DP | TASK 1: Exploration
Fig 1. FUNimation Entertainment. (2008). Screenshot of Black
Butler S1 OP. Retrieved February 3, 2025,.
I. Module Information
II. Notes
Introduction: Elements & Principles of Design
✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Visual communication
✦ Using design to convey a message.
✦ Applying elements and principle of design for effectiveness.
Elements of Design ➤ Individual "Building Blocks"
1. Point
✦ Simplest Element of Design
✦ Used as repetitive mark, forms a line
✦ if moved in space, 2D and 3D forms are created
2. Line
✦ Can be active, static, aggressive/passive, sensual/mechanical
✦ Indicate direction, boundaries, imply volume/mass
✦ Suggest motion or emotion
✦ grouped to depict light/shadow/textures
3. Shape
✦ the expanse within the outline of 2D area
✦ when a line encloses
✦ when apparent change in value, colour or texture sets an area
✦ Geometric (precise/regular) & Organic (informal)
4. Form
✦ 3D dimensional area
✦ When form encloses space = volume
✦ Sculpture and volume
✦ Must be implied in 2D media
5. Texture
✦ tactile qualities
✦ can be actual(touch) or stimulated/implied
6. Space
✦ Empty space
✦ 3D space is experienced when we are in it.
✦ From outside, we experience mass.
✦ From inside, we experience volume.
✦ can be defined as positive/negative
✦ Illusion of 3D space can be implied by depth
7. Colour
✦ Visual byproduct of the spectrum of light.
✦ Light wavelength that human perceives
✦ Hues: colours of the spectrum (yellow, green...)
✦ Value: lightness or darkness of colour
✦ Intensity: purity of a hue
✦ colour schemes: colour groupings that provide harmony
✦ Monochromatic: variations in hues/intensity of a single hue
✦ Analogous: colours adjacent, same pure hue.
✦ Complementary: Opposite hues.
Principles of Design
✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Gesalt Theory ➤ "Gesalt" refers to shape or
form in German.
✦ Rules that describe how the human eye perceives visual
elements.
✦ aims to show how complex scenes can be reduced to simple
shapes.
✦ explains how the eyes perceive shapes as a single united form.
1. Principle of similarity
✦ The brain crafts a link between elements of similar nature.
2. Principle of continuation
✦ human eye follows paths, lines, and curves of a design.
✦ We prefer to see a continuous flow of visual elements.
3. Principle of closure
✦ We prefer to see complete shapes.
✦ We complete shapes by filling in missing visual info.
4. Principle of proximity
✦ process of ensuring related design elements are placed
together.
✦ vise versa for unrelated items
✦ items connected have relationship to each other, helps
organize.
5. Principle of figure/ground
✦ objects are perceived as in foreground or background.
6. Law of symmetry and order
✦ elements symmetrical to each other are perceived as
unified.
7. More...
✦ Law of uniform Connectedness
✦ Law of Pragnanz
✦ Law of Common fate
Contrast ➤ Juxtaposition of strongly
dissimilar elements.
✦ Provides visual interest, emphasize a point and express
content.
Emphasis ➤ Dominance and Focus in a
design
Balance ➤ Distribution of visual
weight
✦ visual equilibrium of elements
✦ can be symmetrical(both sides equal) or asymmetrical (unequal)
1. Golden ratio
✦ A mathematical concept also known as phi
✦ A representative of perfect beauty
✦ a guide to create visual balance/bring harmony/structure.
2. Rule of Thirds
✦ composition guidelines to create dynamism.
✦ An image divided evenly into thirds.
Repetition ➤ Pattern and Rhythm
✦ make your design seem active.
✦ variety helps avoid monotony.
✦ patterns increase excitement by enriching surface interest.
Movement ➤ Leads the eye in , around,
and through a composition.
✦ comes from the kinds of shapes forms, lines and curves.
1. Hierarchy ➤ Choreography of content
in a composition
✦ directs viewers to the most important information first.
2. Alignment
✦ Placement of elements so edges line up along common rows.
✦ sense of unity and cohesion, perceived stability.
✦ Leading a person through a design.
Harmony ➤ the selection of elements
that share a common trait.
✦ the sense that all of your design fit together.
Unity ➤ repetition of particular elements
✦ when elements are balanced, giving sense of oneness
1. Scale and Proportion
✦ the size of one object in relation to the other objects.
✦ parts of an object in relation to other parts of the same.
✦ Scale: the size and dimension of figures and forms.
✦ Proportion: relationship of >2 elements in a composition.
Symbols and Images
✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Symbol ➤ sign,
shape or object used to represent something else.
✦ Figurative representations ➤ Graphic Symbols
➤ Pictorial symbols (img related/simplified pics)
➤ Abstract symbols (less details/ represents obj)
➤ Arbitrary symbols (no resemblance/ have to learn)
Word and Image ➤ vital part of design
✦ important to use suitable and revelant images
➤ choosing right words
➤ typography conveys message/concept through text arrangement
III. Exploration
Gesalt Theory ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
It is the principle which dictates that the human eye will perceive
something as a united shape or make complex imagery into something
simple.
Just like in Fig 2. where Ado, an anonymous singer is automatically
seen as a woman in her live concert photography despite showing only
her silhouette.
Contrast ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Where 2 complete opposites are paired together to create a sense of
oneness and making the design more appealing and interesting.
Just like the TV poster of "Arcane" in Fig 3. which shows a striking
design of blue and red together. It makes us focus more on the blue in the
center due to the red covering the negative space.
Balance ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
The proportion of a design which gives equilibrium whether it is through
symmetry or asymmetry.
The illustration in Fig 4. shows clear balance using the statues on both
sides and an almost symmetrical environment.
Fig 4. Phantom of the Opera illustrated by shanoiasuna
(2024) -
Digital Illustration
Emphasis ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
The dominance of united elements of the focus of the design.
Fig 5. is a design with contrasting coloured text surrounding the main
focus of the issue cover, showing emphasis by making us focus on the
brightly lit illustration in the center.
Fig 5. G Fantasy May 2024 Issue by Yana Toboso/G Fantasy
(2024) -
Digital Illustration
Repetition ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
When an element or the design itself have repeating elements or pattern.
It helps give an interesting vibe and increase excitement.
The Fig 6. Page shows a scene of repeating mask patterns turning into
moths ( a similar element ) then fluttering away. It used the same element
(moth) to increase the thrill through repetition.
Movement ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
When the design leads the eye in , around, and through a composition. It can be anything
that moves the design.
Just like in Fig 7. The poster shows a movement of falling and drowning
even without water, by using the body, hair and clothing of the characters
all flowing upwards. This gave the artwork a sense of direction leading up
to the title, date and information. It also forms an abstract triangle
pointing down, showing that shape can imply movement.
Fig 7. Kuroshitsuji: Book of Atlantic Film Poster,
illustrated by Yana Toboso(2017) -
Digital Illustration
Harmony ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Harmony is when the elements in a design all fit together nicely. It puts
related elements together and separate the others.
The artwork in Fig 8. shows a cohesive art despite the bright colours.
That is because the main focus are put together and matched with darker
pure hues while the background uses mostly yellow and more desaturated
colours.
Fig 8. The Detective, The Scion and The Wanderer illustrated by
illy.art (2024) -
Digital Illustration
Symbol ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Whether it is abstract or literal, symbol is an element that makes
us relate one thing to another. To understand the message it conveys
even without text.
In Fig 9. the movie poster emphasizes on the huge star at the
center to make it known it is about Captain America as it is his
symbol as well as an element in the American Flag. Giving Steve
Rogers and Tony Stark most space also serves as an abstract symbol
that they are the leaders of each side in this civil war.
Fig 9. Captain America: Civil War, Marvel Film (2016) -
Movie Poster
Word and Image ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
These 2 elements combined can convey messages, show emotions and even
the context of the designs. Relationship between word and image is
what helps make an impact or impression of the design as well. A prime
example would be comic panels like below in Fig 10. Where the text is
just as important as images for story telling!
This intro of ghost rider used less text boxes and more sound effects
to introduce the less talk, more action main character. The growling
and shouting going out of speech bubbles gives impact and the sound
effects of vehicles/ weapons help give dynamism and immersion.
Fig 10. Robbie Reyes: All New Ghost Rider illustrated by Tradd
Moore (2014) -
Traditional Inked Comic Panel
IV. Analysis
Title: N/A (Official Illustration for Rich Black: A Black Label Exhibition)
Artist: Yana Toboso (https://yanatoboso.com/)
Year: 2021
Medium: Digital Illustration
Size: unknown
Softcopy Source: Phantomhive Household
Softcopy Source: Phantomhive Household
Reason for choosing artwork ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
Yana Toboso inspired my decision to pursue art and design in
college. A high school friend introduced me to her traditionally
inked comics, and although she shifted to digital art in 2019,
I’ve always admired her detailed, dynamic backgrounds and
narrative-driven character designs. I’d like to study one of her
most notable works, an official illustration created for the
15th anniversary of Black Butler.
I love the dynamic positioning of the characters and the
slanted perspective of the ground with hierarchy shown. It
conveys the master’s authority over the servant, despite being a
young child. The child sitting high on a chess piece and the
butler kneeling represent the child playing chess and the butler
as the piece. The analogous blue, and grayscale tones create a
solemn atmosphere. The subtle contrast between the lighter
background and the dark, cool-toned outfits adds depth. The
birds’ movement directs the viewer’s eye, emphasizing the
characters at the center. Alignment of the characters gives
sense of unity.
Additionally, the repetition of items like knives, forks, and
chess pieces adds character and excitement. The Gesalt theory
was used in for the background and foreground as we can
immediately discern that the setting was on a chess board
despite not being shown the whole board. The black and white
tiles and chess pieces. It also gives a sense of 3d space due to
added foreground objects and far off background
objects.
Design Principles ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
✦ Gesalt Theory
➤ Principle of similarity: Characters together
➤ Principle of similarity: Characters together
➤ Principle of continuation: Use of same
colour/object
➤ Principle of proximity: Distance of
characters
➤ Principle of closure: chess board perceived
✦ Contrast: Colours of characters and background
➤ Principle of closure: chess board perceived
✦ Contrast: Colours of characters and background
✦ Emphasis: Characters
✦ Balance: Horizon Line used, balance of colours
✦ Balance: Horizon Line used, balance of colours
✦ Repetition: Objects and birds repeated
randomly
✦ Movement: Birds
✦ Harmony and Unity : Analogous colours and alignment
✦ Movement: Birds
✦ Harmony and Unity : Analogous colours and alignment
V. Feedback
Week 1 ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
General Feedback: Work on Task 1, Watch
Lecture
Specific Feedback: Make progress on Task
1.
Week 2 ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
General Feedback: Make correct citations and
ad hyperlink if your blog is too long.
Specific Feedback: Add hyperlink, make font
larger, make images smaller, choose a selected
artwork.
Week 3 ✮♱ ༻¨*:·
General Feedback: Give self reflection
marks.
Specific Feedback: Give 2 sources for chosen
artwork as soft copy and hardcopy so the source is
clearer.
VI. Reflection
This task helped me earn more understanding on design principles and elements. It allowed me to dive deeper into these, helping me with my artwork analysis. Although it involved a lot of theory, I believe this will help me in my design/art jouney.
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