TASK 2 (Visual Analysis & Ideation)
Design Principles - Task 2 Visual Analysis & Ideation
NAME: Miao Xinjun
STUDENT I.D: 0379525
Design Principles / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media/ Taylor's University
Task 2 - Visual analysis & Ideation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Recap
- 2.1 Artwork
- 2.2 Observation
- 2.3 Technical Level
- 2.4 Interpretation
3. Ideation
4. Feedback
5. Reflection
1. RECAP
1.1 Lecture Note
In the Week 4 lecture, the instructor gave us individual feedback and suggestions on Task 1, and gave us time to ensure that everything was completed according to the requirements before submission. Next, the instructor explained in detail the specific task requirements and important notes for Task 2.
1.2 Contents of Task 2
Task 2 is based on my favorite piece from the nine works I selected in Task 1 that illustrate design principles.In this task, I need to present this favorite piece again and conduct a visual analysis of it from three perspectives: observation, technical level, and interpretation.
The observation section analyzes the surface elements of the work. The technical level section requires further analysis of the design principles it embodies, providing specific details. Finally, the interpretation section requires a deeper understanding and analysis of the meaning and emotions expressed by the work.
2. VISUAL ANALYSIS
2.1 Artwork
2.2 Observation
The scene depicts vast, rolling mountains and a boundless sky, with two arched bridges spanning the water, one above and one below, each representing a different figure. The man above the water has his head bowed, seemingly looking across the water at the girl on the bridge below. The girl, however, doesn't appear to be bowing her head; her long hair flows freely, perhaps gazing into the distance. A sun rises from the mountains behind them, and a flock of birds flies by, soaring higher in the direction of the rising sun.
In terms of color, the colors of the clothing worn by the two figures in the center of the scene are opposite to the color of the sun behind them. The colors of the birds above and below the water, perhaps influenced by their reflections in the lake, also present a contrast between black and white. The colors of the mountains, sky, clouds, and bridges behind the water are also differentiated. Overall, the colors below the water are darker and less saturated than those above. Compared to the rich and vibrant hues above the water, the hue differences between elements below the water are minimal, as if uniformly covered by a layer of blue, effectively showcasing the characteristics of water reflections and using color differences to distinguish the two scenes above and below the water.
As a flat-style illustration, the image doesn't consist of only simple two-dimensional shapes; dots and lines are also used to enrich the visual variation. Different elements are highlighted with different textures and patterns, emphasizing their unique qualities and characteristics. For example, the mountains are adorned with sparse and dense speckled patterns, which not only suggest the volume of the mountains within the flat image but also distinguish them from the blocky speckled patterns above the bridge. The sky uses soft, flowing curves, along with clean and simple clouds, which not only effectively showcases the unique texture of the clouds but also enriches the image's depth.
2.3 Technical Level
This illustration primarily embodies the 'Balance' design principle, but it also utilizes some other design principles, which I will analyze one by one below.
- Balance：
As I mentioned above, this is a classic illustration with a balanced composition. The illustration focuses on a real scene and its reflection in a lake, using the horizontal line where the real scene and the lake meet as the central axis. It depicts two seemingly similar scenes, yet subtly different in detail, using a symmetrical composition. Based on the theme of 'lake reflection,' the elements in the image are arranged in pairs on either side of the horizontal line of symmetry, creating a sense of visual balance.
Furthermore, there are subtle differences in color or appearance between some of the symmetrical elements in the illustration. For example, the mountains, sky, and bridge on the upper and lower sides differ only slightly in color, ensuring the image remains balanced and not overly cluttered, adhering to the core principles of 'balanced' design. The figures and the sun on either side are designed with contrasting colors and slightly different poses, serving as focal points and providing ample content for the viewer to repeatedly contemplate.
This illustration beautifully demonstrates the application of the 'balance' design principle in practice. While constructing 'balance,' it also cleverly incorporates details and highlights that can be examined closely, creating a beautiful sense of story, rather than simply being a dull symmetrical poster.
- Contrast：
I believe the design principle of 'contrast' in this work is primarily reflected in the contrast of colors. The illustration depicts a beautiful scene composed of the real world and its reflection on a lake, with two similar scenes depicted above and below the horizon where the real world and the reflection intersect. To better represent the relationship between 'reality' and 'reflection,' the artist used brighter and more saturated colors for the upper part of the illustration depicting the real world, while generally using darker and less saturated colors to depict the reflection in the water. This color contrast creates the feeling of a watery world and its reflection.
- Emphasis：
In this illustration, the mountains and sky, serving as the background, occupy the majority of the space. While the figures appear small in the overall composition, they are positioned at the visual center. Furthermore, compared to the lower saturation of the background colors, the figures and the sun behind them use significantly more saturated colors. Therefore, against a predominantly gray backdrop, this vibrant color draws the viewer's attention, immediately focusing on the figures and suggesting that the illustration's main subject is two people gazing at each other rather than the landscape.
- Movement:
The design principle of 'Movement' in this illustration is primarily reflected in the sky and the visual guidance of the overall layout. The smooth, continuous curves in the sky visually suggest its fluidity. Simultaneously, the layers of curved clouds distributed around the 'ring' shape present a consistent dynamic direction in the sky. The viewer's brain instinctively captures the consistent movement of these clouds, thus visually perceiving the flow of the sky and clouds. The work also suggests to the viewer that the scene in the illustration is not forbidden; the figure sits quietly on the bridge, seemingly contemplating something within the flow of time.
Furthermore, the overall layout of this illustration embodies the design principle of 'Movement' by guiding the viewer's eye movement. The artist uses contrast and emphasis to create the man, positioned above the water, as the primary visual focus, making him more easily noticed than other parts of the image. When we see this illustration, we immediately notice the man in the yellow shirt above the water in the center. Next, we naturally notice the woman below the water, also positioned in the center and emphasized as the secondary visual focus. Then, with the intention of exploring the image, we shift our gaze to the scene surrounding the two figures, moving our eyes from the underwater scene around the woman to the scene above the water, and finally back to the man, creating a visual movement.
- Repetition:
In this illustration, the design principle of 'Repetition' is primarily reflected in the artist's use of planar elements. The artist repeatedly employed different types of planar elements to depict the content. For example, the image features a continuous mountain range composed of triangular shapes, a sky pattern formed by numerous repeating curves, and spots used to suggest references and textures. Furthermore, all elements in the image are distributed symmetrically in pairs around the water surface as a central axis.
- 'Harmony & Unity：
Based on the above analysis, the design principles embodied in this work include 'balance,' 'contrast,' 'emphasis,' 'movement,' and 'repetition,' satisfying the basic conditions for applying the 'Harmony & Unity' design principles. All elements of this illustration—points, lines, and planes—use a unified planar style, with harmonious color matching, a clear visual center, and pleasing visual effects. It presents rich content through a unified stylistic language and a harmonious overall visual style.
2.4 Interpretation
Firstly, from an overall perspective, aside from the figures in the center and elements like the sun, which differ in action and color, the surrounding large areas of the image present a symmetrical and identical scene. This arrangement creates a clear visual center, allowing the viewer to easily connect with the two figures.
The two figures, one in the real world and the other in their reflection in the water, are the highlight of this illustration. Their presence not only makes the viewer aware that the worlds above and below the water are different, but also enriches the emotional atmosphere and narrative of the illustration.
From a layout and composition perspective, the two figures are symmetrically positioned, both sitting in the same spot in both the above-water and below-water worlds. This suggests an inherent, close, and unique connection between them, whether real or abstract. The man is above the water, while the woman is below, implying that the man and woman symbolize opposites and oppositions. Furthermore, the presence of the lake element clearly suggests that the man's space is the real world, while the woman's space is blurred, resembling a non-real world.
Regarding the figures' actions, when the man looks down at the woman, she doesn't respond but looks away. This interaction makes me feel that their connection isn't mutual, but rather one-way, primarily originating from the man in the water world.
Furthermore, in terms of color arrangement, the sun and birds, as the only different elements between the two worlds besides the figures, also carry emotional implications. The sun in the water world is red, while the sun in the underwater world is yellow. The birds in the water world are white, while those in the underwater world are black, perhaps due to the water's surface. This color design, besides enriching the visual effect, also distinguishes the emotional atmosphere of the two worlds above and below the water. The red sun and white birds often evoke a positive and realistic feeling. Conversely, the combination of a yellow sun and black birds often suggests a desolate and lonely atmosphere.
Combined with the previous analysis of positional relationships and figures' actions, I believe the woman at the bottom of the image symbolizes a negative meaning, representing an opposite, illusory, or unattainable figure in the real world for the man. I believe this illustration can be interpreted in many ways. The woman might represent a family member or lover whom the man finds difficult to see in reality due to time or space, and he can only imagine her through the lake's reflection. Alternatively, the woman could symbolize another side of the man's inner self, something he usually keeps hidden, a side completely different from his outward appearance. This could be the kindness and gentleness he struggles to convey due to life's pressures, or it could be his lack of security, or even a completely opposite second personality, which he can only gaze upon through the lake's reflection. Like the famous saying, "There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes," I believe different viewers can understand different meanings from this story-laden and profound painting.
3. IDEATION
- IDEA 1:
When drawing the first draft, I remained focused on the design principles and creative techniques I had analyzed from the works I selected in Task 1. Therefore, I believe there are still clear similarities between the first draft and the analyzed works.
I enjoy telling stories in my work, creating a narrative that evokes interesting associations in the viewer. The story I wanted to depict in the first draft is a story about growth. In the image, a stylishly dressed girl walks resolutely across a zebra crossing in the rain, her back to the crowd. The puddles on the ground reflect another blurry figure—a more formally dressed, more determined, and stronger version of herself. This reflection in the water, like her reflection on the surface, walks resolutely in a different direction from the crowd, her back to them, as if determined to reach her desired destination. Whether above or below the puddles, she doesn't blindly follow the crowd or stay under an umbrella. People always grow up and become part of society, but while growing, she bravely and resolutely remains true to herself.
For this draft, I also used water elements to construct a symmetrical composition, and used the vast crowd of people with umbrellas to set off the main character and achieve contrast; I used the falling rain and the layout of the picture to create a sense of 'movement'; I used color to emphasize the character during the drawing process; according to the design principle of 'repetition', I will use elements of the same style to complete the drawing to unify the style of the picture.
- IDEA 2：
In the second draft, I experimented with more innovation, moving away from using figures as the main theme and focus.
Based on the design principle of 'balance,' I still employed a symmetrical composition, creating an environmentally themed poster. I drew an hourglass, with a vibrant oasis above and a dry desert below. Water from the oasis above the hourglass flows continuously downward, turning into sand at the center point and flowing into the desert below, as if the desert were formed this way. Through this, I wanted to express that if water resources continue to be lost, the oases we cherish will one day become deserts.
In my creation, I envisioned the contrast between the oasis above and the desert below the hourglass. The subsequent color scheme emphasizes the water turning into sand as it flows downwards. Based on the design principle of 'movement,' I used lines to depict the flow of water and sand, subtly suggesting the passage of time to the viewer. To achieve stylistic consistency, I will emphasize the repeated use of dots and lines in the drawing.
- IDEA 3:
I felt my attempts at innovation in the second draft weren't quite enough to truly impress, so in the third draft, I further explored new ideas while adding more of my own to create a sense of narrative.
In the image, I depicted two girls struggling in opposite directions, separated by a phone screen. The difference is that the girl on the left wants to run towards the real world, to break free from dependence and addiction to social media, while the girl on the right, as the girl's virtual representation on social media, seems to be pulling her towards the virtual world reflected on the phone screen, as if trying to persuade her to continue accepting the unreal yet more idealized self-image presented on social media. The two girls, as different images of the same person, create a relationship of opposition and unity. A part of their bodies is connected, embodying 'unity,' while their different goals represent an exercise in 'opposition.'
For this draft, my idea is to show the opposition through the opposing positions of the two characters; to emphasize the visual center of the picture by using color scheme and drawing techniques, so that the viewer can notice the main content of the picture at a glance; to show the sense of movement by the dynamics between the two characters and the design media charts rushing out of the phone screen; and to achieve a harmonious and consistent picture style by repeating elements with the same style to draw different objects in the picture.
4. FEEDBACK
WEEK 5:
All three drafts embody the necessary design principles well, with the third chapter being particularly innovative.
WEEK 6:
5. REFLECTION
5.1 Experience
After completing Task 1, we immediately moved on to Task 2. Task 2 was based on the artwork we selected in Task 1. We needed to perform a visual analysis of the artwork and create three sketches based on the inspiration we drew from it, preparing for Task 3. After completing the visual analysis of the artwork in Task 2, I was already inspired and had many ideas, so I actually created more than three sketches, giving me more options before presenting them to the teacher. I deleted several less creative and uninteresting sketches, selecting three to show the teacher. In the end, my third sketch was recognized for its unique and creative ideas.
5.2 Observation
I've found that reflecting on and analyzing excellent works is a very effective way to improve myself. At the beginning of Task 2, I used my blog to conduct a visual analysis of the work I selected in Task 1 from three perspectives: 'observation,' 'technical level,' and 'interpretation.' I elaborated on my observations and thoughts about the illustration in detail. Through this meticulous process, I also discovered some analytical angles I hadn't previously considered, which I then consulted with my teacher and were ultimately approved. Gaining valuable design experience through in-depth reflection on good works surprised and delighted me. I feel that in this process, I indirectly learned a great deal of knowledge from the artist, knowledge that will benefit me immensely.
5.3 Findings
From the first draft I showed to the third, it was actually a series of breakthroughs in my attempts at innovation. When drawing Idea 1, I was still quite reserved, using a similar creative approach and layout to the analyzed work. When drawing Idea 2, I began to try to move away from relying on figures as the visual center and started experimenting with other elements to construct the image and create a visual focal point. When I started drawing Idea 3, I began to try different creative ideas and layouts from the analyzed work, adding more of my own creativity and trying to create a completely different sense of story, which went very smoothly. This allowed me to experience a process of self-improvement and breakthrough, which was an unforgettable mental experience for me.
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