• Unity:

       - give a sense of oneness

       - creating theme

       - idea to all you put on the painting looks they belong together

• Proportion:

       - relationship of two or more elements in a design

       - is said to be harmonious when a correct relationship exists. 

       - size and quality

Visual Research

Figure 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 Inspiration picture form Pinterest

Idea exploration

Figure 4.4 Poster Color

I decided to do harmony in color. 

• Final design outcome       

Figure 4.5 final outcome

Feedback from Lecturer

Dr.Charles mentioned that I should create 2 artwork for the submission and he was amazed on how the colours are so smooth that make the harmony created here. 

brief Reflection 

I think harmony and unity did help a lot in artworks of how it works to catch human's eyes. By the way, I don't have the acrylic so I used poster colors instead. In the progress of doing the visual research, I have a better picture of how harmony and unity work and I really enjoyed this week's exercise. 

Lectures

Week 5: Symbol, Image and Word

The class started with Dr.Charles explaining the symbol, image and typography, later on, he gave feedbacks to our artwork for week 4. As usual, I have listened to the pre-recored lecturer for week 5 on Friday. 

• Symbol: a sign, shape, object that can represent something else and convey info

        - pictorial symbols: image-related & simplified pictures

        - abstract symbols: can look like the objects that they represent but have less details.

                                       : abstract symbols is not abstract art

        - arbitrary symbols: have no resemblance at all to the objects or ideas they represent. 

                                        : invented & constructed 

                                        : based on geometric shapes and colors (mostly)

• Imagery:

       - print or digital

       - viewer are able to relate to a concept or a brand if right images are used

• Typography:

       -  Design and arrangement of the that convey concept and message 

       -  Can result in visual hierarchy and balance in an artwork 

Visual Research (for symbol, imagery & typography)

Figure 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0 visual research from Pinterest

Idea exploration

Figure 5.1 image from google

Figure 5.2 sketches for symbols

Figure 5.3 Screenshot of my ps

I wanted to create a symbol for my horoscope which is "Gemini" as we know gemini is twins, therefore, I drew double head on paper and scanned to photoshop to trace it. 

Figure 5.4 picture of myself

The topic that I wanted to create for Imagery and Typography is "80s Feminism", why I chose 80s is because woman right at that time was very easy to be ignored by the men, and women powers are always doubted by men even until now. 

I don't have the big speaker, I roll a paper as a speaker and try to make a scene of protest of Feminism. 

• Final design outcome            

Figure 5.5 final outcome for symbol (gemini)

Figure 5.5 final outcome #2 for symbol (gemini)

Figure 5.6 final outcome for imagery and typography (80s Feminism)

Feedback from Lecturer

The comments given by Dr.Charles: I should make the gemini symbol (figure 5.5) to long hair. Overall, Imagery and typography works well. 

brief Reflection 

This exercise is quite interesting and also challenging to me as I never created a symbols before, I don't know if what I have created is wrong to nor but I am still satisfying with my works. Then, I also realised the importance of symbols in our daily life.