Gestalt Theory and Contrast - Exercise 1

[GCD60804]

Week 1 

Andi Syahnaz Asyira - 0350545

Bachelor in Fashion Design Technology (Hons)

Taylor's University

Design Principles

On our first meeting with Ms. Jinchi, she briefed us on the Module Information Booklet for this semester. She gave us a summary of what we will be learning this week. she also showed us how to access the slides and pre-recorded lecture videos to further understand the lesson. 

This week we learned about the Elements and Principles of Design, as well as Gestalt theory and contrast.

Elements of Design : Point, Line, Shape, Form, Texture, Space, and Colour. 

Principles of Design : Contrast, Balance, Emphasis, Rules of Third, Repetition/Pattern/Rhythm, Movement, Hierarchy, Alignment, Harmony, Unity, Proportion

These elements and principles are used to convey a purposeful message to the audience and helps create a more effective and aesthetically pleasing design. 

Contrast is the juxtaposition of strongly dissimilar elements (such as colour, tone or emotion). Contrast can add visual interest to the artwork, because without it, the visual experience can look dull or monotonous. As you can see in the image below, there is a huge contrast between the pyramid and the sky. This is because blue and yellow are opposite each other on the colour wheel. Not only that, the different shades of blue and yellow adds more depth and definition into the image.

Figure 1.1

https://www.deviantart.com/sirlinkofkokiri/art/Pyramids-of-Colour-Contrast-Light-and-Dark-801236348

Gestalt refers to shape or form in German. Gestalt principle are rules that describe how the human eye perceives visual elements. These principles aim to show how complex designs can be made into simpler ones. They also explain how the eyes perceive shapes as a single united form instead of separate elements.

There are 6 principles in Gestalt Theory : 

1. Principle of Similarity
2. Principle of Continuation
3. Principle of closure
4. Principle of proximity
5. Principle of Figure/Ground
6. Law of Symmetry and order 

Exercise 1 - Produce 1 design of Gestalt Theory and 1 design of Contrast 

Gestalt Theory

Visual research 

Figure 2.1

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/511017888938099595/

Figure 2.2

https://www.cnnindonesia.com/hiburan/20200311135141-220-482509/disney-umumkan-pemeran-film-peter-pan-versi-live-action

For the Gestalt Theory, I decided to take inspiration from this image that I found on pinterest. The image reminded me of Peter Pan, so I was thinking of combining those two factors into my design.

Idea exploration and final outcome before the feedback

First, I made a sketch of what I wanted the design to look like. For the gestalt, I changed the figure of the man into Wendy, and added Peter Pan into the background. 

Figure 2.3

I traced the design I chose to the back of the reflective paper and cut them out. Then I stick the design on a piece of black construction paper. I decided to use reflective paper because it added a nice texture, since the design is very simple. 

Figure 2.4

Feedback from the lecturer

Ms. Jinchi said my design did not really show the idea of a Gestalt art, she also said I could have included tinker bell into the design. After getting the feedback from Ms. Jinchi, I decided to change the whole design but still incorporating the Peter Pan concept. 

Visual research and Idea exploration 

Figure 2.6

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/147704062757417967/

I took inspiration from the image above, and tried to incorporate Peter Pan to the design. I changed the silhouette of the two animals and changed them into Peter and Wendy. I tried playing around with the design and this is what I came up with. I chose this design because the tree reminded me of Neverland. 

Figure 2.7

Final Outcome for Gestalt Theory

Figure 2.8 

This is my final outcome for Gestalt theory. I added Tinker Bell in the end to further add the Peter Pan concept to the artwork.

Contrast

Visual research

I wasn't sure where to start looking for inspiration, so I just searched for contrast art ideas on google and came across this picture of an orange in a blue background. I liked how simple the design is but how it still shows great contrast between the colours. 

Figure 3.1

https://www.matrix.edu.au/literary-techniques-contrast/

Idea exploration and final outcome before the feedback

For the Contrast art, I also made a rough sketch to see an idea of what I want the design to look like. I ended up choosing a black background instead of blue because the blue was too light, and I thought the black would make the bright yellow of the lemon pop up more.

Figure 3.2

First, I drew the design on the construction paper, and cut them. After that, I just glued it onto the black construction paper that I will be using as the background.

Figure 3.3

Feedback from the lecturer 

Ms. Jinchi said if I wanted to make it more interesting, I could simplify the design by removing some of the lemons and leaves.

Idea exploration

Figure 3.4

After thinking of a few ways to fix the design, I ended up just drawing this very simple design of a lemon, because I was thinking of putting the main focus of contrast in the colours, like the image I chose for my first visual research.

Final outcome for Contrast

Figure 3.5

This is my final outcome for Contrast. I chose yellow and blue because they are opposite each other in the colour wheel, so I thought that would add contrast to the image.