Design Principles : Week 2 -Week 3/Exercise 2

Week 2- Week 3 : 31 Aug 2021 - 13 Sept 2021

Tan Yi Yun
0345559
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Week 2 - Week 3 / Exercise 2 : Balance & Emphasis, Repetition & Movement


LECTURE

Due to the public holiday (National Day), we did not have any live class on Week 2 Tuesday. "Class suspended but learning continues," we watched the recorded lecture uploaded in Microsoft Teams and continue with our Exercise 1. 

Lecture Notes

Week 2 : 
  • Balance - Balance, one of the key principles of design, refers to the way visual elements are arranged so that their visual weight harmonizes with the other elements in the design, and the composition gives an appearance of properly distributed elements.

There are 2 types of balance :

a) Symmetrical Balance - It has equal weight on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum. The equal arrangement of elements on either side of the central axis (horizontal or vertical) resulting in bilateral balance. Arranging elements equally around a central point results in radial balance. Approximate symmetry is when equivalent but not identical forms are arranged around the fulcrum line.

Below are some examples of symmetrical balance.


Figure 1.1.1, Batik Design, Week 2 (31/8/2021)

Figure 1.1.2. Radial Balance, Week 2 (31/8/2021)


Figure 1.1.3, Approximate Balance, Week 2 (31/8/2021)


b) Asymmetrical Balance - Unequal visual weight on each side of composition. One side of the composition might contain a dominant element, which could be balanced by a couple or more lesser focal points on the other side. It evokes feelings of modernism, movement, energy and vitality. It offers more visual variety, although it can be more difficult to achieve because the relationships between elements are more complex.

Here is an example of asymmetrical balance :

Figure 1.2.1, Asymmetrical Balance, Week 2 (31/8/2021)

  • The Golden Ratio 
The Golden Ratio, also known as phi, it is a mathematical concept and a number that goes on indefinitely (1.61803..). The ratio itself comes from the Fibonacci sequence, a naturally occurring sequence of numbers that can be found everywhere, from the number of leaves on a tree to the shape of a seashell. Many have perceived the Golden Ratio as the representative of perfect beauty and has been used for centuries as a guide to create visual balance. For designers, it can be used to bring harmony, balance and structure to one's work, as well as increasing the appeal of a design work.

Here is an example of how the Golden Ratio is applied :


Figure 1.3.1, Golden Ratio of Mona Lisa, Week 2 (31/8/2021) 

  • Rule of Thirds
It is a composition guideline to create more dynamism to a work of design. An image is divided evenly into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and the subject of the image is placed at the intersection of those dividing lines, or along one of the lines itself.

Figure 1.4.1, Rule of Thirds, Week 2 (31/8/2021)

  • Emphasis
Emphasis - It is used to create dominance and focus in a design work. Various elements can be used to create emphasis, such as colour, shapes of value, to achieve dominance. 

Figure 2, Emphasis, Week 2 (31/8/2021)

Week 3 : 


  • Repetition - Repetition could make a work of design seem active. It creates rhythm and pattern within the work. 
Variety (a slight difference in elements) is essential to keep rhythms exciting and active, and to avoid monotony. Pattern increases visual excitement by enriching surface interest.

Figure 3, Repetition forms pattern, Week 2 (31/8/2021)

  • Movement - The way a design leads the eye in, around, and through a composition - the path the eye follows. Motion/movement occurs when objects seem to be moving in a visual image. Movement in a visual image comes from the kinds of shapes, forms, lines, and curves that are used.
Figure 4, Movement, Week 2 (31/8/2021)
  • Hierarchy - Hierarchy is the choreography of content in a composition to communicate information and convey meaning. Visual hierarchy directs viewers to the most important information first, and identifies navigation through secondary content.
Figure 5, Hierarchy, Week 2 (31/8/2021)
  • Alignment - The placement of elements in a way that edges line up along common rows or columns, or their bodies along a common centre. Alignment creates a sense of unity and cohesion, which contributes to the design's overall aesthetic and perceived stability. 
Figure 6, Well alignment of a webpage, Week 2 (31/8/2021)


INSTRUCTION

EXERCISE 2 : Emphasis / Balance / Repetition / Movement

In this exercise, we were required to choose 2 principles from these 4 design principles : emphasis, balance, repetition and movement. We need to produce 1 design for each chosen principle. 


Emphasis

I chose emphasis because I wanted to create something stands out and looks different from the surrounding elements. 

Visual research 

Since I yet to introduce colour in my previous exercise, I thought I could try adding colours from now on. Colour emphasis works well as our eyes are easily attracted by high contrast colours. When colour is introduced in a black and white picture, it makes the subject attractive and special. 

Figure 7.1, Moodboard 1, Week 2 (3/9/2021)

In Figure 7.1 and 7.2, the object with vibrant colour become the focal point of that picture. 

Figure 7.2, Moodboard 2, Week 2 (3/9/2021)


Idea exploration

I wanted to use human figures for this exercise. There will be several people falling down, holding flower/plant (as parachute) in their hands. One of them will be in different colour, action and size to make it stands out from the crowd. 

Figure 8.1, Rough sketch, Week 2 (4/9/2021)

When I was digitising the sketch, I decided to use chrysanthemum as the "parachute" because I like its blooming petal. The picture below is my digital sketch. 

Figure 8.2, First attempt, Week 2 (4/9/2021)

Feedbacks were given by Ms. Jinchi (refer to feedback section). I was allowed to use this idea as the submission. 
Movement

I chose movement because I think it will be fun to create a flowing path in the work of art.

Visual Research

When I typed the keyword "movement" in the Pinterest search bar, I saw a lot of dancing movement and liquid flowing pictures, and they are elegant to look at.

Figure 8.3, Moodboard 1, Week 2 (4/9/2021)
Then I keyed in "movement in drawing/art", and saw these repetitive lines and shapes forming a movement. In Figure 8.4, I like the middle one because it is colourful and attractive, short strokes overlapping each other on the same direction.
Figure 8.4, Moodboard 2, Week 2 (4/9/2021)


Idea exploration

Figure 8.5 shows my digital sketch of movement. It is my experiment with the letter 'S'. I played with thick and thin lines to add texture and depth.  

Figure 8.5, "S" movement, Week 2 (5/9/2021) 

I decided to continue exploring the materials I have at hand. Time to "waste" some acrylics! I mixed with some water to dilute the paint, and poured it on top of another, slightly moved the canvas and formed fluid acrylic paintings. 

Figure 8.6, First attempt, Week 3 (12/9/2021)


Figure 8.7, Second attempt, Week 3 (12/9/2021)

It was super fun to play with acrylics. The outcome is unpredictable but they are very unique for me. After receiving feedback from Ms. Jinchi, I created another two artworks.

Figure 8.8, Third attempt, Week 3 (13/9/2021)

Figure 8.9, Fourth attempt, Week 3 (13/9/2021)

The last piece is the best as it shows a specific direction of flow. I was suggested to use horizontal orientation for the submission.
Final outcome - Emphasis 



PDF submission - Emphasis, "Where?", Week 4 (14/9/2021)


Reflecting my own feelings, this gloomy and contemplative artwork is expressed in a simple way, no fancy stuffs —— only 3 colours, and simple human figures. Choosing chrysanthemum as the "parachute" is not intentional. But in fact, chrysanthemum is traditionally viewed as a death flower. People are falling from the sky from nowhere, having no idea where to go. Where are we going? Am I the only one who is conscious in this world? 



Final outcome - Movement



PDF submission - Movement, "Acrylic fluid art", Week 4 (14/9/2021)


Sprinkling and pouring paint on the canvas is just soothing and mesmerising. Each piece of acrylic fluid art is unique because the paint creates various irregular lines and markings on the canvas. Layers of acrylic paint are poured, which then react with each other when combined to create organic movement and free-flowing abstract compositions. 

This is my first time experimenting with different forms of art and I really enjoy creating abstract painting.


FEEDBACK

Week 3 : 

Ms. Jinchi suggested me to slightly enlarge the yellow figure and interchange the colour of background and the black figures. The idea for emphasis is good enough. For movement, Ms. Jinchi loved my marble arts and she thought I can try to create another one with more movement. 

Week 4 : 

For movement, Ms. Jinchi said it would be better to make the final submission in horizontal. For emphasis, enlarge the yellow figure a little bit more. Other than that..... I am ready to go!


REFLECTION

I think this exercise is more challenging than the previous exercise. I realised that I spent too much time refining and improving my designs. But I did learn from the journey and I am sure I could do better if more time is allowed (and most importantly sufficient art materials). I enjoyed expressing my thoughts and feelings through art, especially in acrylics.