Design Principles Task 2: Visual Analysis
24.02.2025 - 05.03.2025 (Week 4 - Week 5)
Kiew Ting Yi (Nicole) / 0361143 / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative MediaDesign Principles
Task 2 : Visual Analysis
Table of Contents:
1. Lectures
2. Instructions
5. Reflection
5. Reflection
TOPIC 6 - VISUAL ANALYSIS
Visual analysis is a method used to understand a design by focusing on its visual elements and principles. It also helps identify the designer's intent and gain a deeper understanding of the design’s formal qualities, content, or meaning. It is essential for visual literacy and equips individuals with the ability to interpret and comprehend visuals across various settings and platforms.
3 PHASES OF VISUAL ANALYSIS:
Visual analysis is a method used to understand a design by focusing on its visual elements and principles. It also helps identify the designer's intent and gain a deeper understanding of the design’s formal qualities, content, or meaning. It is essential for visual literacy and equips individuals with the ability to interpret and comprehend visuals across various settings and platforms.
3 PHASES OF VISUAL ANALYSIS:
Observation:
This first phase involves carefully examining and identifying the visual elements within a design, then describing them in your own words. It’s about looking, thinking, and finding the right language to communicate what you see in the artwork or design.
Analysis:
In this phase, you reflect on your observations and make statements about the design based on them. The goal is to understand how the identified visual elements work together to create design principles and their impact on the viewer. For example, how does the design guide your eyes through the composition, and why does it do so?
Interpretation:
The final phase combines your observation, description, and analysis with factual information about the design’s historical context and meaning. This step involves understanding the deeper message behind the design and considering why it was created in that particular way. For instance, what could be the underlying purpose or meaning of the design?
INSTRUCTIONS
According to the Module Information Booklet (MIB), we are to:
- Recap Task 2 brief.
- Write a 300- to 350-word visual analysis of the artwork you selected.
- Refer to Visual Analysis lecture notes and guide to write the visual analysis.
- Using your design principles knowledge, sketch 3 ideas on how the selected design can be improved.
- Describe each idea and support it with a rationale in about 30-50 words.
- You may include some visual references (cite the sources) that inspire your own ideas.
TASK 2: VISUAL ANALYSIS & IDEATION
As a recap of Task 2 Brief, we need to assess, investigate, document and analyse the artwork chosen in Task 1. We will also study the design principles, size, placement, purpose, and effectiveness found in the chosen artwork.
CHOSEN ARTWORK
IDEATION
Figure 1.1 Sketch idea for Repetition and Movement (27/2/2025)
Figure 1.2(a) Reference for Depth and Spatial Contrast (27/2/2025)
Figure 1.2(b) Final Sketch #2 - Depth and Spatial Contrast (3/3/2025)
Figure 1.3 Sketch for Symmetry and Balance (27/2/2025)
Figure 1.3(b) Final Sketch #3 - Symmetry and Balance (3/3/2025)
Figure 1.0 Lost Soul (2022) by Mitch (@itsallinsideus)
Oil Painting on Canvas, 30 x 24 inches.
VISUAL ANALYSIS
Oil Painting on Canvas, 30 x 24 inches.
VISUAL ANALYSIS
Observation:
This artwork is worked on a portrait oriented canvas. It has a dark, faceless figure hunching before a sink, their face marked with white for eyes and dripping bright blue tears. I also noticed on the right side of the sink, a wide-eyed black cat sits with bright blue tears dripping. Above the cat, a swirling vortex-like painting or mirror hangs on an orange-red wall. The sink's water ripples, echoing the swirling pattern in the background. The artwork’s color palette is dominated by warm hues of red and orange, with cool blues used sparingly to highlight the tears, water, and cat's eyes, drawing my attention to these elements.
Analysis:
This artwork's contrast between the warm and cool colors heightens the emotional tension in the artwork which complementary colors does. The faceless figure, though devoid of identifiable features, expresses sadness or introspection through body language like its hunched back and blue tear streaks. The swirling pattern behind the figure can be seen as a symbol for inner turmoil or confusion. The cat, sitting passively, seems to act as both a witness to the figure's emotion and a part of the surrounding chaos, as its posture mirrors the calmness of the water’s surface yet its face aligns with the figure’s despair. The balance of asymmetrical composition—where the figure and sink are off-center to the left and the cat and painting balance the right—adds visual harmony despite the scene's emotional unrest. This creates a tension between stillness and chaos, a theme evident throughout the piece.
Interpretation:
After observing and analysing this artwork, I think what the artist meant to express is the inner conflict in a calm, quiet setting that the figure is in- as whirlpool, ripple or swirling from the sink symbolises calmness or stillness, but as it reflected upon the figure's face from the mirror, I feel that indicates the confusion instead- as the mirror should be reflecting the figure's face, not the sink. The sink seems to be filled with water, which may express burden or distraction from the figure and could mean that the figure is about to reach its limits before overflowing. The cat reflects the figure's expression, as cats may resemble their owners' personality. (Finka LR, et al, 2019) This piece makes me think that the artwork delves into themes of loneliness, self-reflection, or emotional overwhelm. The facelessness of the figure could represent a universal human experience, leaving it open to the my own emotional interpretation.
IDEATION
To improve the selected design based on visual analysis and design principles, a few adjustments can enhance the overall impact and clarity:
Sketch #1 - Repetition and Movement:
Figure 1.1 Sketch idea for Repetition and Movement (27/2/2025)
Rationale:
I chose Repetition and Movement as a way to enhance this artwork as the swirling symbols and the interpretation of inner turmoil can be further felt if there was a repetitive pattern to support the idea. I kept the colors, removed the cat because I wanted it to highlight the dark shadowy figure more, and this is the idea that I came up with.
I chose Repetition and Movement as a way to enhance this artwork as the swirling symbols and the interpretation of inner turmoil can be further felt if there was a repetitive pattern to support the idea. I kept the colors, removed the cat because I wanted it to highlight the dark shadowy figure more, and this is the idea that I came up with.
Feedback: Mr Vinod mentioned to add cats into the figures, and make the whirlpool color a bit better. and here's what I came up with below:
Figure 1.1.1(a) Added some cat variations inside the figure (3/3/2025)
Figure 1.1.1(b) Added some cat variations inside the figure (3/3/2025)
I added 3 variations of the cat inside the human figure, chose the one that I liked and placed them diagonally, to further enhance the meaning of the downward spiral. and this is the final sketch:
Figure 1.1.1(c) Final Sketch #1- Repetition and Movement (3/3/2025)
Figure 1.1.1(a) Added some cat variations inside the figure (3/3/2025)
Figure 1.1.1(b) Added some cat variations inside the figure (3/3/2025)
I added 3 variations of the cat inside the human figure, chose the one that I liked and placed them diagonally, to further enhance the meaning of the downward spiral. and this is the final sketch:
Figure 1.1.1(c) Final Sketch #1- Repetition and Movement (3/3/2025)
Sketch #2 - Depth and Spatial Contrast:
Figure 1.2 Sketch for Depth and Spatial Contrast (27/2/2025)
Figure 1.2(a) Reference for Depth and Spatial Contrast (27/2/2025)
Rationale:
By creating some leading lines for the viewers, the artwork now can be interpreted as a tumultuous journey of the shadowy figure and the cat. The sketch is meant to symbolise the tears they made created a path. It also creates depth and spatial contrast, which the chosen artwork did not show.
Feedback:
As the lines are not properly coloured and formed, I should redo my sketch to convey the message clearer. Mr Vinod suggested I placed the subjects to face the viewer so that the connection isn't lost. Here is the final sketch:
Feedback:
As the lines are not properly coloured and formed, I should redo my sketch to convey the message clearer. Mr Vinod suggested I placed the subjects to face the viewer so that the connection isn't lost. Here is the final sketch:
Figure 1.2(b) Final Sketch #2 - Depth and Spatial Contrast (3/3/2025)
Sketch #3 - Symmetry and Balance:
Figure 1.3 Sketch for Symmetry and Balance (27/2/2025)
Rationale:
As the original artwork was off-centered, I wanted to create something that can have a direct balance. So I thought what if I could sketch from the perspective of a blurried mirror and this sketch was form. It highlights the symbolism of similarities the figure and cat had, further illustrating the journey together.
Feedback:
Mr Vinod particularly liked this idea because of its potential but as the sketch style was a bit cartoonish compared to the artwork, it was hard to be clear on its improvement. He suggested to draw a much more realistic style of the cat and the shadow human figure. I did my best, but I think my drawing skills are definitely more challenged in this one.
Mr Vinod particularly liked this idea because of its potential but as the sketch style was a bit cartoonish compared to the artwork, it was hard to be clear on its improvement. He suggested to draw a much more realistic style of the cat and the shadow human figure. I did my best, but I think my drawing skills are definitely more challenged in this one.
Here is my final sketch:
Figure 1.3(b) Final Sketch #3 - Symmetry and Balance (3/3/2025)
Final Thoughts on Task 2:
As Task 3 will be working more on exploration of the sketches, I'm also still working on exploring more by adding elements or changing them to improve. You can head over to Task 3 to see which artwork I've chosen.
As Task 3 will be working more on exploration of the sketches, I'm also still working on exploring more by adding elements or changing them to improve. You can head over to Task 3 to see which artwork I've chosen.
FEEDBACKS
Week 3
General Feedback: Join the class zoom earlier to avoid backlog and maximise
everyone's time.
Specific Feedback: Expand and
elaborate a little bit further on the description of the chosen artwork
to practise for Visual Analysis.
Week 4
General Feedback: Observations should be plain, clear and what you see. Interpretation should be based on our personal take.
Specific Feedback: Sentences needs to be broken into a smaller chunks- in a plain, clear and concise manner.
Week 5
General Feedback: Treat elements without taking away its importance with the artwork.
Specific Feedback: Make the figures face the viewers to have more connection - all ideas are favourable, but need to explore more.
General Feedback: Join the class zoom earlier to avoid backlog and maximise everyone's time.
Specific Feedback: Expand and elaborate a little bit further on the description of the chosen artwork to practise for Visual Analysis.
General Feedback: Observations should be plain, clear and what you see. Interpretation should be based on our personal take.
Specific Feedback: Sentences needs to be broken into a smaller chunks- in a plain, clear and concise manner.
General Feedback: Treat elements without taking away its importance with the artwork.
Specific Feedback: Make the figures face the viewers to have more connection - all ideas are favourable, but need to explore more.
REFLECTIONS
EXPERIENCES
In this assignment, I experienced a sense of eureka where I was feeling extremely inspired. Not sure if it's also due to myself exploring and observing in some art exhibitions that instilled some sense in me. Sketch #3 was the hardest as changing the art style to a more realistic one was tougher than I thought. I think while mimicking the original art style was already a little difficult, I think it's much harder to switch out the style once it has set.
OBSERVATION
I see that in most artworks, the concept, the ideation and the purpose is what usually would drive viewers into feeling intrigued, disturbed, or curious. Based on the Zoom consultations with Mr Vinod, a lot of my classmates tend to choose art that moves them. It seems that Design Principles is really just a principle, to enhance and improve, but never changing the essence. I hope to be a designer/artist that will change to be better, but the soul that yearns to express will never change.
FINDINGS
Through this task, I found that art is really what we make of it, and that Design Principles are found in lots of nature/human/life design. I see geometrical shapes in succulents, patterns in animal prints, lines in trees or along the sea, and many other design principles in our everyday lives. This really changed my perspective in design and I shall now embed all the learnings to heart, and excitingly work on Task 3.
EXPERIENCES
In this assignment, I experienced a sense of eureka where I was feeling extremely inspired. Not sure if it's also due to myself exploring and observing in some art exhibitions that instilled some sense in me. Sketch #3 was the hardest as changing the art style to a more realistic one was tougher than I thought. I think while mimicking the original art style was already a little difficult, I think it's much harder to switch out the style once it has set.
OBSERVATION
I see that in most artworks, the concept, the ideation and the purpose is what usually would drive viewers into feeling intrigued, disturbed, or curious. Based on the Zoom consultations with Mr Vinod, a lot of my classmates tend to choose art that moves them. It seems that Design Principles is really just a principle, to enhance and improve, but never changing the essence. I hope to be a designer/artist that will change to be better, but the soul that yearns to express will never change.
FINDINGS
Through this task, I found that art is really what we make of it, and that Design Principles are found in lots of nature/human/life design. I see geometrical shapes in succulents, patterns in animal prints, lines in trees or along the sea, and many other design principles in our everyday lives. This really changed my perspective in design and I shall now embed all the learnings to heart, and excitingly work on Task 3.
Through this task, I found that art is really what we make of it, and that Design Principles are found in lots of nature/human/life design. I see geometrical shapes in succulents, patterns in animal prints, lines in trees or along the sea, and many other design principles in our everyday lives. This really changed my perspective in design and I shall now embed all the learnings to heart, and excitingly work on Task 3.
