TASK1
A.Gestalt theory
Gestalt Theory is a psychological theory of perception, It was first
proposed by German psychologists
Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler, and Kurt Koffka in the early
20th century. The theory asserts that:
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
It emphasizes that when humans perceive visually, they
automatically organize information to form a meaningful whole,
rather than looking at individual parts in isolation. This theory is
widely used in graphic design, UI/UX design, advertising,
architecture, photography, art and many other fields.
Fig.1.1： Example of Gestalt theory
1.Principle of approximation
Elements that are close to each other are treated as a whole, even
if they are different in shape, size, or color.
This type of grouping helps to organize information and make
reading more fluent.
2.Principle of Similarity
Elements of similar color, shape, size, texture, or orientation
are more likely to be grouped together.
The visual system preferentially associates objects that look
similar.
3.Principle of Continuity
The human eye tends to flow visually along smooth paths or curves,
rather than being interrupted by unrelated elements.
Continuous lines, shapes, or color gradients can guide the
viewer's eye movement.
4.Principle of Closure
Even if a shape is incomplete, the human brain automatically fills
in the missing parts and sees it as a complete figure.
This is a key principle in visual identity and brand design.
5.Principle of Connectedness
Physical or visual connections (such as lines, frames, colors,
etc.) allow elements to be perceived as a whole rather than as
separate individuals.
Connections can be explicit (such as dots connected by lines) or
implicit (such as color partitions).
6.Principle of Figure & Ground
The visual perception system automatically sees some parts as the
subject (figure) and others as the background (bottom).
Designers can control the viewer's focus through color, contrast,
size, or placement.
7.Principle of Common Fate
Elements moving in the same direction, whether adjacent or not,
are treated as a whole.
This dynamic perception is very important in interaction design.
8.Principle of Past Experience
The way the visual system is interpreted is influenced by past
experience, especially symbols, words, or colors that are familiar
to us.
Cultural background and personal experience can influence the
understanding of visual elements.
B.Contrast
Contrast draws attention to differences in color, shape, size,
material, etc., and enhances readability and visual impact. For example,
in web design, white text on a black background creates a strong
contrast, making information more recognizable.
In Fig.1.2,the black and white background forms a sharp contrast of
color blocks, and the shadow of the egg enhances the contrast of light
and shadow, showing a strong application of contrast principles as a
whole.
Fig.1.2： Example of Contrast
C.Emphasis
Emphasis refers to bringing an element into focus by amplifying its
visual weight. This can be done through colors, highlighting, shape
changes, or dynamic effects. For example, large headlines in news
posters are often more prominent than the body text to attract the
reader's attention.
In Fig.1.3, this image embodies the principle of emphasis through
color contrast and visual difference. The whole puzzle is white, only
one puzzle is bright red, forming a strong color contrast, making it a
visual focus.
Fig.1.3： Example of Emphasis
In Figure 1.4, the image also embodies the principle of emphasis
through color contrast and visual differences. Most of the umbrellas
are black, and only one umbrella is bright red, creating a strong
color contrast that makes it a visual focus.
D.Balance
Balance refers to the arrangement of visual elements in such a way
that the overall design feels stable and harmonious. There are two
main types of it:
Symmetrical Balance: symmetrical left and right or up and
down, as in traditional architectural design.
In Fig.1.5, this picture reflects the principle of symmetrical
balance through axial symmetry, balanced weight distribution and
simple and orderly composition, making the picture stable and
harmonious, in line with the concept of "balance".
Fig.1.5： Example of Symmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical Balance: The use of elements of different
weights to achieve visual balance, such as the combination of shapes
of varying sizes in modern poster design.
In Fig.1.6, this figure reflects the principle of asymmetrical
balance through color contrast and shape distribution. The black and
white areas are different in size, but the visual weight is equal,
making the picture both dynamic and stable.
Fig.1.6： Example of Asymmetrical Balance
E.Repetition
Repetition refers to the use of the same or similar visual elements in
a design, such as colors, patterns, shapes, or fonts, to create a sense
of consistency and rhythm. For example, brand logos are often the same
color and font style to enhance brand identity.
In Fig.1.7, the repetition principle is reflected through the repeated
arrangement of multiple words.
Fig.1.7： Example of Repetition
F.Movement
Movement refers to the flow path that guides the viewer's eye in the
design, which can be achieved through guiding lines, directional
elements, gradients, etc. For example, a sliding animation in dynamic
web design guides the user from one area to another.
In Fig.1.8, multiple circles are arranged around each other to form a
curve visually, and there is a sense of circular inward movement, which
is conducive to attracting people's line of sight and highlighting the
principle of movement.
G.Harmony & Unity
Harmony refers to the coordination of each element in terms of style,
color, proportion, etc., while unity emphasizes the sense of
wholeness. For example, minimalist web design uses consistent tones,
white space, and font styles to enhance the overall visual
experience.
In Fig.1.9, the whole design is mainly red, supplemented by white and a
little orange, so that the visual feeling is harmonious and consistent.
Moreover, a unified font style is used to make the whole picture have a
sense of coordination.
Fig.1.9： Example of Harmony Unity
H.Symbol
Symbols are part of a cultural or visual language that can express
complex information in a concise form. For example, the red "+" usually
stands for medical treatment, and the five-ring symbol symbolizes the
Olympic Games.
In Fig.1.10, each individual symbol is composed of geometric figures,
symbolizing different concepts (for example, "teamwork" is represented
by a circle, representing close connection). The figure uses simple
geometric symbols and color matching to make abstract concepts
concrete.
Fig.1.10： Example of Symbols
I.Word and Image
The combination of word and image is an important principle of modern visual
communication. Good typography can enhance the readability of
information, and images can provide intuitive information. For
example, in advertising design, brand slogans are paired with visual
elements to make the message more impactful and appealing.
In Fig.1.11, the word "apple" is designed to match the outline of the
apple, and the letter "a" is subtly morphed into the shape of the apple,
making the text and image echo each other.
Fig.1.11： Example of Word and Image
Art/design work
Fig1.12:Graziano Locatelli's broken
Name of design work：broken
Design medium: ceramic
Design by ：Graziano Locatelli
Year: 1995, 2012
Dimensions: 124 x 140 cm
Why did I choose this piece?
I chose this painting by Graziano Locatelli because it
shows the themes of breaking free, breaking through and
being reborn in a particularly powerful visual way. It is
not just a sculpture, but a profound metaphor for human
psychology, social constraints and individual freedom.
1. Visually stunning and surreal performance
Using a cracked tile wall effect, the painting depicts a
body breaking free from the wall, as if trying to break
through some invisible barrier. This kind of surreal
creativity makes people feel special, as if they can feel
the struggle and pain of the people in the sculpture.
2. Symbolic meaning of materials
Locatelli uses hard tiles to express the softness and
fragility of the human body, creating a strong contrast.
This choice of material not only makes the work more
dramatic, but also makes the concept of "breakthrough" more
concrete. The moment the tile breaks is frozen, symbolizing
the tension between oppression and resistance.
3. The depth of the theme - break free and rebirth
The picture reminds me of the struggles and changes people
go through in their lives. Whether it is limited by the
social framework, personal psychological dilemma, or the
shackles of traditional concepts, many people will have the
feeling of being trapped, and this painting is the specific
expression of this state.
A broken wall is not just a barrier, it can be an outlet to
freedom. This juxtaposition of pain and hope makes the work
full of power.
Observed design principles:
First, there is a lot of contrast in the painting, such as the contrast in materials: the
tile walls are usually hard, slippery, and neat, but the
three-dimensional figures on the walls are like soft cloth
(like a body covered by cloth), and this contrast makes
the painting more dramatic. There are also light and
shadow contrasts: the paintings use black and white or
grayscale tones to make light and shadow more obvious,
highlighting the layers between the broken tiles and the
three-dimensional figures. Finally, there is the contrast
of form: the neat tile wall and the broken, protruding
shape form a strong contrast, making the visual impact
stronger.
Emphasis
The main image in the center of the picture seems to stand
out from the wall and become the focus of the vision. The
broken tile fragments spread out in all directions, in sharp
contrast to the undamaged tile, thus highlighting the main
body. The contrast of light and shadow further enhances the
three-dimensional sense, making the main image more prominent.
The dynamic injection adds tension to the picture, effectively
drawing the viewer's attention and focusing on the core area.
On the whole, through the clever use of these visual elements,
the main body is successfully highlighted and the emphasis
principle is perfectly reflected.
Feedback
Week 1
GeneralFeedback:Ms. JINCHI gave a brief
introduction to the project and explained the next
requirements.
Specific Feedback:We need to start task 1.
Week 2
GeneralFeedback: Ms. Wong thought my blog was too
long and that it should be divided into sections to make it
more aesthetically pleasing, and suggested that I enlarge
the images appropriately and label them with information
such as sources.
Specific Feedback: For the size of the picture, it should be suitable.
Secondly, I should understand the deeper meaning of the
selection of art works, because it will be more conducive to
the future task, which I can continue to carry out.
Week 3
GeneralFeedback:Ms. Wong told me about the problems
related to the selection of my art works, the most important
one is that the design principles of balance are not clearly
reflected in the pictures I choose, but the design
principles of emphasis are omitted.
Specific Feedback:Revise design principles and correctly write references to
images in the text.
Reflections
Learning from Task 1 made me understand the basic principles of
Gestalt theory, such as that things are placed close together,
look like, or appear to be a complete shape, which affects how
we see things. I also learned how to use contrast and emphasis
to attract attention, and how to use balance and repetition to
make a design look neater and more harmonious. I began to
understand that design is not only beautiful, but also
scientific, and has to conform to people's habits of looking at
things. For example, when typesetting, I pay more attention to
contrast and emphasis to highlight important information. When
laying out, use balance and repetition to make the design look
more unified and coordinated. At the same time, I also realized
that people's viewing habits are really important, and good
design not only needs to look good, but also needs to be easy to
understand and use. In general, this study makes me more aware
of how to make the information level clearer, the design clearer
and more efficient, and also makes me more motivated to explore
and improve my design level.
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