Design Principles//Exercises 1// Contrast Gestalt

24/8/21-5/10/21 Week 1-7 (Ms Yip Jinchi)

Chan Siew Ni #0352518
Design Principles 

Exercise 1: Contrast & Gestalt

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LECTURES

Week 1(24/8): Ms Yip Jinchi shows us the pre-recorded lecture and the first part is about the elements of design which is contain point , line, space and so on. We must use these element to design an artwork. At the second part , she introduce us the principles of design, contrast and gestalt theory.

Figure 1: Element & Principles of Design 

1. Point: simplest element , used as repetitive mark forms a line , two-/three-dimensional are created
2. Line: can be active or static/ aggressive or passive/ sensual or mechanical , indicate direction , form patterns and textures
3. Shapes: can be geometric(circles, square, triangle)/ organic (irregular shapes) 
4. Form: three-dimensional area , when form encloses space the space is called volume , a major element in sculpture and architecture
5. Texture: actual(experienced by touch)/simulated & implied(created to look like the real texture)
6. Space: indefinable, picture's surface is defined by its edges(height and width)
7. Colour: visual byproduct of the spectrum of light, identifiable in term of three variables: Hue , Value , Intensity

Contrast

• We use contrast to generate impact, highlight importance, create exciting graphics and create
  visual interest and dynamics.
• Juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar element 
• Without contrast, visual experience would be monotonous
• provide visual interest , emphasis a point and express content 

Gestalt

There are six individual principles commonly associated with gestalt theory: similarity,
continuation , closure , proximity , figure/ground and symmetry & order(pragnanz)

• Rules that describe how the human eye perceives visual element 
• Show how complex scenes can be reduced to more simple shapes
• Explain how the eyes perceive the shapes as a single , united form rather than the separate simpler element involved

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INSTRUCTIONS 

Exercises

1. Contrast
Visual Research

Figure 1.1-1.2: Some contrast artwork sources from Pinterest

Idea Exploration

Figure 1.3: Hibiscus Flower

Figure 1: Sketch for contrast , 1/9/21            

Malaysia Independence Day is around the corner so I decided to draw Malaysia's national flower 'Hibiscus'. I make some white spaces between every petal to make it more contrast.

Figure 1.1: First attempt Contrast  , 1/9/21

Feedback: Ms Jinchi said that I can arrange the leaves closer and also add some border line to make it looks like a  'frame'.  

Final Outcome (Contrast)

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lckjOhpqz2IFdijl2uKOm2jkLm49JdEV/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

This is the final outcome of contrast. I make the pedal more neatly and also closer. Then I also added a frame to make it looks more contrast.

2. Gestalt

Figure 2: Some Gestalt artwork sources from Pinterest

Figure 2.1: Inspiration artwork from Pinterest

Idea Exploration 

Figure 2.2: Penguin

Penguin has two wings so I decided to draw two faces on its two sides.

Figure 2: Sketch for Gestalt , 4/9/21

Figure 2.1: First attempt Gestalt Artwork , 5/9/21

Feedback: Ms Jinchi ask me to do more research on gestalt and she said that the penguin idea doesn't related to the two 'faces' so she ask me to change the idea.

Figure 2.2:Second attempt Gestalt ,  10/9/21

Feedback: Ms Jinchi said that it was too much white space in this artwork and she ask me to add some elements around the penguin. 

Final Outcome(Gestalt)

<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AJua-xy72hj7urGWPXyhcTO1SCtFm7-d/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>

This is the final outcome of gestalt. I change the penguin's wing into a fish because it is more related to penguin. Penguin likes to eat fishes. Then, I also added some ice field and water as a background.

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REFLECTION

I have learned that how contrast can brings out in the whole artwork. Contrast is important principles that make your art become more attractive. Gestalt is an interesting principle. It make me to do many research on it and I saw a lot of interesting artwork. I also know that I still have so much to learn in this module.