Design Principles // Exercises : Emphasis & Balance
Caitlyn Aurelia Tjandra (0339381)/BDCM
Design Principles
Exercises - Emphasis and Balance
Lecture
Week 2 (04/09/20) : Emphasis and Balance Theory
Ms Jinchi has posted today lecture in a form of YouTube video for both Emphasis and Balance theory and summary notes. Here are the notes:
Symmetrical balance can be described as having equal "weight" on equal sides of a centrally placed fulcrum. It may also be referred to as formal balance. When the elements are arranged equally on either side of a central axis, the result is Bilateral symmetry. This axis may be horizontal or vertical. It is also possible to build formal balance by arranging elements equally around a central point, resulting in radial symmetry.
There is a variant of symmetrical balance called approximate symmetry in which equivalent but not identical forms are arranged around the fulcrum line.
Asymmetrical balance, also called informal balance, is more complex and difficult to envisage. It involves placement of objects in a way that will allow objects of varying visual weight to balance one another around a fulcrum point. This can be best imagined by envisioning a literal balance scale that can represent the visual "weights" that can be imagined in a two dimensional composition. For example, it is possible to balance a heavy weight with a cluster of lighter weights on equal sides of a fulcrum; in a picture, this might be a cluster of small objects balanced by a large object. It is also possible to imagine objects of equal weight but different mass (such as a large mass of feathers versus a small mass of stones) on equal sides of a fulcrum. Unequal weights can even be balanced by shifting the fulcrum point on our imaginary scale.
Emphasis is defined as an area or object within the artwork that draws attention and becomes a focal point. Subordination is defined as minimizing or toning down other compositional elements in order to bring attention to the focal point. Focal point refers to an area in the composition that has the most significance, an area that the artist wants to draw attention to as the most important aspect.
Instruction
Exercise
Week 2 (Emphasis &Balance)
Emphasis:
Research
This reference is what I get from watching and reading the lecture that Dr Jiinchi told us to read.
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| Fig 1.0 Emphasis by colour |
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| Fig 1.1 emphasis and subordination |
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| Fig 1.2 Emphasis using value |
After that, I went ahead and research some more in Pinterest where there are a lot of interesting ideas that I could be inspired to. Since I found a lot of ideas, I had compiled the reference image into one image in a mood board form.
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| Fig 1.3 Emphasis Mood board |
Exploration
For this week we were told to make design for both emphasis and balance using the material of colour pencils/pens or markers.
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| Fig 2.1 Fated red string |
This design is based on what we know as the red string of fate. This red string is supposedly invisible and believed that people were fated to be together would have this string attached on their pinkie.
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| Fig 2.2 IT clown |
This were based on a Stephen king's book and now movie which is called IT. This is a story of a clown called IT who loom around the city collecting kid's soul. His distinctive image is the smile that goes all the way up onto his eyebrow and the red balloon.
Final Design
After receiving feedback from Ms Jinchi, I did a reworked and fix my mistakes of the chosen designs. The final chosen design were the red fated strings (fig 2.2) for balance. Here is the results:
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| Fig 2.3 Final Rework Fated String Design |
For this design , I did a little rework from the initial design. What I've done is cropped the hand so that it is closed up. therefore, the design will have a more balanced focus point. Then, instead of the string loose downwards, I did a little loop to make a shape of a heart. This relates to the meaning of the design which is fated string/ string of marriage where the invisible string is a line that connect people to people that are fated to be together.
Final Outcome
For this exercise we were given material of using colour pencils, pencils or marker. For this red string design I choose to use pencils to shade the hand and then use a red marked to make the string, this way the red string would pop out more and therefore become the focus point which is the emphasis. Here is the results:
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| Fig 3.0 Process 1 |
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| Fig 3.1 Process 2 |
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| Fig 3.3 Process 4 |
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| Fig 3.4 process 5 |
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| Fig 3.4 Final Outcome |
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| Fig 3.5 Other Views 1 |
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| Fig 3.6 Other Views 2 |
Balance:
Balance : Balance can create a mood 1.symmetry :
- mirror image
- elements are oriented along common axis
2.asymmetry :
-line placed randomly with in a format - achieved by evenly distributing total mass within the format
3.Tension : purposely unbalanced
4. Radial Balance : based on a circle with its design extending
Research
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| 1.4 Symmetry landscape from Pinterest |
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| Fig 1.5 Symmetry Swan from Pinterest |
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| Fig 1.6 Asymmetry circle abstract from Pinterest |
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| Fig 1.7 Asymmetry triangle abstract from Pinterest |
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| Fig 1.8 Tension abstract balance from Pinterest |
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| Fig 1.9 Radial balance from Pinterest |
Fig 2.0 Balanced moodpboard
Exploration
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| Fig 2.4 Snakes Yin n Yang |
Usually the symbolism of yin and yang is a koi fish. instead, I use snake to create my balance. I use two snake to create balance on either side.
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| Fig 2.5 Accusing hand |
This is a two hand pointing at each other. This hand portrays the symbolism of accusing others. Furthermore, I made the other hand a shadow of the other to represent how if you are accusing someone you are accusing yourself. This era there are a lot of people blaming others without looking at themselves in the mirror.
Final Design
After receiving feedback from Ms Jinchi, I did a reworked and fix my mistakes of the chosen designs. The final chosen design were the yin n yang snakes ( fig 2.2) for balance. Here is the results:
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| fig 2.6 Final rework snakes design |
For this design, I did a quiet different approach from the initial design. Ms Jinchi told me to get rid of the diagonal line which made it geometrical. therefore, instead of a line, I did a circle the middle of the two heads off the snakes, to add to the whole drawing, I use the three primary colour which is red, blue and yellow. This helps my design to complement each other.
Final Outcome
For this exercise we were given material of using colour pencils, pencils or marker. For This snakes design I choose to use colour pencils for all them. Here is the results:
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| Fig 3.7 Process 1 |
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| Fig 3.8 process 2 |
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| Fig 3.9 Final outcome |
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| Fig 4.0 Other views |
Compilation
Feedback
Week 3
General Feedback:
Dr Jinchi said that not everything paired with black and white is an emphasis.
Specific Feedback:
- For fig 2.2, Dr Jinchi liked this design, she told me to choose tis one as my emphasis final design. She told me to make the hand closer to show the hand only no need the whole arm. She also suggested that my red line to be thicker and play around with it.
- For Fig 2.3, Dr Jinchi told me that it is a good design however, the character is from a movie that's already existed therefore its not my original work.
- For fig 2.4 She told me that this design is strong, she liked the snakes and the overall concept. However, she told me to get rid of the line going across the paper since it makes the design geometrical. She told me to choose this one for the final balance composition. She suggested that I play around with the background maybe instead of a line I could do a water layer.
- For Fig 2.5 I explained the concept and she told me that this design has a strong meaning and background symbolism. She likes the design however the snake has more design concept. She loved the story behind it and told me to make sure that I post it on my blog.
Week 4
General Feedback: After submission of all our final design, we have received personal feedback on our work. We received our feedback through Microsoft teams personal chat from Ms Jinchi.
Specific Feedback:
- For emphasis, there is a bit of idea exploration of the thread and fingers idea.
- For emphasis, there is a bit of idea exploration of the thread and fingers idea.
- The final idea for emphasis has more dynamism, compared to the initial idea.
- There is some thoughts put into the idea exploration of balance.
- The final idea is definitely more organic and has more flow compared to the initial one. For future exercises, do explore with colours as well.
- Use of Media: Well utilised, neat finishing.
- Quality of pictures: Good.
- Descriptions and Reflection: Descriptions of ideas and design process are clear and well documented. Reflection is systematic and articulate.
- Use of Media: Well utilised, neat finishing.
- Quality of pictures: Good.
- Descriptions and Reflection: Descriptions of ideas and design process are clear and well documented. Reflection is systematic and articulate.
Reflection
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