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Design Principles - Task 1: Exploration


9/2/2026 - 5/3/2026 (Week 1 - Week 4)

Cher Pei Ying (0389055)

Design Principles

Task 1: Exploration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

    3.1 Exploration

1. LECTURES

My lecture notes:

2. INSTRUCTIONS



For this task, we are required to describe each of the design principles learnt and find a example picture other than the given examples from lectures. After that, we need to select a suitable design to write a 150 - 200 word explanation. The design principles used in the selected artwork should also be stated.

3. WORK PROCESS

3.1 Exploration

There are 9 design principles:
- Gestalt theory 
- Contrast 
- Emphasis 
- Balance 
- Repetition 
- Movement 
- Harmony & Unity 
- Symbol 
- Word and Image

Gestalt theory is how the human eye perceives visual elements. By that, complex scenes are reduced to simple shapes and are perceived into single and united forms. There are six types of gestalt principles:

1. Principle of Similarity: Similar elements look like a complete picture, shape or group

This work contains two types of circles in different sizes and color: the big black circles and the small white circles. Even though they are scattered across the canvas unevenly, our eyes naturally group the circles with similar characteristics together to create a complete shape. Therefore, we can see the small white circles flowing from the top left of the picture towards the right side, it becomes one whole shape even though they are actually individual circles. The big black circles then act as a background when we visually group them as a whole.

2. Principle of Continuation: Continues flow of visual elements are seen through paths, lines and curves
Figure 2.2 The Guardian by Francesco Ciccolella

The lines and curves that flow out from the person's head towards the top right of the artboard guides the viewer’s eyes from the bottom upwards, creating a sense of motion and thought flow. This creates a continues movement of the eyes across the artwork.

3. Principle of Closure: Filling in missing visual information to see a complete shape


The human faces are bright in color when the background is pale, this difference in color causes strong contrast, therefore even though the empty space in the middle is not drawn, we can see lines and curves with the edges of the human faces, then our eyes naturally fill the empty spaces in to see a bird. So we can see the bird in a complete shape even though it is not drawn.

4. Principle of Proximity: Related design elements are placed together

Figure 2.4 Unilever logo

In this logo, each of the small icons are an individual shape when they are separated, but because they are placed close together and has the same color, our brain perceives them as one whole single, so we can see a big letter "U".

5. Principle of Figure/Ground: Objects perceived as being the foreground or background

In this illustration, if the focus is on the black shapes, the figure will appear to be a big tree with the white areas serving as the background, but if the focus shifts to the white shapes, the faces of a gorilla and a lion become the figure, while the black tree forms the background. This change in foreground and background differs when the viewer shifts their attention to one specific element.

6. Law of symmetry and order: Symmetrical elements are seen as a unified group


For this picture, each of the shape on the left has a corresponding shape on the right, just with inverted colors. If you fold this picture in half, you can see that the shapes will be identically overlapped, therefore they are completely symmetrical, and they will be seen as one unified picture.

Contrast is the comparison of strongly dissimilar elements. No contrast = monotonous visual experience
Figure 2.7 Movie poster of Schindler's List

This poster shows strong contrast in color and shape. First of all, the little girl at the front is wearing a bright red jacket, this bright saturation of color differs the girl from the dark background, therefore creating contrast. Other than that, the girl is short compared to the tall adults behind her, this contrast fully shows that the girl is the main figure and the adults are only placed at the background to complement the girl.

Balance is the distribution of visual weight to achieve a balanced image. Balance can be dived into two types:

1. Symmetrical Balance: Achieves equal weight and arrangement in a design.

Figure 2.8 American Gothic by Grant Wood

This piece of art achieves approximate symmetry where the painting does not have identical elements but still create balance. Although the two humans on the left and right are not exactly the same, they have the same face shape and figure, therefore creating a sense of symmetricity throughout the picture. The house in the middle also acts as the division line of the two, creating clear balance to the left and right of the picture.

2. Asymmetrical Balance: Has unequal visual weight with the combination of a dominant element and a lesser focal point.
Figure 2.9 The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

In this piece, the tall dark tree on the left is the dominant element overall, it first shifts viewers eyes to the left side of the artboard as it carries more visual weight. Then, the swirling night sky fills the upper right with dynamic movement. Lastly, the bottom background acts as the lesser focal point of the picture, creating balance without completely mirroring the piece.

Emphasis creates dominance and focus in a design work where a element appears more dominant than the rest.
Figure 2.10 "Harvest II" by artist Jeff Jordan

In this picture, the orange pear is the most dominant figure because it has the brightest color and biggest shape, snatching viewers attention to look at the pear first. After that, viewers will only shift the attention to the human with a more dark and small figure, which is the complementary element of the picture. Lastly the background surroundings act as the lesser focal point in the picture.

Repetition increases visual excitement by enriching surface interest with repeated elements.

Figure 2.11 Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol

This print repeats the same photograph multiple times in a grid-like arrangement while it contrasts variations in color and tone between the panels. This consistent recurrence of image creates rhythm and unity, making the work visually more striking and conceptually powerful.

Movement leads the eye in, around and through a composition with paths.
Figure 2.12 The Great Wave off Kanagawa

This artwork shows movement through both line and composition. Firstly, the curling waves are drawn with diagonal curves that guide the viewer’s eye across the scene, creating a sense of movement in turbulence. The tips of the waves that are drawn with fine and jagged lines shows crashing water in motion while the tilted boats struggle against the force of the sea. Mount Fuji in the background also enhances the feeling of continuous action. Together, these elements convey dynamic, making the scene feel alive and in constant motion.

Harmony is the sense that all of the elements fit together. A design with harmony has to fulfill multiple design principles such as emphasis, balance, repetition and movement.

Figure 2.13 The Umbrellas by  Pierre-Auguste Renoir

This piece shows harmony in various aspects. First of all, it has a very balanced composition where the figures and umbrellas are organized in a way that guides the viewer’s eye smoothly across the scene. The umbrellas are also painted in a rhythmic pattern, creating visual symmetry. Besides, the painting uses a muted and soft palette of the color blue, grey and earth tones, which unifies the scene. By balancing cool and warm colors, it gives the image a cohesive and calm feeling.

Unity is the repetition of particular elements to create balance and make a picture one.

Figure 2.14 Sunflower by Vincent van Gogh

This painting’s palette of warm yellows, golds and earthy browns ties all the elements together to create a very cohesive visual effect, marking the overall vibe and tone of the picture. Besides, the repeated shapes of the sunflowers also establish a rhythmic pattern that connects each flower to the next, uniting all the shapes of the piece into one.

Symbol provides information to sentences of text or story. In Non-Figurative Representations, symbols are split into two types, which are visuals and graphics symbols. There are three types of graphic symbols:

1. Pictorial Symbols: Relates and represents the actual image
Figure 2.15 Farmer Man with Plant & Tree Logo Vector Image

This picture shows a man watering a plant, which clearly represents the meaning of the actual image.

2. Abstract Symbols: Look like the real object but with less details
Figure 2.16 International Symbol of Access

This logo is a minimalist drawing of a person on a wheelchair, it's simplicity makes it easy to understand even though it lacks in decorative detail.

3. Arbitrary Symbols: Have no resemblance to the object they represent and has to be designed.

Figure 2.17 Olympic symbols

If the Olympic symbol are separated into individuals, they are just five circles, but when combined together, everyone knows its meaning. It has no resemblance to the object they are but the meaning behind it has to be learnt by people.

Word and Image gives the viewer information through typography and composition.

Figure 2.18 Typography poster

The way the text are placed in this poster creates a complete shape that represents an elephant, it's message is also clear as the text are highlighted in different colors to emphasize the key words. The style of the text also catches the viewers attention as it looks like strokes of blood, connecting to the artworks meaning of killing elephants. The use of image also brings out the meaning of the poster as we can see sorrow in the elephant eyes.

3.2 Selected Artwork

Chosen artwork:

Title of design: The Umbrellas
Designed by: Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Designed year: 1880-1886
Size: 180.3 cm × 114.9 cm
Medium used: Oil on canvas
Source: National Gallery, London

It is interesting to see the use of the same color in different tones and how it shows emotion through applying it in art, this also shows that an artwork does not need to have too much variety of colors to look good, in this case it avoids the composition to look too chaotic even though many people appear in the frame. 

The umbrellas show the setting of the piece very well. Even though there are no rain drops drawn, we know that it is raining. I think this is a very smart decision because adding rain droplets into the piece might destroy it's harmony and make the piece look all over the place.

Overall, this artwork maintains a calm and unified mood despite having a busy urban setting because the harmony in color and repetition allows the viewer to focus on the overall atmosphere rather than being distracted by individual elements. It's aesthetic is pleasing to the eyes and comfortable to view at, making it a good reference to use in my own design.

(175 words)
Design principles in this artwork:
1. Contrast 
2. Emphasis
3. Balance
4. Repetition 
5. Movement 
6. Harmony & Unity 

4. FEEDBACK

Week 1:
Both the pictures I chose for contrast are suitable but it is suggested to chose only one to ease the selection process during Task 2. As for the rationale, write it detailed with my own understanding, not only listing out the elements in the chosen picture.

Week 2:
Continue to add the selected design interested as a foundation to extend to Task 2. Also add feedbacks into the posts.

Week 3:
Good observations in the description written for the selected artwork, but make sure to elaborate more on the design principles and the meaning of the author when designing the art piece in Task 2. Other than that, contrast and movement of perspective is also included in the selected artwork.

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