Exercises

3 April 2019 - (week 01 -)
Soo Wen Yi (0334653)
Design Principles _ Exercises

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INSTRUCTIONS_

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Lecture 07
Week 09
29 May 2019
Rhythm, movement and harmony.

Rhythm
if its too subtle, no one will notice/too much, makes it uninteresting
 - linear (aaaaaa)
 - alternating (ababab)
 - gradation (gradient)
 - repetition 

Movement
 creates the impression of action in an artwork
 - visual flow, eyes move from object to object
 - directional movement

Harmony
 - unity, share common trait

We have to use collage for this exercise, I had a fashion magazine laying around so I looked through that first to give me some inspiration to what I have and can work with. I didn't sketch out for this exercise since its quite straight forward.

The two photos below are what inspired me for the final piece.

I went to look through the magazine for faces specifically the ones with eyes looking straight at the lenses of the camera. 

1st option for layout

2nd option for layout

I liked the look of the second layout better so I went with it.

Final piece

The reason behind this is I wanted to create a slight uncomfortable feeling for the audience since the background has a lot of contrast and quite confusing but also the eyes are all looking at the audience. To show harmony I did it through the eyes since they're all looking at the same direction, also the harmony of black and white in the background. There's also movement in the background.
No Lecture
Week 08
22 May 2019
Public Holiday

Lecture 06
Week 07
15 May 2019
Dots, lines, sizes and scales. This topic is presented by my fellow classmates.

Dots
 - create wide variety of design
 - single dot, calm factor
 - space between, closer, tension decreases/further, tension increases
 - overlapping, foreground & background (form more complex shapes)
 - placement, lines/curves

Lines
 - point extended, has length
 - critical element, visual construction
 - serves to join, surround, link, intersect, support, show direction
 - describe edge of shape/outline

Scale
 - size of an object in relation to other objects in a design
 - proportion
 - dominance
 - flow & rhythm
 - balance

Size
 - how big or small an object
 - help to make something stand out
 - hierarchy

For this week's exercise we had to use pen, pencil, paint or paper cut. I did some sketches first to figure out the elements and composition. I wanted to show how our mind is complex, by placing a black strip where the eye is suppose to be. Also the complex background with vertical lines and pencil stippling to create sort of a tv screen white noise. With the background lines being coloured and the lines on the back parts white shows that filter of complexity, its not just black and white.

Here's a colour swatch i did before starting the piece.

And here's the final piece.

Lecture 05

Week 06

8 May 2019

Another group of classmates presented today's lecture on hierarchy, alignment, direction and perspective. 

Hierarchy, the order in how we process information

  8 factors

  - size

  - proximity

  - contrast

  - repetition 

  - whitespace 

  - texture

  - alignment

Alignment, visual element arranged that they line up

  4 types

  - edge alignment

  - center alignment

  - horizontal alignment 

  - vertical alignment

Direction, leading the eyes to notice certain parts

  3 types

  - horizontal

  - vertical

  - diagonal 

Perspective, indicates depth in 2D image

  4 types

  - one point (vanishing point)

  - two points

  - three points

  - foreshortening

Depth

  factors

  - relatives size

  - colours (warm colours tends to suggest the subject is closer)

  - sharpness (blurry background)

  - point of view

  - over lapping objects

  - texture

For this excersise we had to use our own photographs and photoshop.

photographs I took and used for this excersise. 

I wanted to create a more fantasy world, as soon as I saw the hand rail I imagined it to be some sort of path. So everything started from there. These are my process while doing this exercise. 

This is the final outcome.

No Lecture
1 May 2019
Week 05
Public holiday.

Lecture 04
24 April 2019
Week 04
Today's lecture was presented by another group of classmates on the topic of pattern, repetition, texture and surface. 
- Surface is the outside of a material like trees (usually describing paper surfaces, hot press which is smooth, cold press with a bit of roughness, laid paper with parallel lines)
-Repetition, Rhythm creates movement, used to unify(consistency)
-Repetition is created by re using the same/similar design elements
-Flow patterns, build on repetition
-Branch patterns, tress and floral artworks, seen on textile
-Spiral patterns, circular motion
-Textures, the feel and the appearance of a surface

We had an activity to understand pattern better, by folding paper and ripping/cutting holes or lines out.

For this week's exercise we have to produce the work only by stamping. 
Materials I used for this exercise is flower with leaves, yarn, metal sponge and date stamp, stamping with ink pad for the date stamp and acrylic paint for the rest.

Since the flower had some interesting stems i decided to press it so its easier to stamp too.

I wanted to show how good and bad memories are stringed along in our lives everyday, that's where the elements of the pattern came to be. Flowers for good memories, rough and expressive metal sponge for those hard days. Sectioned off with yarn for composition purposes, and date stamps to show the pass of time. 

We changed up this critique so everyone's work is on the table and we get to go around and leave comments on paper. Each of us get 8 pieces of small paper so we have 8 chances to comment on 8 different works. 

The overall feedbacks that I got showed mixed feelings from different people. Some of them commented that the use of colours combination is good, contrasts between the colours is appealing, while others feel that it needs to be more saturated so the pattern could stand out. Some liked the use of the date stamp, others suggested that it might look even better without them. Some couldn't see the repetition, some liked the composition of the patterns. 

Lecture 03

17 April 2019

Week 03

Today's lecture was presented by my group with the topic of symmetry, asymmetry and balance. We were the first group to present in the coming weeks so there is definitely nervousness. 

- Bilateral symmetry is when both sides are the same when spilt in the x or y axis.

- Radial symmetry is symmetry in a central axis like Mandala or some tile designs. 

- Asymmetry is the opposite of symmetrical; anything that is not symmetrical.

- Balance plays a big part in asymmetrical designs to not let an element over power the other. 

- Balance can be effected by colour, size, shape, line weights, textures, placement.

For this exercise we have to use watercolour which is to my advantage since I do like and enjoy painting with watercolour. The meaning behind this piece is overthinking. I used bilateral symmetry in the lower half (hair face and hands), radial symmetry in the thought cloud, and asymmetry as in a whole composition wise. 

Since overthinking happens internally, I drew a mummy wrap/mask since its not spoken out. Also the floating band around the head is showing how overthinking is controlling a person. Hence the thought cloud is complicated design as a contrast to the outside plain background.

colour swatches on the left and while painting.

Feedback:

As I explained the meanings, Ms Sherry mentioned that there's a lot of symbolism in this piece. Also good use of the high lights and shading in the hair. And she can see that I've used my skills since i mentioned that I liked watercolour. A classmate also commented that the pink flat wash compliments the skin tone. 

Future Imaginings - Talk
13 April 2019

The talk consisted of Ms Sherry introducing wREGA, with 3 other industry professionals in the design industry. 

The first speaker - Keith Song, is working with a traditional medium, he is the only one out of the 3 speakers who is a crafter. Its interesting to know such craft existed, they specialise in wire works (more to fashion accessories) especially in this age where hand crafts are rare to find and not as popular and in demand as the more modern and digitalised things. I like and really appreciate traditional mediums and more hands on works like watercolour, so I found their works pretty interesting. 

The second speaker - Chong Yan Chuah, presented with his video work and not much of speaking. It was very interesting to see how his thoughts and imaginations could create such 3D environments and presented it in a dreamy and calming video. But I personally didn't get much information on what he does in the industry.

The third and last speaker - Paul Koh, specialise in a more practical side of the design industry like advertising for brands. Creating VR stimulations, 360 degree/room visuals, interactive projects boards etc. 

One thing that I got out of the Q&A session is always be open to learn and improve, do it for the sake of yourself and remain curious. 

Lecture 02
10 April 2019
Week 02
Gestalt from what I understand is how two or more elements come together and create a main image/object. 

Summary on gestalt principles.

Here are some examples that I've found on google.

We had to use black markers for this exercise. Here are some of my first idea sketches.

I wanted to go with this design, it has razor blade inside a band aid instead of a cotton pad, and a semi colon (used for self harm awareness) combined with an arm that showed self harm scars. But after showing it to Ms Sherry, she commented that the hand is nicely drawn and she get that the message is there but she doesn't feel like it suits the topic which is gestalt since there's so much things going on. So I stoped that sketch and try to simplify the idea.

I wasn't satisfied with these sketches so I went back a step and developed the first ever sketch I had done. It is a rock hand sign (there's another version with the thumb bent inwards), this hand sign also means "I love you" in sign language but I wasn't going for that meaning. So I added shapes and strips around the hand to portray the energy of rock music. I decided to put a stylised bat as the hidden element as it fits between the index and pinky fingers.

Feedback:
Ms Sherry had mixed feelings about this piece, although it shows gestalt the hand shouldn't be this detailed and also there's no interaction between the negative and positive space.

Lecture 013 April 2019
Week 01
Ms Sherry started off with briefing us with information about the module, then proceeded with an activity to introduce ourselves. Followed briefing us about our first exercise - Contrast.

Factors that create contrast:
- Shapes
-Texture
-Cutouts
-Colours
-Angles
-Movements
-Sizes
-Vertical/Horizontal
Contrast can be strong or subtle, it is to create visual interest.

Image from Google
Example of contrast in textures

Image from Google
Example of contrast in colours

We are suppose to create an A4 contrast piece with black paper only. Since the the material is only limited to black paper, I wanted to include some different textures.

2 sketches that I drew
I went with the 2nd row 2nd one as a final design

Full sized sketch

Process towards the final piece, tracing, paper cutouts and glueing.
I've crumpled an A4 white paper and straighten it out to have the texture for the background.

Final Work

Feedback:
Good use of contrast between the textured background and the plain smooth paper, and good use of contrasts between angles (sharp fingers and edges compared to rounded edges of the face etc.). Also the contrasts between emotion, crying and smiling.