Design Principles - Week 1 - 3
24/08/2021 - 07/09/2021 (Week 1 - Week 3)
Reagan Val Adelbert Mahadi / 0349177
Design Principles / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Exercise 1 / Contrast and Gestalt Theory
LECTURES
For our first week, Miss Jinchi explained what we will do for this
semester. She explained what we are gonna do and expect in the
upcoming design principles class. Everything she has explained can be
seen inside the module information booklet.
Reagan Val Adelbert Mahadi / 0349177
LECTURES
For our first week, Miss Jinchi explained what we will do for this semester. She explained what we are gonna do and expect in the upcoming design principles class. Everything she has explained can be seen inside the module information booklet.
For the lecture, Miss Jinchi introduced two topics for us. The first topic is
elements and principles of design and the second topic is contrast and Gestalt
theory.
Elements and Principles of Design
Elements of design include:
- Point
- Line
- Shape
- Form
- Texture
- Space
- Colour
As for principles of design, it includes:
- Contrast
- Balance
- Emphasis
- Rules of Third
- Repetition/Pattern/Rythm
- Movement
- Hierarchy
- Alignment
- Harmony
- Unity
- Proportion
Contrast and Gestalt Theory
Contrast is the juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar elements. From my
understanding, contrast plays an important role in the design, as it makes the
image livelier and more eye-catching. Without the use of contrast the image
might appear uninteresting.
Fig. 1.1 Example of contrast
(https://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/compare-and-contrast-expressions-you-can-use/)
The principle of proximity is when our brain thinks that elements that are close to each other are connected to each other. Elements that are separated from each other don't have any connections.
INSTRUCTIONS
Task 1: Gestalt Theory and Contrast Design
For the first exercise, we were told to produce 1 design of Gestalt theory and 1 design on Contrast.
I was surfing through the internet to get some ideas for gestalt
theory and contrast designs.
REFLECTIONS
This first week of studying design principles, the theory wasn't really confusing and I pretty much understand it. As for the task, I found it hard to create a design for it. Surfed over the internet to find a lot of references to create the design and it was time-consuming as well. During this task, I had the chance on improving my ability to use the pen tool. Even though this task is challenging, I still enjoy creating the designs.
(https://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/compare-and-contrast-expressions-you-can-use/)
Gestalt theory is where the human brain will process complex scenes to
become simpler shapes. There are 5 principles for Gestalt theory which
includes, similarity, continuation, closure, proximity, and
figure/ground.
The principle of similarity is when our eyes tend to group up similar
elements even though the elements are separated.
Fig. 1.2 Example of similarity
The principle of continuation is when the human eyes rather continue on
continuous flows rather than following separated objects
The principle of close happens when we are seeing missing parts of an
image and our brain will essentially fill up the missing parts.
Fig. 1.4 Example of closure
The principle of proximity is when our brain thinks that elements that are close to each other are connected to each other. Elements that are separated from each other don't have any connections.
Fig. 1.5 Example of proximity
The principle of figure/ground is when we think whether the image is
either in the foreground or the background. The brain will decide whether
the image is prominently in the front or recede at the back.
Fig. 1.6 Example of figure/ground
INSTRUCTIONS
Task 1: Gestalt Theory and Contrast Design
For the first exercise, we were told to produce 1 design of Gestalt theory and 1 design on Contrast.
Visual Research
I was surfing through the internet to get some ideas for gestalt
theory and contrast designs.
Fig. 2.2 Gestalt theory design #2
From these two pictures, I can tell that they are both
examples of figure/ground. For the first example, we can
see that there is a flock of birds in the foreground but
in the background, we can see a face. As for the second
image, I can tell that there is a dog in the foreground
and a cat in the background.
Fig. 2.3 Gestalt theory design #3
This image shows an example of closure. The head of the
panda may not contain an outline, but our brain will end
up filling the missing part, and eventually, our eyes will
see it.
Fig. 2.4 Contrast design
From the looks of it, the designer uses different colors in different sections. In the middle
part, the hair color is black, the skin color is
light-colored, and some black and white colors are for
the shirt. As for the other part, the designer
reversed the use of the color.
Idea Exploration and Description
For my contrast design, I was inspired by Fig. 2.4 and I decided to create a
silhouette of a person and placed a block in there.
For the outer part of the block, I colored the person
black and colored the background white. As for the
part in the block, I will reverse the use of color
from the outer part of the block.
Fig. 2.5 Contrast sketches
For my second sketch, I drew a clover with the same concept as the first sketch. The reason I decided on drawing a clover is that it is symmetrical. I had an idea on dividing it into two sides so I made two sides
with different colors.
As for gestalt theory, I came up with a sketch of a cat and a tortoise. I got the idea of drawing a cat and a tortoise because I was inspired by Fig. 2.2. As I was drawing the cat, I came up with the idea of drawing a tortoise because it fits the part below the cat.
Fig. 2.6 Gestalt theory sketch
This sketch would be an example of a
figure/ground. I drew a cat in the
background and also a tortoise located below
the cat that is in the foreground of the
image.
I ended up picking the clover for my contrast design. I used the pen tool to
create the shape for the clover and the cat
and tortoise as well.
Fig. 2.7 Contrast design
Fig. 2.8 Gestalt theory design
Feedback
After receiving feedback from Ms.
Jinchi, I had to make changes to my designs. For my gestalt design, she said
that my turtle needs more work because
it's not really obvious that it's a
tortoise, and lower down the upper part
of the tortoise. She stated that I can
change the animal as well. She also said
that it would be more interesting if
there is a connection between the
tortoise and the cat. She mentioned that
I need to have enough borders for my
designs.
Fig. 2.9 Gestalt theory
sketches
I made two sketches for my gestalt
design, this time I used a mouse as
the second animal as it has a common
connection with a cat. For my first
sketch, I drew a cat sitting and
added a mouse in front of the cat
standing. As for my second sketch, I
drew a cat stretching and a mouse
below.
Fig. 2.10 Gestalt designs
digitised
I decided to use the left design and
make some adjustments to the mouse.
Fig. 2.11 Gestalt design
digitised
I made changes to the mouse's eyes,
ears, feet, and tail so that it will
make it more obvious that there is a
mouse below the cat.
As for my balance design, she suggested
me to add one more stem on the other
side. She also stated that I can create
alternate black and white instead of
half black and white.
Fig. 2.12 Balance design digitised
I divided the design into four squares
and ended up using a stem on all of the
leaves.
Final Outcome
Fig. 2.13 Final gestalt design - PDF
Fig. 2.14 Final contrast design - PDF
From these two pictures, I can tell that they are both
examples of figure/ground. For the first example, we can
see that there is a flock of birds in the foreground but
in the background, we can see a face. As for the second
image, I can tell that there is a dog in the foreground
and a cat in the background.
This image shows an example of closure. The head of the
panda may not contain an outline, but our brain will end
up filling the missing part, and eventually, our eyes will
see it.
From the looks of it, the designer uses different colors in different sections. In the middle part, the hair color is black, the skin color is light-colored, and some black and white colors are for the shirt. As for the other part, the designer reversed the use of the color.
Idea Exploration and Description
For my contrast design, I was inspired by Fig. 2.4 and I decided to create a
silhouette of a person and placed a block in there.
For the outer part of the block, I colored the person
black and colored the background white. As for the
part in the block, I will reverse the use of color
from the outer part of the block.
Fig. 2.5 Contrast sketches
For my second sketch, I drew a clover with the same concept as the first sketch. The reason I decided on drawing a clover is that it is symmetrical. I had an idea on dividing it into two sides so I made two sides
with different colors.
As for gestalt theory, I came up with a sketch of a cat and a tortoise. I got the idea of drawing a cat and a tortoise because I was inspired by Fig. 2.2. As I was drawing the cat, I came up with the idea of drawing a tortoise because it fits the part below the cat.
Fig. 2.6 Gestalt theory sketch
This sketch would be an example of a
figure/ground. I drew a cat in the
background and also a tortoise located below
the cat that is in the foreground of the
image.
I ended up picking the clover for my contrast design. I used the pen tool to
create the shape for the clover and the cat
and tortoise as well.
Fig. 2.7 Contrast design
Fig. 2.8 Gestalt theory design
Feedback
After receiving feedback from Ms.
Jinchi, I had to make changes to my designs. For my gestalt design, she said
that my turtle needs more work because
it's not really obvious that it's a
tortoise, and lower down the upper part
of the tortoise. She stated that I can
change the animal as well. She also said
that it would be more interesting if
there is a connection between the
tortoise and the cat. She mentioned that
I need to have enough borders for my
designs.
Fig. 2.9 Gestalt theory
sketches
I made two sketches for my gestalt
design, this time I used a mouse as
the second animal as it has a common
connection with a cat. For my first
sketch, I drew a cat sitting and
added a mouse in front of the cat
standing. As for my second sketch, I
drew a cat stretching and a mouse
below.
Fig. 2.10 Gestalt designs
digitised
I decided to use the left design and
make some adjustments to the mouse.
Fig. 2.11 Gestalt design
digitised
I made changes to the mouse's eyes,
ears, feet, and tail so that it will
make it more obvious that there is a
mouse below the cat.
As for my balance design, she suggested
me to add one more stem on the other
side. She also stated that I can create
alternate black and white instead of
half black and white.
Fig. 2.12 Balance design digitised
I divided the design into four squares
and ended up using a stem on all of the
leaves.
Final Outcome
Fig. 2.13 Final gestalt design - PDF
Fig. 2.14 Final contrast design - PDF
For my second sketch, I drew a clover with the same concept as the first sketch. The reason I decided on drawing a clover is that it is symmetrical. I had an idea on dividing it into two sides so I made two sides
with different colors.
As for gestalt theory, I came up with a sketch of a cat and a tortoise. I got the idea of drawing a cat and a tortoise because I was inspired by Fig. 2.2. As I was drawing the cat, I came up with the idea of drawing a tortoise because it fits the part below the cat.
Fig. 2.6 Gestalt theory sketch
This sketch would be an example of a figure/ground. I drew a cat in the background and also a tortoise located below the cat that is in the foreground of the image.
I ended up picking the clover for my contrast design. I used the pen tool to create the shape for the clover and the cat and tortoise as well.
Fig. 2.8 Gestalt theory design
Feedback
Final Outcome
As for gestalt theory, I came up with a sketch of a cat and a tortoise. I got the idea of drawing a cat and a tortoise because I was inspired by Fig. 2.2. As I was drawing the cat, I came up with the idea of drawing a tortoise because it fits the part below the cat.
Fig. 2.6 Gestalt theory sketch
This sketch would be an example of a figure/ground. I drew a cat in the background and also a tortoise located below the cat that is in the foreground of the image.
I ended up picking the clover for my contrast design. I used the pen tool to create the shape for the clover and the cat and tortoise as well.
Fig. 2.7 Contrast design
Fig. 2.8 Gestalt theory design
Feedback
After receiving feedback from Ms.
Jinchi, I had to make changes to my designs. For my gestalt design, she said
that my turtle needs more work because
it's not really obvious that it's a
tortoise, and lower down the upper part
of the tortoise. She stated that I can
change the animal as well. She also said
that it would be more interesting if
there is a connection between the
tortoise and the cat. She mentioned that
I need to have enough borders for my
designs.
Fig. 2.9 Gestalt theory
sketches
I made two sketches for my gestalt
design, this time I used a mouse as
the second animal as it has a common
connection with a cat. For my first
sketch, I drew a cat sitting and
added a mouse in front of the cat
standing. As for my second sketch, I
drew a cat stretching and a mouse
below.
Fig. 2.10 Gestalt designs
digitised
I decided to use the left design and
make some adjustments to the mouse.
Fig. 2.11 Gestalt design
digitised
I made changes to the mouse's eyes,
ears, feet, and tail so that it will
make it more obvious that there is a
mouse below the cat.
As for my balance design, she suggested
me to add one more stem on the other
side. She also stated that I can create
alternate black and white instead of
half black and white.
Fig. 2.12 Balance design digitised
I divided the design into four squares
and ended up using a stem on all of the
leaves.
Fig. 2.9 Gestalt theory sketches
I made two sketches for my gestalt
design, this time I used a mouse as
the second animal as it has a common
connection with a cat. For my first
sketch, I drew a cat sitting and
added a mouse in front of the cat
standing. As for my second sketch, I
drew a cat stretching and a mouse
below.
Fig. 2.10 Gestalt designs
digitised
I made changes to the mouse's eyes,
ears, feet, and tail so that it will
make it more obvious that there is a
mouse below the cat.
I divided the design into four squares and ended up using a stem on all of the leaves.
Final Outcome
Fig. 2.13 Final gestalt design - PDF
Fig. 2.14 Final contrast design - PDF
Fig. 2.14 Final contrast design - PDF
REFLECTIONS
This first week of studying design principles, the theory wasn't really confusing and I pretty much understand it. As for the task, I found it hard to create a design for it. Surfed over the internet to find a lot of references to create the design and it was time-consuming as well. During this task, I had the chance on improving my ability to use the pen tool. Even though this task is challenging, I still enjoy creating the designs.
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