Design Principles GCD60804 Task 2 (Visual Analysis)

02.29.2024 - 03.07.2024  / week 4 - week 5

Velicia Raquel Dewi Setiawan | 0369188 | Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

Design Principles 

JUMPLINK:

• TASK 1
• TASK 2
• TASK 3
• FINAL COMPLICATION

1. LECTURE

Week 4 - Recorded 

1. VISUAL ANALYSIS

• Method of understanding design from visual elements and principles.
• A part of visual literacy, a skill that helps people critically interpret images.

1. Point

Phase 1 Observation 

• Look closely and identify the visual elements then describe them accurately.

Phase 2 Analysis 

• Make statements based on the evidence of your observation.

Phase 3 Interpretation 

• The observation and analysis are fused with facts. (meaning, purpose)

2. INSTRUCTION

Requirements 

• Recap Task 2 brief

• Write a 300 to 350 word visual analysis of the selected design (refer to Visual Analysis lecture notes and guide)

• Include reference links where applicable.

• WORK PROGRESS: Discuss and show your progress to your lecturer during class.

Submission 

• Task 2 blog link (make sure it is under the label of Design Principles GCD60804)

3. Task 2 - Visual Analysis

1. Observation

The artwork is in portrait format. In the bottom right, there is a stack of steamers with the earth inside it. In the top left there's a hand-holding a white porcelain kettle pouring hot water over the earth. It can be seen that the earth is melting from the hot water. The bottom is filled with steam rising and dark muted colors as backgrounds give a somber and gloomy vibe to the artwork.

Figure 2.1 Week 5 (03/05/2024) Analysis.

2. Analysis

The design is asymmetrically balanced with the balance of equal weight between the hand holding the kettle on the top left and the steamed earth and the bottom right, giving the illusion of equal balance to the design. This equal balance can also be seen from positive and negative space in the design. The artwork follows the rule of third grid with the kettle on one intersection and the earth on the opposite diagonal intersection. With the hand pouring water over the earth guide the eye movement guiding the eye movement from top to bottom.

Figure 2.2 Week 5 (03/05/2024) Analysis.

There is also a hierarchy in the design with the hand pouring hot water on the top and the earth on the bottom means the humans have power and control over the earth and are actively damaging it. There's a contrast between the white kettle and dark background and complementing colors in the blue earth and the orange steamer, causing unity in the overall composition as objects and colors are arranged in a way that cohesively complements each other.

Figure 2.3 Week 5 (03/05/2024) Analysis.

3. Interpretation

For year 2021 UNICEF Visual Arts Competition, students from Nord Anglia Education (NAE) schools were asked to reflect on which aspect of Climate Change was most important to them and depict this artistically, taking inspiration from the UNICEF Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water) and 15 (Life on Land). One of the winning piece is this artwork by Helen Yu. 

Figure 3.1 Week 5 (03/05/2024) Interpretation.

One of the largest causes of climate change is the greenhouse effect, where the earth's atmosphere traps the heat radiated from the earth's surface, but with the increase of the CO2 gas, the earth's Atmosphere is trapping more heat than necessary causing global warming. This mechanic is similar to the way a steamer works by trapping hot air inside to cook food inside. In the artwork, the earth is portrayed to be "steamed" by us humans as it is placed inside a steamer and poured hot water over it. Same as us humans right now using technology and doing stuff that increases the CO2 gas.

4. References

• “Helen Yu.” Eventeny, www.eventeny.com/company/product/?p=166201. Accessed 5 Mar. 2024.
• “Meet the Winners of NAE-UNICEF Visual Arts Competition.” Voices of Youth, 24 May 2021, www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/meet-winners-nae-unicef-visual-arts-competition.
• “The Greenhouse Effect | Climate Central.” Www.climatecentral.org, www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/the-greenhouse-effect.

4. Feedback

Week 4: none 

Week 5: I did the beginning sketch for task 3 and Mr said that it looked very common poster for climate change and urged me to think more forward, such as 50 years after the sea flooded the land.

5. Reflection

1. Experience

So I accidentally did this while doing task 1 thinking this was part of it. I think it was easier doing this immediately after task 1 as I still have the info needed for analysis from task 1 fresh in my brain.

2. Observation

As I had the information needed, I easily deduced most of the principles that are incorporated in the artwork. I figured it would be easier to explain using pictures of the principle used in the artwork and in doing so found more principles related in the artwork. I like the simple and straightforward interpretation of the message (I always crowd the space too much and distract the eye from the main point.)

3. Findings

I didn't think that I would find as many principles as I did in the artwork, I thought it would be 3 or 4 at most. I don't know whether the artists intentionally and consciously incorporated this principle or whether it's just a coincidence. cause if it's intentional that's impressive to plan that far ahead to make the artwork (I usually don't plan or make sketches and just wing it.), how many sketches did the artist do before settling on this one?