Assignment 00
Design Principles

This assignment will introduce you to the general elements of design. Understanding these basic visual concepts will help you develop a vocabulary and allow you discuss your work and the work of your peers. You will create 16 compositions in total. Your compositions must be 5×5" squares. They can be designed on the computer. The final versions must be mounted on ³⁄₁₆" white foam core. Don’t be literal. Don’t make pictures.
Your compositions will be graded as pass/fail. If the composition does not successfully illustrate the design principle in question you will be required to re–work your idea and present your latest version on the ‘Revisions’ week. This assignment’s completion will account for 20% of your grade.
Please print out the corresponding grading sheet and hand this in with your compositions.

Deliverables
16 compositions, 5×5"
mounted on ³⁄₁₆" foamcore
— 4 Point
— 4 Line
— 4 Plane
— 4 Shape

Recommended Materials
³⁄₁₆" (three sixteenth inch) thick foamcore, white
Double tack (double-sided sticky adheasive sheet)
X–acto knife or cutting tool with #11 blades
Cork–backed ruler
Self healing cutting mat
Bone Folder

Timeline
09.27 — Point
10.11 — Line
11.01 — Plane
11.15 — Shape
12.20 — Revisions


Point
A point is an element that has position, but no extension. It is a single mark in space with a precise, but limited, location. Alone it can provide a powerful relation between negative and positive space, but when grouped with other points the Gestalt grouping principal of closure tends to kick in and the brain compulsively connects the points together. Line or form is a natural result of multiple points in space.
Using only a ½" circle with no less than 3 and no more than 9 circles you must create separate compositions that illustrate the following design principles. All points must be 100% black, no stroke.
— Symmetry
— Asymmetry
— Random
— Order


Line
A line is an element characterized by length and direction. Lines create contours and form, and are often used to convey a specific kind of feeling or point to an important feature in a design. Lines are also used to create perspective, and dominant directional lines are often adopted to create a sense of continuance in a composition. In addition, lines that are grouped together often create a sense of value, density or texture.
Using at minimum 1pt stroke weight and at maximum 3pt stroke weight you must create separate compositions that illustrate the following design principles. All lines must be 100% black.
— Depth
— Light
— Rhythm
— Weight


Plane
A line is defined by two points, a plane has at least three points and two dimensions. Explained based on Illustrator, a line is created with the pen tool, where it has a beginning and end with two points. A plane is created by closing the path. In our exercises planes are simply illustrated with squares or rectangles.
Using only planes you must create separate compositions that illustrate the following design principles. Only use squares or rectangles, do not distort (skew) them. All planes must be 100% black, no stroke.
— Scale
— Texture
— Space
— Foreground/Background relationship


Shape
The simplest definition of shape is a closed contour, an element defined by its perimeter. The three basic shapes are: circle, rectangle (square) and triangle. Form is the shape and structure of a dimensional element within a given composition. Form can be both two-dimensional and three-dimensional and can be realistic, abstract or somewhere in between. The terms form and shape are often used synonymously, which is why they are both included here. In reality, form is derived from the combination of point, line and shape.
Using only squares, circles or equilateral triangles you must create separate compositions that illustrate the following design principles. All shapes must be 100% black, no stroke.
— Variety
— Contrast
— Tension
— Balance





Background
The principles of design represent the basic assumptions of the world that guide the design practice, and deal with the arrangements of objects in any given composition. In this column we investigate the other half of the tenets, the elements of design, in an effort to bring together a solid foundation on which we can base all future investigations.
The elements of design are the basic components used as part of any composition. They are the objects to be arranged, the constituent parts used to create the composition itself. In most situations the elements of design build upon one another, the former element helping to create the latter, and the elements described in this column are arranged as such. We will be focusing on the elements of point, line and form (shape). Source

Further reading
Elements of Form
Armin Hofmann, Graphic Design Manual
Principles of Composition
Programming Design Systems by Rune Madsen

SIMILARITY (2/8)
Elements that are similar to each other tend to be perceived as related or part of a group. If you want elements to appear more relate design by repeating color, size, orientation, font, shape, etc. pic.twitter.com/1hlIRvAiGc

— Pablo Stanley (@pablostanley) March 15, 2018

COMMON REGION (4/8)
Elements tend to be perceived as groups if they are sharing an area with a clearly defined boundary. You can group items and separate them from surrounding components by adding a box or border around them. pic.twitter.com/wENA22Y3MY

— Pablo Stanley (@pablostanley) March 15, 2018

CLOSURE (6/8)
When an object is incomplete, but enough of the item is indicated, the mind looks for a continuing pattern. We fill in the gaps. In this example, we use this principle to let the user know they can scroll for more content by just showing a bit of another element. pic.twitter.com/u0nSKvVFTg

— Pablo Stanley (@pablostanley) March 15, 2018

COMMON FATE (8/8)
Elements moving in the same direction are perceived as being more related than items that are stationary or that move in different directions. In this example, eight circles separate into groups of four when they move in opposite directions. pic.twitter.com/rUkSYksLlg

— Pablo Stanley (@pablostanley) March 15, 2018

This has been adapted from an assignments given by Jim Downer at Monroe Community College and Julien Bittner at Yale University. Thank you.