Week 1 : Contrast & Gesalt Theory

28/8/2020/ Week 1
Gan Shin Tung / 0346455

Design Principles / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media 

Lectures & Exercises 

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Lectures

Week 1 : Elements of Design, Design Principles, Contrast and Gestalt Theory

Today we met our lecturer Dr. Jinchi, she briefed us about our what is design principle about and what is to expect from this course. After that, we move on to our first week lesson :

Elements of Design

They are individual "ingredients" when being placed together in a composition using the principles of design, it will produce a work of design that shows an idea. Example as shown in figure 1.1

Figure 1.1 Elements of Design

Source: https://www.onlinedesignteacher.com/2015/11/design-elements_91.html

Principles of Design

Concepts used to organize or arrange the elements of design. It is also a way to give structure to design
work and meaning to the piece. Examples as shown in Figure 1.2, 1.3 & 1.4

Figure1.2 Design Principles

Source: https://www.onlinedesignteacher.com/2015/11/design-principles_69.html

Figure 1.3 Example of Design Principles from Dr.Jinchi's slides
Source: https://times.taylors.edu.my/pluginfile.php/3609128/mod_resource/content/3/Lecture%201.pdf

Figure 1.4 Example of Deisgn Principles from Dr.Jinchi's slides
Source :https://times.taylors.edu.my/pluginfile.php/3609128/mod_resource/content/3/Lecture%201.pdf

CONTRAST

Refers to differences in values, colours, textures, shapes and other elements. Contrast creates visual excitement and add interest to the work. Examples shown in Figure 1.5, 1.6 

Figure 1.5 Example of Contrast 
Source: https://bonlinelearning.com/design-for-non-designers-contrast/

Figure 1.6 Example of Contrast
Source: http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/social-psychology/social-cognition/contrast-effects/

GESTALT THEORY

Gestalt principles is a theory on how people perceive the world around them. This theory is developed by a group of German psychologist in the 1920s. Human brain is wired to see patterns, logic and structure.

Figure 1.7 Examples of Gestalt
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Gestalt-Principles-present-how-we-perceive-objects-and-groups-of-objects-Proximity_fig5_36382932

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Exercise

Week 1 : Contrast & Gestalt Theory

Our first task given was to create designs that presents Contrast and Gestalt theory by using black and white paper. According to Dr. Jinchi, it is best to make more designs and do plenty of research so that we can get great ideas and inspirations. Therefore I went on research journey and found some interesting work and ideas. 

Figure1.7 Examples from internet
https://www.canstockphoto.com/contrast-black-and-white-symmetric-28134523.html
https://stock.adobe.com/images/the-contrast-abstract-black-and-white-geometric-pattern-with-stripes-and-pentagons-a-optical-psychedelic-illusion-a-wicker-structural-texture/212970984

After done researching, I started drawing on my sketchbook, creating my own designs of contrast. These are my sketches for Contrast and Gestalt Theory. (shown Figure 1.8&1.9) 

Figure1.8 My designs for Contrast

I got my inspirations from the examples I found from my research. For my first design (starting from left side), I got the idea of creating semi-circle from the example in Figure 1.7 Instead of round circles, I thought that maybe semicircle could create something too, therefore I created the design. (shown in Figure 1.8) Moving on to my second design, I got the idea of using square to create contrast. I thought that instead of making the square fill with black color, make it half black and white to show the contrast in each box. After experimenting, I was quite satisfied with the results of my design. (shown in Figure 1.8) It looks like multiple fans connected to each other, it shows obvious contrast. Lastly, my third design I used quarter parts of circle to create a contrast. Having to show a shape of sparkle in the middle part where the circles do not touch each other side by side. (shown in Figure1.8)

Figure 1.9 My Gestalt Theory design

For Gestalt Theory, I came out with three designs. Starting from the design on the left, the design shows a girl opening her mouth, however if you view it in another direction, it shows an apple. What I wanted to show is a girl eating an apple using Gestalt's Figure Ground Theory. I got this idea from Miss Jinchi's lecture example. Moving on to the design in the middle, it is simple and obvious, it is two swans that creates a love shape in the middle. This design uses similarity in Gestalt's Theory. Last but not least, the design on the right side shows a woman and a man. The man is back hugging the woman, she is in black and he is in white. This design was created using Gestalt's Figure Ground Theory as well. 

Figure 2.1 My Final Design for Contrast

The image shown in Figure 2.1 is my final design for Contrast, I did a lot of changes as Miss Jinchi gave me a lot of feedback to improve. She was not wrong, it was really better than my last sketch. I am thankful to her as she really guide me through this, I wouldn't have done this without her. This design I used semi-circles to create shapes of waves. I enjoy going to the beach and swim in the sea with my families therefore I decided to create wavy designs. 

Figure 2.2 My Final Design for Gestalt

The image shown in Figure 2.2 is my final design for Gestalt. It shows a man is hugging the woman from the back. The reason why I created this design is because during my free time I would spend most of them watching Korean dramas and also other sorts of dramas as well. However in Korean dramas, they always include a back hug scene. Since it was often seen in Korean dramas it has become a typical Korean drama scene. Therefore I try to make a back hug scene using Gestalt's Figure Ground Principle, turns out it actually works! Miss Jinchi was happy with this design as well. 

Figure 2.3 Process of my work

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Reflections

Week 1 : Initially I have no idea what is design principles about. However, after my first lecture from Dr.Jinchi I understand many. When our first exercise was given, I was anxious and extremely worried about it as I thought that I could not create such wonderful designs like how our senior did. When it comes to attempting the exercise, I gotten more worried and nervous as I had absolutely no idea in my mind. Thanks to Dr.Jinchi she uploaded tons of videos about design principles, even lecture slides and recording, I was able to get the idea on how to start off with my design. Besides that, I did a lot of research as well, I look at other people's example and get inspiration to create my own design. Although the process was not easy however after seeing my results I am satisfied, all the hard work is worth all this while!

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Feedback

Week 1 : Miss Jinchi went through my sketches and gave me lot of comments and recommendations. She mentioned that the design on the very left side for Contrast (shown in Figure 1.8) shows more of unique design while the others were very general designs. She also taught me ways to improve my work, she said that it would be better to make the background black in color, remain the design on the top 2 rows, and repeat them. However, add a white outline on the edge of the big semi circle. After that she look through my designs for Gestalt, she was pleased with my design on the very right side. (shown in Figure 1.9) She said that it shows my own idea whereas the others were common and expected designs. She instruct me to leave it slightly to the right and not centered it.