Design Principle / Exercise 1

24.8.2021-21.9.2021(Week 1- Week 5)
Chang Jia Yee / 0350402
Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Design Principle
Exercise 1 : Gestalt & Contrast

---

Quick Links

Design Principle / Exercise 1
Design Principle / Exercise 2
Design Principle / Exercise 3

Design Principle / Project 1

Design Principle / Project 2

Design Principle / Final Project

Design Principle / Final Compilation and Reflection

---

LECTURE

Week 1

Elements of Design
Video link click me !

Line: A continuous mark made on a surface by a moving point.
        - can be wavy, can be jagged, can be diagonal

Shape : An enclosed space and are limited to 2 dimensions.
        - Geometric shape
        - Organic shape

Space : The distance or area between, around or within objects.
        - White space
        - Empty space
        - Positive space
        - Negative space

Texture : Refers to the feel of an object.
        - Pattern design
        - Mimic real texture

Colour : The amount of light reflected off of an object.

        - Colour wheel

Fig 1. colour wheel

          - Analogous colour

Fig 2.  analogous colour

        - Complementary colour

Fig 3. complementary colour

        - Monochromatic colour

Fig 4. monochromatic colour

Gestalt Psychology and Why It's Essential for Good Design

Video link click me ！

Gestalt Principles are principles/laws of human perception that describe how humans group similar elements, recognise patterns and simplify complex images when we perceive objects. Designers use the principles to organise content on websites and other interfaces so it is aesthetically pleasing and easy to understand.

Fig . Gestalt Principle

        - Figure - ground : The thought that when we look at a scene we separate objects so that some of the focus or figure and others of the background

 Fig . example 1

Fig . example 2

        - Similarity : The notion that we place objects with similar characteristics in a group these characteristics can include colour, size, font, shape, texture and more.

Fig . example

        - Proximity : The belief that we group together objects that are close to each other.

Fig . 3 example

        - Closure : The idea that out our minds close objects that are not necessarily together or complete in order to create a whole.

Fig . example 1

Fig . example 2

Fig . example 3

        -Continuity : The theory that we continue to follow objects that are visually aligned until they are interrupted.

Fig . example 1

Fig . example 2

        - Order : The belief that alignment and symmetry are attractive and essential elements of design.

Contrast

Video link click me！ 
        - Strong Contrast : There are very dark values, very light values, and a lot of the in-between values.

Fig . example 1

Fig . example 2

        - Weak contrast : There is too much or too little dark and/or light value.

Fig . example

---

INSTRUCTION

---

Task 1 : Gestalt Theory 

Visual research :

I found both of the picture on Pinterest and try to get some inspiration from other people work.Below are some notes I take during the visual research.

Fig 1. Visual Research Notes

Idea exploration ：

I tried to take note of my idea so I can combine and extend it easy and clearly. Below was my messy sketch😛  

Fig 2. Draft of My Idea

After listed out my idea, I figure out which one can really work in Adobe Illustrator(AI).

Attempt 1

I done the first idea "People & Dog" as my gestalt theory work. After finishing this work, I think gestalt didn't work well as the picture below(Fig 3) you can see. It was just simply put the two picture together. So I decided to execute my another idea.

Fig 3. Attempt to process in AI

Fig 3. Outcome of Gestalt Theory (Fail😅)

Attempt 2

I choose the idea 6 from my draft idea (Fig 2) and try to execute the idea ---"bear and fish". This time must work!

Fig 4. Idea Exploration of "Bear & Fish"


Fig 5. Progression in AI

Final Outcome : Gestalt Theory

html link :
<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q_risHbcDqJiVFJItrfSlzLXZ-PiMokN/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

Task 2 : Contrast

Visual Research :

Fig 6. Visual Research of Contrast

Attempt 1

Idea Exploration :

Fig 7. Idea Exploration

Fig 8. Final Outcome (Attempt 1)

I think the outcome(above) of this contrast exercise are too common and general. I think I can try to come out with another idea which is more interesting and fun.

Attempt 2

Idea Exploration :

I remembered a clip I had seen before, the author drew a picture of a girl wearing a skirt, then cut off part of the skirt, and then looked for something that could be used as a skirt pattern in nature. But because of the long time, I can't find that clip now.😢

I suppose to draw a person wearing mask and the whole person is in black and white.After that, I decided to cut off the mask's part and then looking for some sceneries which are beautiful to be the pattern of mask.

Process :

When I finished the production, I went all over the house to look for frame that could blend in the mask. Below are results of some attempts. 
 

Fig . Processing......

The following is a short clip of my outcome review. If you have some time, you might as well stop over and have a look on the clip below.😝

Outcome Review

Final Outcome : Contrast

Finally, I choose the picture I took in front of my house . Due this pandemic, my daily view is my room and neighbour's roof.   Even the blue sky, mountain and neighbour's roof is boring compare to the scenery of travelling , but this kind of scenery is true and homey for me, it also what I only see during this period. I wish the pandemic be gone as fast as possible so that I can look more beautiful scenery !

html link：

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lcAa4Q7RKaDGGNkkljD2XXDZ857nd80j/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

---

FEEDBACK

General feedback: The contrast artwork not only in black & white but can be variety of way to present it! Have fun while doing the exercises.

---

REFLECTIONS

I think these two exercises are very fun. From conception to completion and then the finally display on blog, it was a good experience. When I finished, it was a great satisfaction. Although my pieces of works maybe are not very attractive but I'm on the way and keep trying！ 

---

Quick Links

Design Principle / Exercise 1
Design Principle / Exercise 2
Design Principle / Exercise 3

Design Principle / Project 1

Design Principle / Project 2

Design Principle / Final Project
Design Principle / Final Compilation and Reflection