Design Principles Exercise 3: Harmony, Unity, Symbol, Word and Image

October 05, 2021

Design Principles Exercise 3: Harmony, Unity, Symbol, Word and Image

07/09/2021 - 03/10/2021 (W3 - W6)
Evaleez Voo Lian Yun/ 0350275
Design Principles/ Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Exercise 3: Harmony, Unity, Symbol, Word and Image

Index

Lectures

Lecture 4: Harmony and Unity

Harmony

Involves the selection of elements that share a common trait.
Harmony becomes monotomy without variety.
The sense that all of the elements fit together i.e theme, aethethic style or mood.

Analagous colours

Nothig jumps out and scares you.

Examples:

Fig 1.0 Harmony 1 (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Fig 1.1 Harmony 2 (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Unity

Repition of particular elements throughout your design i.e. colours, shapes or materials, to pull the look together.
Balances and give a sense of oneness, creating a theme

Examples:

Fig 1.2 Unity 1 (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Fig 1.3 Unity 2 (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Scale

The size and dimension of figures and forms relative to a specifif unit of measure
Used to specify/ illustrate details based on the relaztive sizes of objects.
Deviation from a normal scale relationship can create visual interest.
How to determine:

Actual Measurement
Visual estimates based on comparison

Examples:

Fig 1.4 Scale 1 (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Fig 1.5 Scale 2 (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Proportion

The relationship of two or more elements in a composition and how they compare (ratio) to one another with respect to:

Size
Colour
Quantity
Degree
Setting

Harmony and Unity when a correct relationship exists between the elements.

Examples:

Fig 1.6 Proportion 1 (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Fig 1.7 Proportion 1 (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Lecture 5: Symbol, Word & Image

Symbol

Been around since prehistoric times.
Can be seen for:

Brands
Products
Timeless Concept and Values

Sign, shape or object that is used to represent something else.
Provide or convey information, equivalent to one or more sentences of test, or even a whole story.
Pictorial Symbols:

Image relatied and simplified pictures.

Fig 1.8 Pictorial Symbol (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Abstract Symbols:

Can look like objects that they represent but with less details.

Fig 1.9 Abstract Symbol (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Arbitrary Symbols

No resemblance to the objects or ideas they represents.
Invented with the meaning constructed.
Many are based on geometric shapes and colours.
We have to learn them.

Fig 2.0 Arbitrary Symbol (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Word and Image

Vital for print or digital.
It is important to use suitable and relevant images when designing.
Suitable typeface and strategic positioning will result in visual hierarchu and balance.

Examples:

Fig 2.1 Image and Text (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Description:

Air Asia graphics (left) showcase a younger, energetic vibe with their choice of typeface and how the models are posed and placed. MAS graphics (right) gives a more sophisticated and calm look which hilghtlights stabiliy.

Fig 2.2 Image and Text (22/09/21)
Source: Lecture

Instructions

MIB:

Visual Research

Unity

For research purposes, I browsed through Pinterest to gain inspiration and reference from artworks by other a creators. Examples:

Note: Link to Pinterest Profiles will be added under "References".

Fig 2.3 Unity Reference 1 (29/09/21)
Source: Pinterest

Fig 2.4 Unity Reference 2 (29/09/21)
Source: Pinterest

As noted from the lecture on unity, it is a repition of particular elements throughout your design which gives the sense of oneness. My observations from these artwork:

The colour palette used are constant throughout the composition
The elements within the composition, e.g clouds, trees, etc do not defer much from each other (repetitive)
Each composition has a "vibe" or "mood" that the artist would like to convey, i.e a blue tones to show calmness and serenity.

Harmony

Under the same process as unity, I also used Pinterest to discover new inspiration for my composition.

Examples:

Note: Link to Pinterest Profiles will be added under "References".

Fig 2.5 Harmony Reference 1 (01/10/21)
Source: Pinterest

Fig 2.6 Harmony Reference 1 (01/10/21)
Source: Pinterest

From the lecture on harmony, the lecturer stated that harmony involves the selection of elements that share a common trait. At the same time, all the elements fit together perfect in a harmonious way. Some observations from these two creators:

In the first glance, you can definitely feel the sense of harmony either with the use of analogous colours or the elements chosen to be used.
For the first reference, the visual elements of the composition are clearly under the same umbrella which is space/ planets
The contrast from the colour of the sun brings variety in the artwork to prevent monotomy.

Idea Exploration and Description

Unity

To futher deepen my understanding on Untiy, I looked through the meaning of the word in the Cambridge Dictionary:

Unity (noun) - The state of being joined together or in agreement.

When I saw the word joined, I remembered a past memory from 2019. That year, someone I knew lost their battle with cancer. It was terrible. Everyone was sad and the air was gloomy. I sat in the corner of the funeral home, listening to the eulogy for the deceased. She was a great person - kind, unassuming and generous. Amidst the wails and cries, I could see relatives hudling together, warming each other's hearts, trying to get through this tough period. What I saw was unity.

Hence, my first idea was to draw a funeral.

Fig 2.7 Funeral/ Marriage Procession (29/09/21)
Source: Pinterest

The second idea I had was also somewhat affected by the first one - a mother's love, and how some were not blessed with the child they wanted or unfortuntely have lost them. Hence I a sub-theme of joined I wanted to showcase was "found".

I ended up using the second idea, because it was hard to find photo reference of a funeral (with the open casket as suggested by Dr. Charles) and to me, it felt like I would be disrespecting the ones who passed by illustrating the experience.

Process:

Fig 2.8 Unity Process 1 (30/09/21)

1. Adding clouds to the composition to represent heaven. I played around the placement of the gate to see which one suited better.

Fig 2.9 Unity Process 2 (30/09/21)

2. Inserting a rule of thirds template on the composition to make a better composition.

Fig 3.0 Unity Process 3 (30/09/21)

3. Adding the mother-child duo and their gravestones :(

Fig 3.1 Unity Process 4 (30/09/21)

4. Drawing in birds and adding blur effect (gives the composition more depth and layering + a bit of motion).

Fig 3.2 Unity Process 5 (30/09/21)

5. Final touch ups. A sunset gradient map was overlayed on top of the entire piece to give it more warmth (as it is a reuniting story) and some minor adjustmetns with the RGB values in the composition.

Timalapse:

Harmony

Sketch 1

For harmony, the first sketch I made was about a peacock with its colours spread out in a radial direction.

Fig 3.3 Harmony Sketch 1 (21/09/21)

Dr. Charles like the idea and suggested I modify it to become a mandala in the background. However. after continously testing it out for days I just couldn't come up with a good composition - everything was a mess. The composition did not feel harmonious and my heart felt the same.

Sketch 2

My mind was a mess the entire week (I have no idea why but everything felt tiring and my motivation level was very much at the lowest point - art block? maybe). Anyways, I came up with a second sketch and it involved the 12 Chinese zodiacs.

Fig 3.4 Harmony Sketch 2 (28/09/21)

Whilst filling in the base colours my heart felt weird again. Something (instincts? I'm not sure) was telling me, "Nah, this ain't it." And I was once again rethinking my sketches.

Sketch 3

My last idea was to create a composition with flowers with analogous colours/ living in harmony in a swamp. I chose this idea in the end.

Process:

Fig 3.5 Sketch 3 Process 1 (02/10/21)

The first thing I did was sketch out the composition and finalize the lineart.

Fig 3.6 Sketch 3 Process 2 (02/10/21)

Filling in the base colours of the flower + filling in background colour.

Fig 3.7 Sketch 3 Process 3 (02/10/21)

Rendering the red flowers. I used a darker shade of red on a layer under multiply mode and some purple highlights to suit the surroundinf colours.

Fig 3.8 Sketch 3 Process 4 (02/10/21)

Rendering the yellow flowers. I used a darker shade of yellow (almost to the point of orange) on a layer under multiply mode and some purple highlights to the tips that are exposed to the sun.

Fig 3.9 Sketch 3 Process 5 (02/10/21)

Rendering the leaves. I used a darker shade of green on a layer under multiply mode and some lime highlights to the tips. I also added some "bushes" on the bottom part of the composition.

Fig 4.0 Sketch 3 Process 2 (02/10/21)

Testing out the backgrounds to see which one suited it best.

Results:

Fig 4.1 Outcome 1 (03/10/21)

Fig 4.2 Outcome 2 (03/10/21)

Fig 4.3 Outcome 3 (03/10/21)

Feedback

Week 5

Dr. Charles liked the idea of a peacock and suggested to add something like a mandala in the background
He also mentioned about my funeral idea and suggested to play with angles and add people crying together in grieving.

Week 6

He said everyone has their own way of survival and our modules allow us to learn how to survive.
Didn't really get feedback on my composition because I had nothing to show ಥ_ಥ. (refer to harmony idea exploration to find out why!)

Final Outcome

Unity

Fig 4.4 Unity Final Design (03/10/21)

PDF:

A Mother's Love

The story of this composition:

On 3 October 2010, a young couple, after months of failure and countless visits to the hospital, was finally able to conceive their very first child. They were both elated, especially the soon-to-be mother, as she had always wanted to have a family of her own. Unfortunately, the complications of childbirth took their seed of happiness away.

Ten years later, the mother passed. She had a frail body to start with, and her health deteriated with COVID-19 in her system. The scene I wanted to create was of them reuniting, as the birds brought the young child to their mother (like the stork story parents tell kids when talking about the birds and the bees), and also the happiness of a mother, who finally renuited with her long lost child.

Design wise, there is definitely repetition and an overall sense of oneness in the design (in my opinion). The clouds accent each other perfectly with a warm tone. Besides that, it is evident that the birds are of the same species and flock together, the way they are positioned also frame the mother and child.

Harmony

Fig 4.5 Harmony Final Outcome (03/10/21)

PDF:

In the Eyes of an Ant

In the end, I took out the lineart because it made the entire composition really messy. When I took it out, I placed a paper texture in the design because the brush I used suited it. I chose a reddish- pink background for the sky because it's analogous with the colour of the flowers (a contributing factor to harmony according to the lecture).

Reflection

To be completely honest, I was really excited to do this project at the start because harmony and unity can be used to tell stories, and I really enjoy telling stories with my illustrations. I chose a digital platform for my designs mainly because I want to be a digital illustrator in the future (traditional art is not for me). I was kinda stressed in week 6 because for some reason I couldn't create art at all. Maybe I was overwhelmed with all the assignments? I'm not sure, all I remember was rejecting every single piece of my designs midway because it just felt disasterous. Anyways, I'm glad independant week is coming so I can have a breather and maybe get inspiration while I'm outdoors.