Assignment 01
Design Principles (Plane + Shape)
This assignment will introduce you to the basic elements of design. Understanding these visual concepts will help you develop a vocabulary and allow you discuss your work and the work of your peers. You will create 4 compositions this week. Your compositions must be 5×5" squares. They can be designed on the computer. The final versions must be mounted on 1/8" 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. Please print out the corresponding grading sheet and hand this in with your compositions.
Deliverables
4 compositions, 5×5"
mounted on 1/8" foamcore
grading sheet
Recommended Materials
1/8" (one eigth 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
Plane + 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
— Scale
— Foreground/Background relationship
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. 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. Source
Further reading
Elements of Form
Armin Hofmann, Graphic Design Manual
Principles of Composition
Programming Design Systems by Rune Madsen
SIMILARITY (2/8)
— Pablo Stanley (@pablostanley) March 15, 2018
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
COMMON REGION (4/8)
— Pablo Stanley (@pablostanley) March 15, 2018
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
CLOSURE (6/8)
— Pablo Stanley (@pablostanley) March 15, 2018
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
COMMON FATE (8/8)
— Pablo Stanley (@pablostanley) March 15, 2018
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
This has been adapted from an assignments given by Jim Downer at Monroe Community College and Julien Bittner at Yale University. Thank you.