Introduction to Two-Dimensional Design

Introduction to Two-Dimensional Design (11 pages)

I. Theory of Human Perception

A. Perception and Gestalt Theory

-the whole is understood to be different from the sum of its parts

B. The Four Aspects of Gestalt

(a) Closure – when its separate elements are placed so that you perceive the design as a whole rather than different sections

(b) Continuance – your eye is led to follow the dominant form across the secondary form

(c) Proximity – distance between the parts comprising a form

(d) Similarity – similarity among parts in a form helps hold the form together

II. Defining Basic Visual Interactions

A. Interactions of Form

(a) Position – placement of an element relative to other elements and/or frame

(b) Direction – a course of movement

• horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines of any angle mover our eye in a given direction

(c) Space – areas between and around elements are active participants in a composition

III. Elements of Compositional Interaction

A. Depth and Perspective

Depth – can create contrast and help a form communicate its purpose and meaning

Perspective – created through the use of lines to depict three-dimensional art form on a flat two-dimensional surface

B. Visual Weight and Balance

(a) Symmetry – a form that can be divided diagonally, vertically, or horizontally and the resulting sides are the same

(b) Asummetry – a form is divided and the sides are not the same size and shape

Introduction to Two-Dimensional Design (21 pages)

I. Types of Form

A. Geometric and Organic Form

-Geometric – regular angles or patterns

- made up of circles, triangles, squares, etc.

-Organic – fluid in appearance

II. Defining Basic Visual Elements

A. Elements of Form

- Dot – visual expression of a point which is an indicator or location

- generally simple in shape

- Line – the connection of two or more dots

-can create emotional qualities

-lines can create shapes

- Plane – an area outlined by lines or defined by a grouping of images, type, symbols, or markings

-expression of height and width

• Volume – product of dots, lines and planes
  • refers to the illusion of a three-dimensional form on a two- dimensional surface

III. Defining Basic Visual Characteristics

A. Characteristics of Form

-Size – understand size in relation to other objects or the environment in which the form is placed

- can also just measure the object

- Shape – the external outline of a form

- Texture – in 2-D texture is visual and not tactile

- visual texture is the sum of visual components that create a plane recognizable as a unified grouping

- Color – has value

IV. Defining Composition

A. Composing Visually

• arrangement of elements and characteristics in a defined area
• harmony is achieved when the elements make sense to go together

V. Philosophies of Visual Organization

A. Simplicity and Complexity

• simplicity – a form with a limited number of simple, elements, or a form that is organized in such a way that its message is unambiguous and easily understood

B. Order and Chaos

-Order – brings clarity and result in a better understanding of purpose

• Chaos – chaos can be organized
• order and chaos go together sometimes

VI. Ways of Finding Relationships

A. Proportions

• proportion – size relationship between parts of a form

B. Finding and using proportions

• Our human body was for a long time a measurement for proportions

VII. Ways of Directing Understanding

A. Attention and Hierarchy

• attract the eye with the use of a focal point

B. Contrast

-contrast – differences among elements and their degree of conflict or discord

• contrast is used to create focal points
• use opposing visual elements such as shape, direction, and color to achieve contrast

VIII. Creating and Organizing Multiple Forms

A. Rhythm

• Rhythm – the movement from one idea, compositional area, or element to another.
• Also involves repetition and can lead to the formation of patterns

IX. Ways of Creating Continuity

A. Structure

- structure- internal parts of a form that support and define its appearance and contribute to conveying its message

Piet Mondrian 'Dialogue on the New Plastic'

Piet Mondrian 'Dialogue on the New Plastic'

Talks about how more and more abstraction is coming to be and how he came to abstration.

Formal Matters

Pretty much talks about how to properly critique paintings and sculptures. Talks about things that you need to keep in mind like format, color, context, form, etc.

Reading: Principles of Form and Design

Principles of Form and Design.

I. Four group of elements:

A. Conceptual Elements

(a) Point: -indicates position

-beginning and end of a line

-where two lines meet

(b) Line: - formed by points

- has position and direction as well as forms a plane

(c) Plane: - bound by lines

(d) Volume: -bound by planes

B. Visual Elements

(a) Shape: -anything that can be seen

(b) Size: -all shapes have size

• described in terms of bigness and smallness
• physically measurable

(c) Color: - composed of all the hues in the spectrum

-composed of neutrals (black, white, grays)

(d) Texture: - surface characteristics of shapes

• plain or decorated, smooth or rough
• may appeal to the senses of touch as much as to sight

C. Relational Elements

(a) Direction: - depends on how the shape is related to the observer

-some are perceived such as direction and position

-some are felt such as space and gravity

(b) Position:- shape is judged by its relationship to the frame or the structure

(c) Space: - can be occupied or left blank

- it can be flat or illusory to suggest depth

(d) Gravity: - sense of gravity is psychological

- stability or instability to individual shapes or group of shapes

D. Practical Elements

(a) Representation:- shape is derived from nature or the man-made world

- may be realistic, stylized, or near-abstract

(b) Meaning:- present when the design conveys a message

(c) Function: - present when a design is to serve a purpose

II. Form

A. Form as a Point

-size should be very small

-shape should be rather simple

B. Form as a Line

-breadth is extremely narrow

-length is quite prominent

-3 aspects of a line

(a) the overall shape: -general appearance (straight, curved, bent, irregular, hand- drawn, etc.)

(b) the body:- contained within two edges

- the two edges determine the shape of the body ( smooth, wavy, irregular, etc.)

(c) the extremities: - the ends may be round, square, pointed, or any simple shape

C. Form as Plane

-Planar forms and their varieties

(a) Geometric: - constructed mathematically

(b) Organic: - bounded by free curves suggesting fluidity and growth

(c) Rectilinear:- bound by straight lines which are not related to one another mathematically

(d) Irregular: - bound by straight and curved lines which are not related to one another mathematically

(e) Hand-drawn: - calligraphic or created with the unaided hand

(f) Accidental: - determined by the effect of special processes or materials, or obtained accidentally

III. The Interrelationships of Forms

A. Detachment – two forms remain separate from each other

B. Touching – two forms touch each other generally only at the edges

C. Overlapping – two forms are on top of one another with the top covering the bottom

D. Interpenetration – same as overlapping except the two forms are transparent. There is no above or below relationship

E. Union – Two forms join together and become a bigger form

F. Subtraction – two forms that overlap. One form does a cut out of its shape from the other form

G. Intersection – Same as interpenetration only a smaller form is created

H. Coinciding – two forms join so much they become one

Cardboard Project

I drew sketches and ideas for my object which is a crab claw. I drew my object from different point of view to get a feel of its dimensions.

I want to be able to wear my crab claw arm so I made some measuring of my arm and made some templates to help me with the dimensions of the crab claw.

I'm constantly making measurements and calculating the ratio of the claw to the size that suits my arm. Instead of  just cutting up squares and gluing them together, I decided to make Octogonal prisms (if thats even a term) so that it will look nicer and glue them together to make the claw. I'm pretty much creating puzzle pieces and putting them together.

I calculate the length and width as well the perimeter of the puzzle pieces that I am  cutting and draw them on the cardboard.

After that I cut up the board on the guided lines to fold up the puzzle piece. All I do is rinse and repeat the process for every piece and hopefully get to the finish product that I am aiming for. In case you are wondering, the flaps on the ends are for when I connect the pieces together. This way they have something to glue on to.

Started to draw all of my thumbnails. I just started jotting one idea after another even if they are really bad ones. I wanted to get rid of those first so that the good ones can come out.

I cut them up so that I can see what my brain sees. Although there were thumbnails in the front and back of each card.

After that I started making the 6x6 squares of my thumbnails.

Lecture August 27, 2010

Today the lecture was about line, point, space, rhythm, color,texture, and value. Everyone performed a sound that represented these words. They were easy to understand and yet each performance covered more than the one word they were assigned. Afterwords we talked about proximity, closure, continuance, and proximity.