TASK 3 (Development & Design)
NAME: Miao Xinjun
STUDENT I.D: 0379525
Design Principles GCD60804 / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media/ Taylor's University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3. Rationale Explaining / Defending
1. RECAP
1.1 Lecture Note
In the first week of Task 3, to help us achieve our learning goals more efficiently, Mr. Max reminded us again of the details and content we needed to pay attention to in this task.
Task 3 builds upon Tasks 1 and 2. We were asked to choose our favorite, and arguably better, idea from the three ideas in Task 2 and improve upon it, focusing on aspects such as color exploration, composition, typeface, and positioning, and applying Design Principles to create a complete poster.
Once we understood our poster's design concept and completed it, we needed to give it a title. Finally, we uploaded our work and a revised blog post according to the task requirements.
1.2 Instruction
2. PROCESS
2.1 Selected Idea
From the three ideas I proposed in Task 2, the one I chose to further improve and develop was my third idea.
All three of my ideas fulfilled the requirement of reflecting the design principles shown in the poster I selected as my favourite in Task 1, but my third idea was more creative while still maintaining those same principles.
As I mentioned in my Task 2 blog, I see these three ideas as representing a gradual process in which I moved beyond simply following the original design work I selected in Task 1 and instead began drawing inspiration from it to create something more innovative. Therefore, although all three ideas included the necessary design principles, Idea 3 stood out more than the others because of its stronger creativity. It embodied design principles such as contrast, emphasis, and balance, which were also present in the original design work chosen in Task 1, but it was not limited by the original design approach. Instead, it expressed these principles in a more innovative and original way, making the design more engaging and interesting. That's why I chose it.
- About my design concept
My Idea 3 tells a story about the relationship between the virtual world and reality. The two girls at the center of the composition actually represent two identities of the same person, and the overall layout uses a semi-symmetrical composition.
In the original concept I mentioned in my Task 2 blog, the girl on the left, who was struggling out of the glow of the phone screen, represented her real self trying to break free from the virtual world, while the girl on the right symbolized the part of her that was attached to the beautiful illusion of the virtual world. The fact that the girl on the right was pulling the girl on the left also symbolized her inner conflict and emotional struggle. However, I later realized that in most people’s subconscious mind, the area illuminated by the phone screen is usually understood as a symbol of the virtual world. So during the process of creating the poster, I switched the identities and interaction of the two girls. I changed it so that the girl in the virtual world on the left is pulling the girl in the real world on the right. This improvement can be seen more clearly in the later stages of my drawing process.
My final visual concept is that the left side of the composition shows the girl’s identity in the virtual world, while the right side presents her true self in reality. Unlike the real world, the virtual world appears more beautiful and appealing, yet we have to admit that it is not real. Therefore, while longing for the beauty of the virtual world, the girl is also forced to face reality, which creates a strong inner conflict. This is visualized in the composition through the pulling tension between her two different identities.
2.2 Development
- Line Art:
When I started to refine and improve idea 3, I first detailed my draft based on idea 3, and used the drawing software Procreate to draw the two figures and the side of the phone in the middle as the main subject of the poster, more specifically.
Although my initial sketch for Idea 3 depicted a short-haired girl, as I refined the head sketch it suddenly occurred to me that hairstyles could serve as a supporting element in the image, perhaps enriching the narrative, enhancing visual impact, or optimizing the poster layout. I realized that even a secondary element in a poster shouldn't be overlooked. As many design works I've seen that embody the nine design principles demonstrate, every element in the image contributes to the overall composition. Therefore, I decided to complete the line art for the other parts of the image first, giving myself more time to consider this further.
My first thought was that, according to the Movement design principle, long hair can express fluidity through its shape. However, as a temporary idea, I first sketched out an arc-shaped area to reserve space for the hair.
After completing the line art for the two figures, I suddenly realized that their back-to-back pose resembled the body of a butterfly, only seemingly lacking wings. This surprised and delighted me, as I hadn't noticed it in my initial sketches. It instantly sparked further inspiration. Simultaneously, it aligned perfectly with my poster design concept, seemingly suggesting that the interplay between the girl's two identities would ultimately lead to her self-growth and transformation—yes, transformation! This is a higher level of meaning.
Therefore, to make the image of the 'butterfly' a metaphorical element in the artwork, I began to consider how to incorporate butterfly wings and other elements into the composition, using figurative or abstract methods. Drawing on design principles I'd learned, I considered the Closure principle from Gestalt Theory, but this approach didn't suit my layout. I wanted to express the 'butterfly' concept in a more metaphorical way. Thus, I thought of the 'contrast' design principle.I decided to try hiding the butterfly wings within the girl's long hair, making them blend into the hair, and using color contrast to make them noticeable to the viewer when observing the work.
Wings symbolize a girl's self-growth and transformation, while the half of her hair that wraps around the girl and the wings are like a cocoon that has been broken open.
- Color Scheme:
After completing the basic line art, I began experimenting with the poster's color scheme. Color, as a crucial design element, has a significant impact on the visual effect of an image. My poster's theme is about "growth," so I decided to experiment with different shades and saturations of blue as the main color, while pairing it with adjacent colors like turquoise or violet to enrich the color palette and avoid a monotonous look. Furthermore, as I mentioned before, I tried to use color contrast to draw the viewer's attention to the butterfly wings hidden in the character's hair. Therefore, I added colors with strong brightness and saturation to the butterfly wings and the surrounding hair ends, colors that complement the overall color scheme.
Through experimentation, I came up with the following four color schemes using different shades and saturations of turquoise or violet.
Ultimately, I chose color scheme 3 and enhanced the contrast between the character's hair color and the background to emphasize the visual center. I wanted viewers to notice the character on the left side of the image first when they saw the poster, so the color contrast of the character's head on the left side was stronger than that of the character on the right side. This is something I learned from the design principle of "emphasis".
- Final Completion Stage:
Now that I have the complete line art and color scheme, before officially entering the final stage of poster completion, I made some changes to the interaction between the characters, as explained in the idea selection section of this blog post.
I began the final stage of completing this poster. I chose to use a flat painting style, constructing the image through different colors, sizes, and clearly defined shapes.
First, I used three contrasting but different shades of color to distinguish the layers of the hair on both characters, trying to highlight the 'cocoon' characteristic and refining the details and shapes of the hair.
I continued following the color scheme, completing the other parts of the image using unified planar shapes. After completing all the basic shape blocks that make up the image, I began adding textures and details to these shapes to enrich my image. Of course, all details and textures will be added in the form of planar shapes, that is, adding smaller shapes to different-shaped areas in the image to draw textures and details, maintaining the consistency of the image style.
I also enriched the poster's background. On the left side of the image, symbolizing the virtual world, I added icons of well-known social media platforms and some digital cubes. According to symbolic design principles, these widely recognized virtual platform software icons and digital cubes will naturally evoke the 'virtual world,' allowing viewers to more clearly understand the meaning I wanted to convey and reducing the likelihood of misunderstanding. On the right side of the image, I added shattered glass emanating from the back of the phone. These glass shards, along with the screen light on the left, create symmetry and contrast, while also visually conveying the dynamic feeling of two figures rushing out of the phone from different directions.
I also added some subtle details, such as the scars on the right side symbolizing the girl's real-world appearance, the cracks in her wings, and the freckles on her face. These contrast with the glamorous other identity of the girl in the delicate world on the left.
Finally, to achieve visual balance, I made some minor adjustments, reducing the transparency of the icons on the right and softening the outline of the screen light on the left. Finally, I completed the poster.
2.3 Submission - Final poster
My poster title is "A Cocoon of Illusions"
- Google Drive Link Here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FcOKxOituBJUPPXJsyYxFgKVgsauaZqC/view?usp=sharing
A Cocoon of Illusions_Miao Xinjun_Task 3
3. RATIONALE EXPLAINING / DEFENDING
3.1 The decisions made in your design:
At the center of the poster, a mobile phone stands sideways, facing the viewer. Two girls are positioned symmetrically on either side of the phone, their backs to the two sides, leaping in opposite directions. One girl, in a more vibrant color, leaps from the left side of the screen, accompanied by screen light and numerous virtual cursors and social media icons. The other girl, in a darker color, leaps from the back of the phone on the symmetrical right side, accompanied by shattered screen fragments.
The girls' hair is semi-circular, its layers of color gradient creating a rich, layered effect, resembling a butterfly cocoon breaking open in the direction the girls leap. Hidden within the hair are butterfly wings, symbolizing metamorphosis, appearing and disappearing beneath the hair. Fine strands seem to have been created by the pulling between them, each end connecting to one girl, drooping gently in the middle, appearing unbreakable.
The two girls, representing the same person but with different identities, share the same appearance and clothing. They also symbolize different wills of the same person, differing slightly in appearance. The girl on the left has a more cheerful expression, while the girl on the right has a more serious one. Upon closer inspection, compared to the vibrant colors of the girl on the left, the girl on the right bears scars, and the wings hidden in her hair are noticeably cracked and damaged. Furthermore, the girl on the left holds the wrist of the girl on the right, seemingly wanting to pull her into the virtual world, while the girl on the right, with a resolute gaze, leaps resolutely in the opposite direction.
3.2 The meaning/ purpose of the design:
My poster tells a story about a person who is going through a hard time in life and struggling between the beautiful virtual world and real life. The two girls in the image represent two conflicting parts of the same person’s mind.
The girl on the left represents the part of her that is drawn to the beautiful but unreal virtual world. She jumps out from the screen light, and the digital cursors and app icons around her also suggest that she belongs to the virtual space. In the online world, people can imagine the life and appearance they want. In this way, they can enrich their inner world and make up for dreams that cannot come true in real life. This is also why part of the main character is attracted to the virtual world. Her bright appearance, vivid colors, and smile all show the beauty of the virtual world, and also represent the ideal image people create online.
In contrast, the girl on the right represents her real self in the real world. She looks much duller. She has no bright colors, her appearance is plain, and there are scars on her skin. These “flaws” symbolize the imperfections people have in real life. However, her expression is very firm. She breaks through the phone screen and jumps out with the broken pieces, showing that the other part of the main character wants to stop depending on the virtual world and bravely face the real but imperfect world. At the same time, the girl on the left tightly holds the right girl’s hand, showing how hard it is for the main character to resist the attraction of the virtual world. But the girl on the right does not hesitate at all. With a determined expression, she jumps in the opposite direction. This shows that although the main character is deeply attached to the virtual world, she clearly knows that she cannot lose herself in it and must bravely face real life. The symmetrical positions of the two figures and the way they stand close together while moving in completely opposite directions not only make the composition more interesting, but also strengthen the strong conflict between these two wills. The thin threads stretched between them suggest that they come from the same person.
In addition, when looking at the whole image, the outlines of the two figures, together with the shapes of the screen light and broken screen pieces in the background, may remind viewers of a butterfly, which symbolizes transformation. From this idea, the layered shapes of the girls’ hair look like a cocoon. The hair also sits in a half-wrapping form in front of the two figures, symbolizing the obstacles the main character must face during her inner struggle. Like a caterpillar breaking out of a cocoon, she must break through these limits in order to grow and transform. Each girl has a pair of wings hidden inside the half-wrapping hair. Together with the cocoon meaning of the hair, the wings partly showing from the hair symbolize the hope hidden inside self-transformation, and they also suggest the growth and change the main character will gain after this inner struggle. The clearly damaged wings of the girl on the right, who represents the part that chooses the real world, suggest the pressure that the main character must face in real life. At the same time, this also makes her courage and determination stand out even more.
3.3 The design principles that are employed to create the design:
Balance:
The application of the balance design principle is mainly reflected in the poster's layout. I chose to refer to a symmetrical composition. In the image, the two girls, as the main subjects, leap out back-to-back in different directions. The background elements on either side behind the girls also spread outwards from the central axis of the image. Overall, the elements on the left and right sides are evenly distributed and symmetrically positioned.
Contrast:
The principle of contrast in this poster can be seen in the difference between the two figures on the left and right sides of the center, as well as in the contrast between the scenes behind them. Although the two girls have similar looks because they represent two opposite wills of the same person, the girl on the left has higher color saturation and richer colors than the girl on the right. In addition, the girl on the right has extra details such as skin scars and small freckles on her face, which create visual differences between the two figures and reflect their different identities. At the same time, the colorful icons and screen light behind the girl on the left also contrast with the sharp diamond-shaped screen fragments behind the girl on the right. The bright and colorful symbols on the left represent the beautiful but unreal virtual world, while the sharp, broken pieces on the right represent the pressure and imperfection of the real world.
Emphasis:
The principle of emphasis in my poster is mainly shown through the layout of the composition. The two girls, as the main subject of the poster, are placed in the center and take up much more space than the other elements. At the same time, the screen light and broken screen fragments in the background on both sides spread outward from the center, which helps highlight the two girls as the visual focus. This allows viewers to notice them immediately when they look at the poster. In addition, the girl on the left has a stronger color contrast with the background than the girl on the right. This makes viewers more likely to notice the left figure first, which further strengthens the visual focus and avoids confusion about where to look first.
Movement:
My use of the principle of movement is mainly shown in the poses of the two girls and the direction of the background elements behind them. The two girls, as the visual center of the poster, are shown leaping in opposite directions with strong dynamic poses. This makes viewers naturally imagine the full action in their minds, so they can feel the movement visually. At the same time, the flowing hair and dress shapes that follow the direction of their movement, as well as the background elements spreading outward in the same direction, also help strengthen this sense of motion.
Repetition:
Based on the design principle of repetition, I used repeated flat shapes to build the whole poster. By repeating flat shapes with different colors, forms, and sizes, I combined and arranged them to create the final composition and enrich the visual effect.
Harmony & Unity:
Based on the analysis above, this work includes design principles such as balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, and repetition, which together support the use of harmony and unity. All the elements in this illustration are drawn in the same flat graphic style, which creates a strong visual effect. The poster presents its content through a consistent visual language and a harmonious overall style.
Gestalt Theory:
The Closure principle in Gestalt Theory inspired me in the way I suggested the image of a butterfly in the poster. The screen lights up on the left side of the background and the broken screen fragments on the right side, together with the outer shape of the figures that looks like a butterfly, create the impression of a newly born butterfly when seen as a whole. This also suggests and symbolizes the character’s rebirth after self-transformation.
4. FEEDBACK
WEEK 6:
1. If the background of the image only features a unidirectional screen light from the left, while the right side has no other content, the left-right contrast will be weak. The improved version will enhance the visual effect.
2. The contrast between the figures on the left and right sides will make the difference between the virtual girl and the real girl on the right more pronounced, allowing viewers to more easily understand the poster's message.
WEEK 7:
5. REFLECTION
Experience：
Task 3 was the task that took me the longest and required the most effort in the entire module. To present a better work and more fully reflect my understanding of design principles, I indeed spent a lot of time on the creation of this poster. From the initial concept and draft adjustments to the later refinement of details and overall optimization, I repeatedly thought about and revised it, hoping to make the work more complete in terms of visual effect and conceptual expression.
At the same time, as the final task of this module, Task 3 also allowed me to deeply experience the process of moving from learning theoretical knowledge to applying it. In Task 1, I focused more on understanding and learning various design principles and recognizing how they are reflected in different works; while in Task 3, I was able to actively apply my knowledge of design principles to help me analyze the image, adjust the composition, strengthen the visual expression, and ultimately complete this poster. This process was very meaningful to me because it not only made me feel that my grasp of knowledge was gradually deepening, but also made me realize more clearly that design principles are not just theoretical content, but tools that can truly play a role in creation. In a way, this process, like the theme of my poster, is a kind of "transformation," and at the same time, it is an enrichment, extension, and expansion of my personal knowledge system.
Observations:
I've observed that in the poster design process, constantly applying learned design principles and knowledge to repeatedly check and analyze my work not only helps improve its visual appeal but also sparks new inspiration. In other words, design principles are not just a "checklist" for me; they are also a way to drive me to continue thinking and refining my work.
For example, my idea of adding a shattered screen to the background was inspired by the design principles of "contrast" and "balance." The shattered screen not only visually contrasts sharply with the brighter, richer screen light on the left, but also achieves a better balance in visual weight and form between the left and right sides of the image. The inspiration for the "butterfly" came from the Closure principle in Gestalt Theory. When observing the overall outline of the image, I gradually realized that the combination of figures and background elements evoked the image of a butterfly, which led me to further develop the symbolic meanings of "cocoon," "wings," and "metamorphosis." This process made me more clearly aware that design principles can not only help me revise my work but also help me discover deeper possibilities within it.
Findings:
In this module, my biggest takeaway was learning a wealth of knowledge about design principles and gradually applying this knowledge in the process of completing tasks, learning how to put theory into practice. For me, it wasn't just about "knowing what these principles are," but more importantly, understanding how they can help me complete, analyze, and improve my work.
I found that once I grasped certain design principles, I could more easily examine my own work, proactively identify problems, and try to improve them. I believe that having a relatively accurate understanding of one's own work is crucial. Being able to discern the strengths and weaknesses of one's work to a certain extent is a vital skill for creators. And I believe this is one of the key benefits of learning design principles. It not only helps me create visually more complete works but also helps me establish a clearer way of observing and thinking, allowing me to view my designs from a more rational and comprehensive perspective.
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