Week 2 : Emphasis & Balance

4/9/2020/Week 2
Gan Shin Tung / 0346455
Design Principles / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media 
Lectures & Exercises 

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Lectures 

Week 2 : Emphasis & Balance

This week's lecture Miss Jinchi introduce us about emphasis and balance in design. 

Emphasis

So basically emphasis is about creating dominance and focus point in a particular design. We can use shapes, color or values of elements to achieve dominance. I found some example online and shared below. 

Figure 1.1 Examples of Emphasis
Source: https://www.tes.com/lessons/pthNaL7YepCqog/e-p-emphasis

Figure 1.2 Example of Emphasis
Source: https://www.msbabkiesclass.com/principles-of-design.html

Balance
The way you distribute your work simply shows how well you present visual weight. In order to have a total balanced appearance of image, we have to reached the equilibrium of the causing elements.

1. Symmetrical Balance 

• Has equal 'weight' on equal side of a centrally placed pivot.
• The equal arrangement of elements of either side of the central axis (horizontal or vertical) resulting in bilateral balance.
• Arranging elements equally around a central point results in radial balance.
• Approximate symmetry is when equivalent but not identical forms are arranged around the pivot line.

Figure 1.3 Example of Symmetrical Balance
Source: https://www.cleverism.com/design-101-asymmetrical-and-symmetrical-balance/

Figure 1.4 Example of Symmetrical Balance
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/634092822504534584/

2. Asymmetrical Balance

• It involves placement of objects in a way that will allow objects of varying visual weight to balance one another around a pivot point.
• Example: a cluster of small objects balanced by a large object.

Figure 1.5 Example of Asymmetrical Balance
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/187743878189485796/

Figure 1.6 Example of Asymmetrical Balance
Source: https://brjenkin.wordpress.com/tag/asymmetrical/ 

3. The Golden Ratio 

• A.k.a phi, other names : Golden Mean, Golden Section.
• A mathematical concept and a number that goes on indefinitely ( 1.38657297365...)
• Over centuries, many have perceived the Golden Ratio as the representative of perfect beauty or is uniquely found throughout nature.
• Has been used for centuries as guide to create visual balance in architect and paintings.
• For designers, illustrators, digital artist, Golden Ratio brings harmony, balance and structure to one's work.
• Also it increase the appeal of design works.

Figure 1.7 Example of Golden Ratio

Figure 1.8 Example of Golden Ratio 

Both source: http://blog.icat.ac.in/the-divine-way-to-design-your-web-page-%E2%80%93-follow-golden-ratio-1

4. Rule of Thirds 

It is a simplification of the Golden Ratio, a composition guideline to create more dynamism to a work of design, photography, film, painting. An image is divided evenly into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and the subject of the image is placed at the intersection of those dividing lines, or along one of the line itself. 

Figure 1.9 Example of Rules of Thirds
Source: https://expertphotography.com/improve-your-composition-the-rule-of-thirds/

Figure 2.0 Example of Rule of Thirds
Source: https://neiloseman.com/composing-a-wide-shot/

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Exercise 

Week 2 : Emphasis & Balance

This week Miss Jinchi gave us a task to come out with two designs, one for Emphasis and one for Balance. When I first start off with this exercise I couldn't think of any ideas therefore I went on doing some research. 

Figure 2.1 Example of Emphasis
Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-emphasis-in-art-182434

Figure 2.2 Example of Emphasis
Source: https://www.goodtoseo.com/data-storytelling-using-color-for-emphasis/

Figure 2.3 Example of Balance
Source: https://www.suewookey.com/photo_14503237.html

Since in the lecture section I've already found some examples for each Balance Principles, I will take that as reference. So after my research, I started sketching out my ideas. I did few sketches for each.

Figure 2.4 My Sketches

The top three images is for Emphasis, and the others is for Balance. For the top left sketch, I wanted to emphasize nail art as a part of art as well therefore I only colored the nails. For the top right sketch, it shows a universe in the eye. Normally you can see things in people's eyes depends on what they are looking at, I was thinking what if u see universe in someone's eyes? Moving on to the second row top left sketch, I drew a corgi with the butt facing in front. I am a dog person and I really like dogs especially corgi's butt! They're just so cute when they ran as their butt wiggles. Therefore I wanted to emphasize the butt so I colored it. Next is sketches for balance, on the second row top right, I drew a girl looking out the window of a night view using rule of thirds. Why did I draw this is because my parents don't allow me to go out during night time as it is dangerous so I can only look out of the window or on the phone to see my friends enjoying late night hangouts or events. For the last row, the bottom left sketch, I drew a sunflower using golden ratio principles. The reason being is that my favorite flower is sunflower, because they follows the sun and they represents brightness, happiness, and warmth. Lastly the image on the bottom right, it is two snakes wrapping each other in a symmetrical way. I got this idea from Harry Potter : Chamber of Secrets. 

Figure 2.5 My Final Emphasis Sketch

After I got my feedback I drew another sketch of my eye design as I was suggested to make the eye more realistic and add on eyelashes. 

Figure 2.6 My Final Emphasis Design

Finally, I manage to come out with my final work. I tried to design my universe by drawing multiple times on paper before drawing it on my final sketch. It took me quite some time as I was not satisfied with my work but eventually I made it. 

Figure 2.7 My Final Balance Design

This is my final design for Balance. I made some changes according to the feedback that I've gotten. For the colors, I tried few different colors on paper and choose the best color before I apply them so that it fits the image. Finally, I came out with my final work!

Figure 2.8 My Working Process

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Reflections

Week 2 : Since it's already week 2, I've already get use to Miss Jinchi's weeks schedule therefore I was not nervous or panic anymore. However, I am lack of confidence in my works as I think my drawings are not as professional as the one on the web. Surprisingly Miss Jinchi liked my drawings and encouraged me, I feel so much better and willing to continue draw more designs. For this week's drawings, I draw what idea that pops out in my mind. Sometimes I threw away some of my sketches as I think they are really weird ideas, but usually only very less of them I would throw.

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Feedback

Week 2 : Miss Jinchi went through my sketches and recommended me to choose the eye for Emphasis as others were not much of my own design. She also said that I could choose the Corgi sketch but I have to change a bit as this design is taken from the web. I agree with her point therefore I choose the eye for my Emphasis design. For Balance designs, she suggested me choosing my least favorite sketch which is the one with the girl looking out of the window. She said that the girl was drawn in a simple and neatly way.  She ask to remove the desk and shift the window to the left side by a little so that it makes a perfect Golden Ratio. Whereas others is very general and normal. However for the snakes design, it is nice to present symbols or logos, it is a nice idea but it is taken from Harry Potter therefore it is plagiarism if it is very similar.