Design Principle / Project 3

26.10.2021 - 23.11.2021 (Week 10 - Week 14)
Abigail Kartika Darmowinoto / 0350525 / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
Design Principles / Taylor's University
Project 3 : Visual Analysis (Final Project)

LIST

OTHER POSTS

LECTURES
(back to top)

Lecture 8: Visual Analysis

Visual Literacy

Visual literacy is a set of abilities that enables an individual to effectively find, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media, based from the American Librarian Association. 21st century college students are expected to use this in their academic work. It's very essential especially in this media based work.

Visual Analysis

Visual analysis is a method of understanding design that focuses on the visual elements and principles.

Purpose: recognize the choice that designer make in creating the design, and to understand how the formal properties of a design communicate ideas, content, or meaning.

Critical part of visual literacy, because it's a skill that help people interpret with images. Practicing visual analysis sharpen our judgments and help people seek out answer instead of receiving information passively.

How does it work?

Ms. Jinchi explained the steps of visual analysis with a picture as an example:

fig. 1, example picture, source; (https://cdntattoofilter.com/event/12579/), Week 9 (19/10/2021)

1. Observation

- Closely looking on a design and identifying the visual elements of a design without reading anything about the design beforehand. The main purpose is about looking, thinking, finding good language to communicate things we see.

fig. 2, observation, source; lecture, Week 9 (19/10/2021)

2. Analysis

- Phase to think about what you observe and try to make statements from your observation. Combine parts to be a whole.

fig. 3, analysis, source; lecture, Week 9 (19/10/2021)

3. Interpretation

- Your observation, description, analysis are fused with fact about the design or even historical context from trustworthy source.

fig. 4, interpretation, source; lecture, Week 9 (19/10/2021)

INSTRUCTIONS

(back to top)

VISUAL ANALYSIS

(back to top)

In this final project, we were required to search for a design and do visual analysis about it. I searched for some illustrations in Pinterest, and my eye got caught on this picture:

"Last Moment" - Daiyou Uonome

fig. 5, Reference 1, source; (https://pin.it/X57wXxZ), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

Observation

I noticed there's a little girl, limply asleep. I think she's dying, because she's so quiet.

Analysis

In a more detailed manner, I noticed some things that proven my observation, such as;

There're so many drips, did she had a chronic illness?
Her left hand looks like its very limp, does that mean there're no hope left?
There're so many plushies that surrounds her, is she lonely?

Interpretation

I saw the color board the artist used are pale pastel colors. It's using a dominant of purple which can symbolize sorrow, and nobility. We can also see that she's sick and surrounded by plushies, and she's having hospitalization, which mean she's wealthy enough to have them. Dolls also symbolize comfort, which maybe the design represent the last moment of her live.

It's an artwork by artist Daiyou Uonome, and I think the artist's artworks are so deep and have amazing styles. It made me want to search more about her artworks, thus I found this two pictures:

1. "The Throne" - Daiyou Uonome

fig. 6, Reference 2, (https://www.deviantart.com/daiyou-uonome/art/the-throne-310583548), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

Observation

At a glance, I saw a little boy, sitting on a chair, wearing a crown. I also saw that it is located on some noble place. His expression is unhappy, and there're lots of dolls there. Being an upperclass often leads to a concept of luxurious, happy lifestyle. It may seems like that, but in contrast, not everyone can always feel happy when they have money, there's still something missing about that, as we can see from the boy's expression.

Analysis

In theory about design principles, we can see that the design has a harmony and unity, as we can see the dolls behind there. There's also a strong sense of hierarchy there, especially between the main subject and the dolls, which can interpret something like a "leader" in this term of design. There's no balance and the movements there are kind of mixed up, not sure which direction they headed to.

fig. 7, design principles of ref 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

In a more detailed look, we can see that he's a noble person, perhaps a king or prince. This is proven by the clothes and crown he's wearing. We know that it's a crown not a coronet because of the arcs. He doesn't wear other royal accessories such as mantle, rings, etc. In this case this shows that he's on his relaxing state. We also can see that he's wearing a clothes and some part of it has nobility pattern.

fig. 8, clothing elements of ref 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

Also, the furniture of the room is typical noble's furnitures. We can see that there's a red curtain and fancy chair, which highly represent the terms of "noble" and "king".

fig. 9, surrounding elements of ref 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

There're lots of things behind him but still, his expression shows as of he's bored and nothing can fulfill himself.

fig. 10, dolls in ref 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

fig. 11, facial expression of ref 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

He has everything he wants, but why he seems like he's lonely, and why there're some kind of chain on his legs and neck, and why is it black? I was thinking of maybe he's chained by something. His legs are also bent on each other, perhaps it's a sign that represent his attempt of protecting himself, and weakness feeling he has. It can be a sign of insecurities toward his surrounding, perhaps his parents.

fig. 12, symbolism of ref 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

This design reflected about a rich little boy who's spoiled with a lot of items but he's feeling very empty. From the chain I perceived that maybe his parents are very overprotective, and don't allow him to go anywhere which make him feel empty and bored.

Interpretation

Although if we break the color, the color used aren't exactly white, we can see that it's a white color which represent cleanliness, freshness, and simplicity, but when it mixed with the pale tone atmosphere, the color white reflected innocence, tasteless, coldness, loneliness.

fig. 13, colors of ref 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

Although black color may symbolize power, elegance, shopistication, and elegance, when it combined with chain-which represent the sense of being tied down, it can lead to the negative symbolism of the color black, it represents fear and sadness.

Even though he's surrounded with everything, all things that a child could dream of, he still looked like as if he's bored.

2. "Liar Doll" - Daiyou Uonome

fig. 14, Reference 3, source; (https://www.deviantart.com/daiyou-uonome/art/Liar-Doll-252087340), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

Observation

At a first glance, the design shows typical of "a girl who does everything for her love", "simp", ideas. It looked like a typical of design that shows the pure love of a girl. The overall designs have the pinkish vibe color. It majorly describes about the sense of innocence and purity of love. There're lots of supporting elements like dolls, desserts, ribbons, and hearts. There's also lace patterns on some parts of the design. But turns out, if we deeply analyzed the design, it has different meanings.

Analysis

In theory about the design principles, The design is balanced, it's emphasized on the girl in the middle, surrounded by the elements mentioned before. It also has the sense of hierarchy although it's not really seen, and the movement / flow of the design is directing to center. It doesn't really have much contrast.

fig. 15, design principles of ref 3, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

green : balance
yellow : flow
black - white : hierarchy
blue : emphasized

I noticed that she've been tied by the ribbons, which symbolize powerless, controlled.

fig. 16, ribbons in ref 3, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

I also noticed the four hearts were melting which can tell about the love is dripping, or lessen. They also have a chains that as if tied them, as if the love is dominated.

fig. 17, hearts in ref 3, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

Then, moving on to the bottom, the author draws as if the girl is on top of the cake, which and surrounded by whipped creams, cake frosting, and cake elements as if the author wants to represent the "sweet" feeling.

fig. 18, surrounding elements of ref 3, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

I also noticed there's a strawberry but it's stabbed by the fork, which symbolize wrecked love, since strawberry symbolized love.

fig. 19, symbolism in ref 3, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

The laces pattern can symbolize "revealing" it can also symbolize "nudity" depending on the context. I think of that because, the design shows as if the girl is having a seducing context.

fig. 20, lace pattern in ref 3, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

It's also more provoked by her clothes, which she wears some kind of too much revealing clothes. Her eye expression also defines two different things, fear, and dominating feeling. So, although she's being controlled actually she has the ability to control back. As if she likes to be tortured.

fig. 21, clothing of ref 3, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

I saw four dolls with scary expressions behind her, some reflects shock, and anger, which I think it represent the tabooness of what the girl is doing. The dolls represent what society thinks.

fig. 22, surrounding elements 2 in ref 3, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

So, in short, I perceived the design as if it's a love that becomes lust, about a love that demands more and more especially in terms of a sexuality. It describes about a sensual and lustful love with some dominating and tortures but at the same time it's sweet and enjoyed by the main subject.

Interpretation

I also noticed the dominant color used is pink. It symbolized femininity, and playfulness.

fig. 23, colors of ref 3, source; (https://imagecolorpicker.com), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

As for the strawberries, in the history of Ancient Rome, strawberry symbolized Venus, the Goddess of Love. Venus also symbolized encompassed love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory.

The author also used red color for the strawberry, which in the color psychology, other than it meaning about love, red defines about strong emotions, passion, desire.

VISUAL RESEARCH

(back to top)

1. "The Throne" - Daiyou Uonome

I highlighted on some keyword for the first design:
rich, spoilt, empty, unhappy, isolated, overprotection.

I thought on making a subject that is happy but actually the subject is empty inside and feared of isolation. So, I searched for some moodboard on Pinterest.

fig. 24, research 1, source; (https://pin.it/3bkK9P9), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

fig. 25, research 2, source; (https://pin.it/6ERrAsl), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

I'm thinking fo making someone mirroring; the mirror self is the reflection of the real person, and the person who mirror is the illustration of the person feeling / reality.

2. "Liar Doll" - Daiyou Uonome

I highlighted on some keyword for the second design:
love, lust, dominated, pleasure, desire.

I thought on how to make it feel "dominated". I came up with the idea of being choked, or held on by a bigger hand, huge one, so there's a sense of dominated there.

I found these references:

fig. 26, research 1, source; (https://pin.it/2eIxJ2z), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

fig. 27, research 2, source;(https://pin.it/6Y22hcK), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

I found a great inspiration to draw the supporting elements:

fig 28, research 3, source; (https://pin.it/7ookPkH), Week 13 (16/11/2021)

IDEA EXPLORATION
(back to top)

1. "The Throne" - Daiyou Uonome

So I made this:

fig 29, sketch 1 idea 1, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

I made a happy girl blowing a bubblegum, but actually the bubblegum reflects her stress, her emptiness of being isolated, on her eye, there's a reflection of bird cage.

I also made this:

fig 30, sketch 2 idea 1, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

It's a girl with a big hole over her body, but when she see herself on the mirror, there's a pretty girl, with pearl necklace, make up, and a beautiful dress. I also drew a chain as if she's tied by something and she can't go anywhere.

2. "Liar Doll" - Daiyou Uonome

So, I came up with these sketches:

fig 31, sketch 1 idea 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

fig 32, sketch 2 idea 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

fig 33, sketch 1 idea 2, Week 13 (16/11/2021)

I used the rotten roses and roses thorn to symbolized broken love / incomplete love. I made the facial expression feeling okay / seducing because I want to tell the "pleasure and desire". I used the ribbons on the first sketch, and big hand choking up on the subject as the sense of dominating.

Mr. Charles said that the meaning in the first sketch isn't really specified, so I used the second sketch to continue with, but enhance the expression to make the concept clearer. Also, the covering hand on the face, will be better if it's on the neck. I hadn't thought of how the facial expression should be, since I'm not really experienced in doing this kind of artwork, so, I just did some changing on the things mentioned, except the facial expression:

fig 34, base coloring, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

I finally found the facial expression I thought suit. Then, I edit the color scheme. I found a pinkish color scheme on google, and I think it's kind of similar with Daiyou Unome's:

fig 35, palette idea 1, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

It fits good, but the objective isn't "recreating" the artwork, but making something inspired by it. Not that I didn't want to use it because it didn't fit the objective, but I'm kinda unsure of using pink, because pink is a soft color, and I want to make something more "passionate". So, I'm using this red color scheme:

fig 36, palette idea 2, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

Mr. Charles said it's better, the elements are there and good, but perhaps adding more elements would be great, so I after I created some shading, I add these thorns and add some messy hair on there:

fig 37, coloring progression 1, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

I want to make something as if she's laying on the bed, so I add some messy bed sheet texture.

fig 38, coloring progression 2, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

Then, after that, I finalize my work and this's the result:

fig 39, Visual Analysis Project (Final) JPG, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

fig 40, Visual Analysis PDF, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

fig 41, Visual Analysis Project (Final) PDF, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

Rationale:

Inspired form Daiyou Uonome's “Liar Doll”, I intended to express the idea of "pleasure of being dominated". Highlighting the words; love, lust, dominated, pleasure, desire that I found from the main reference as the idea.

I made a illustration artwork showing a girl being choked by someone, but still, instead of suffering, she’s pleasured by it. It’s similar with the idea of “masochist” word; someone who enjoy activity that happen to be painful or tedious.

I choose her being choked up on the neck, because the act of suffocating is a representation of dominance. It’s also an act of sexual asphyxiation; act of choking someone as sexual pleasure. The thorns also act as supporting elements to show the “painfulness”. I drew her under the blanket to give the sense of being “wrapped” or “tied”; powerless enough to move. The pleasure is expressed by the girl’s facial expression. I choose to draw a facial expression that represent both pleasure and suffer, to tell something like, “It’s actually hurt (suffering), but I really like it (pleasure).” It’s also filled with flowers, specifically roses as a representation of love. The red color used as I thought it’s the best color to represent sense of love, passion, desire, heat, sexuality, lust.

Word Count:

VISUAL ANALYSIS

fig 42, Visual Analysis Word Count, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

RATIONALE

fig 43, Rationale Word Count, Week 14 (23/11/2021)

FEEDBACK

(back to top)

WEEK 11:

n/a

WEEK 12:

n/a

WEEK 13:

(16/11/2021)

The idea of using strawberry is unclear.
Need to focus on the main protagonist.
The expression in the first sketch is not clear.

WEEK 14:

(26/11/2021)

Other than the expression (because it's not clear whether she's suffering or having pleasure), everything's good.
Need to complete the elements.

REFLECTION
(back to top)

WEEK 11:

I didn't really understand what the final project asked us to do, so I'm still looking for designs to be analyzed. I couldn't decide on which design should I choose, as there're lots of great design I found. Not much progression in this week.

WEEK 12:

I finally got enlightened on what to do after saw some of my friends worked. But still, I couldn't finalize a design that I want to choose. But because I understood the assignment (I think(??)), it's easier to choose the design. Since I thought I started late, I planned to substitute my working hour for this project with the other subject's project. (it really helps, since once I'm attached to a project, I'm a non-stop worker person) :>

WEEK 13:

Haven't yet got a final artwork to be chosen :( I realized that I'm very late compared to other students in my class, some of them had event did 50%+ progress. I'm became very pessimistic of this actually.

It's hard to did decision making. To counter the problem. I choose 3 design best I like then I analyzed all of them, since I never feel burdened in analyzing something - it's a fun thing to do! Thus, I got some choices to choose, I want to choose something that's unusual for me, so I choose the third one.

WEEK 14:

It's such a relieve to finally finalized my artwork concept. I got clearer direction on where I'm heading too. I'm also grateful for choosing my choice now, as I learnt new things form it. I don't know how the result will be, but I'm happy with that, as I did my best.

(back to top)

Search This Blog

Abigail Kartika Darmowinoto (0350525)

Design Principle / Project 3

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Experiential Design / Task 1

How to Create Jump Link

Experiential Design / Task 2