Jordan Axel (0354894) Task 1 (Exploration)

06.02.2024 - 18.03.2024 / (Week 1 - Week 7)

Jordan Axel / 0354894

Design Principles / BA of Design (HONS) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 1

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INSTRUCTIONS

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LECTURES

Introduction: Elements & Principles of Design

The goal of visual communication is to successfully use design to communicate important messages to a specific audience. To have the desired effect in this endeavor, designs must be well thought out and executed.

A comprehensive understanding of the seven fundamental elements of design is essential:

1. Point: Serving as the simplest element, a point, when repetitively marked, forms lines and generates various 2D and 3D shapes as it traverses space.
2. Line: Lines, whether active, static, or expressive, can convey motion, emotion, and define forms and spaces, offering a foundation for patterns, textures, and light and shadow effects.
3. Shape: Shapes delineate areas within 2D or 3D spaces, categorized into geometric and organic forms, each evoking distinct qualities and aesthetics.
4. Form: The transition from 2D shapes to 3D entities, forms enclose space and may imply volume, playing a pivotal role in sculptural and architectural endeavors.
5. Texture: Texture denotes tactile surface qualities or their visual representations, divided into actual (touched) and simulated/implied (visual) categories.
6. Space: Both tangible and abstract, space encompasses the environment in which design exists, offering opportunities for depth, perspective, and positive or negative spatial arrangements.
7. Color: Derived from the light spectrum, color comprises hue, value, and intensity, enabling designers to evoke emotions, create harmony, and establish visual hierarchy through strategic color schemes.

Additionally, the principles of design serve as organizational guidelines, shaping the arrangement and interplay of these elements:

1. Contrast & Gestalt Theory: Utilizing differences in elements and employing Gestalt principles like similarity, continuation, closure, proximity, and figure/ground to optimize visual perception and coherence.
   
   
   
   

   

   fig 1.1 Contrast & Gestalt Theory example

   
   
2. Balance & Emphasis: Achieving equilibrium through symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of visual weight, while emphasis directs attention to focal points, employing techniques such as the Golden Ratio and the Rule of Thirds.

   

   fig 1.2 Balance & Emphasis example

   
   
3. Repetition & Movement: Employing repetition to instill rhythm and patterns, while movement guides the viewer's eye through the design, aided by guiding lines and effective alignment.

   

   fig 1.3 Repetition 

   
   
   
4. Harmony & Unity: Balancing common traits with variety to foster harmony, and repeating elements to achieve unity and coherence throughout the design.

   

   fig 1.4 Harmony and Unity example

   
   
5. Scale & Proportion: Managing size relationships within the design to convey significance and achieve visual harmony and effectiveness.

   

   fig 1.5 Scale & Proportion example

   
   
6. Symbols, Words & Images: Leveraging symbols, words, and imagery to convey meaning and evoke emotions, with typography playing a crucial role in message delivery and visual impact.

   

   fig 1.6 Symbols, Words & Images example

   
   
7. Visual Analysis: Engaging in observation, analysis, and interpretation of design elements and principles to gain insight into the intended message, fostering critical thinking and visual literacy.

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Task 1

We were given the task of watching the lecture videos on design principles that were provided to us, choosing a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG), finding an artwork that best illustrates that goal, and providing explanation for our opinion on which artwork best represents the SDG. Since I've always thought that SDG 15: Life on Land is one of the most crucial goals that must be accomplished because it has the power to alter the course of human history, I choose to support it.

fig 1.1: UNSDG 15, Life on Land

SDG 15 aims to protect terrestrial ecosystems, including forests and biodiversity-rich areas, by promoting sustainable land use, combating desertification, and halting biodiversity loss. Its goal is to ensure the preservation and restoration of vital natural resources for human well-being.

fig 1.2: "Destroying nature is destroying life."-Robin Wood (image source)

    The image portrays the profound impact of human-induced deforestation on deer, disrupting their habitat and destroying greenery. This selfish behavior comes from human egotism, prioritizing personal wealth and needs over the well-being of wildlife and even human lives. 

    The animals and the deforestation are two different components that are juxtaposed, so it creates contrast. The artwork uses a strong visual contrasts or vivid colors to highlight the sharp contrast between the animals' natural environment and the growing threat of habitat destruction or deforestation. Also, it shows Balance because it shows the forest and the deer equally not too much of any of it. 

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FEEDBACK

Week 1: No class

Week 2: Finish task 1 by next week

Week 3: Adding pictures to the lecture would be great