Design Principles: Final Compilation
03.02.2025 - 17.03.2025 (Week 4 - Week )
Kiew Ting Yi (Nicole) / 0361143 / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative MediaDesign Principles
Final Compilation
Table of Contents:
1. Instructions
- Task 1: Exploration
- Task 2: Visual Analysis
- Task 3: Development and Design
- Task 1: Exploration
- Task 2: Visual Analysis
- Task 3: Development and Design
INSTRUCTIONS
TASK 1: Exploration
Link to Task 1
here
CHOSEN ARTWORK
DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOUND:
-
Contrast: The direct colors of orange and black is contrasting in this artwork. The black is used to show subjects and also
shadows, meanwhile orange is heavily used as a background color. Blue,
which is the complimentary color of orange, is also used as a way to
show stark difference and is used as an accent color on the tears of
the subjects and water in the sink.
-
Balance: The composition feels asymmetrical but still works visually. The figure and sink are slightly
off to the left, while the cat and the painting or mirror on the
right add enough weight to even things out. Having the mirror above
the sink also helps keep the overall scene from feeling too
lopsided.
- Symbolism: The tears from the figure and the swirling patterns in the reflection could symbolize emotional turmoil or introspection, while the presence of the cat adds a sense of companionship or stillness amidst the chaos. The artwork appears to evoke feelings of sadness or contemplation, using these symbols to convey a deeper emotional message.
TASK 2: VISUAL ANALYSIS & IDEATION
Link to Task 2 here
CHOSEN ARTWORK
Figure 1.0 (a) 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.
TASK 3: DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN
Link to Task 3 here
FINAL OUTCOME
<Kiew Ting Yi (Nicole)_Three Crybabies_Task 3>
i) Design Decisions:
I chose to use vibrant oranges and blues to create a stark contrast, intensifying the visual impact and emotional tone of the piece. I
wanted the colors to evoke a sense of unease energy, as they
oppose each other in terms of warmth and coolness. I used swirling,
distorted lines around the figures to emphasize the feeling of disorientation and anxiety, as if the characters are caught in a whirlwind of emotion. I positioned
the characters below the viewer’s perspective to evoke a sense of
vulnerability and to make the viewer feel as if they are detached, merely
observing. I decided to blur the reflections and textures intentionally to
further enhance the tension and surreal atmosphere, making the whole scene
feel dreamlike and distorted.
ii) Meaning/Purpose:
The purpose of the design was to convey inner turmoil and confusion,
possibly symbolizing emotional overwhelm or a fragmented sense of self.
The mirror and sink represent moments of self-reflection, and I wanted to
explore how people face their inner emotions. By including the cat, I
aimed to suggest that even companions are not immune to the energy we give
off, and how anxiety can affect every aspect of life, even those around
us. The name " Three Crybabies" offer a sense of perspective that besides
the two subjects that are crying, you as the viewer could be crying too
for empathising/relating to this.
iii) Design Principles:
In this piece, I used contrast to highlight emotional
intensity, movement to guide the eye through the scene’s
chaos, and emphasis to draw attention to the wide-eyed faces. I chose to
emphasize the wide-eyed expressions on both the human and the cat by
distorting the eyes with white, chaotic strokes. The eyes, being the focal
point, create a feeling of shock or distress, and the viewer is drawn to
them first before exploring the rest of the image. I used this technique
to make sure the emotions of the figures are clearly the centerpiece of
the artwork. I also applied repetition in the grid
pattern of the tiles and the repetitive swirls, which visually ties
different parts of the artwork together. The grid serves as a structural
contrast to the organic swirling motions, adding a sense of order that
conflicts with the chaotic elements, further heightening the tension.
PDF COMPILATION OF ALL TASKS
Figure 2.0 Final Compilation of Task 1 - Task 3 in PDF
LINK TO DOWNLOAD HERE
REFLECTIONS
What have I learnt in this module?
- I've learnt that design principles are
important in showing or expressing our creatives
to the naked eye. Our brain perceive things
visually with patterns, balance, symmetry,
contrast and so much more. Design Priniciples
allow ideas to further improve and innovate.
What did I enjoy the most?
- From this module, I actually enjoyed sketching
on improving the most. I felt like I truly get to
explore and develop different ideas to a certain
design, and was able to put on my creative
thinking cap for this round.
What did I not enjoy the most?
- I did not enjoy deciding when something is
"done", it felt like I could always do more, never
less, but I find that this way of thinking is not
healthy, so I would try to improve from
here.
What have I learnt about myself through this module?
- That I'm actually capable in painting! I've
always thought being a fine artist will be
unachievable for me, as I don't really practice
but I actually find it so enjoyable, but like what
Mr Vinod mentioned I could definitely put more
time and care in the lines that I'm making. (I
might try it traditionally next time)
What has changed and what has not in my learning
journey?
- In terms of determination of learning, I think
that has not changed since the start. I'm always
looking for ways to improve myself, even if it
takes a while. Something that has changed is the
way I'm approaching my assignments! Instead of
feeling like every assignment needs to have a
significant impact, I'm now learning failing is
just as much as learning.
What are my aspirations?
- I aspire to be free. I aspire to be kind,
compassionate, soft yet reliable. I want to be
someone not of labels of what I am, but how I made
people feel in this world. I aspire to be a
designer that can blend art and tech together, one
step at a time.
What have I learnt in this module?
- I've learnt that design principles are
important in showing or expressing our creatives
to the naked eye. Our brain perceive things
visually with patterns, balance, symmetry,
contrast and so much more. Design Priniciples
allow ideas to further improve and innovate.
What did I enjoy the most?
- From this module, I actually enjoyed sketching
on improving the most. I felt like I truly get to
explore and develop different ideas to a certain
design, and was able to put on my creative
thinking cap for this round.
What did I not enjoy the most?
- I did not enjoy deciding when something is
"done", it felt like I could always do more, never
less, but I find that this way of thinking is not
healthy, so I would try to improve from
here.
What have I learnt about myself through this module?
- That I'm actually capable in painting! I've
always thought being a fine artist will be
unachievable for me, as I don't really practice
but I actually find it so enjoyable, but like what
Mr Vinod mentioned I could definitely put more
time and care in the lines that I'm making. (I
might try it traditionally next time)
What has changed and what has not in my learning
journey?
- In terms of determination of learning, I think
that has not changed since the start. I'm always
looking for ways to improve myself, even if it
takes a while. Something that has changed is the
way I'm approaching my assignments! Instead of
feeling like every assignment needs to have a
significant impact, I'm now learning failing is
just as much as learning.
What are my aspirations?
- I aspire to be free. I aspire to be kind,
compassionate, soft yet reliable. I want to be
someone not of labels of what I am, but how I made
people feel in this world. I aspire to be a
designer that can blend art and tech together, one
step at a time.
