Design Principles

P r i n c i p l e s

Based on: Picture This: How Pictures Work by Molly Bang

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01 - Horizontal = Stability and Calm

02 - Vertical = more active, reaching up

3 – Diagonal = implies motion or tension, thus dynamic

Exercise:

Use 15 black shapes to create a dynamic sense of motion.

10 minutes

4 – Upper half of picture plane = freedom, happiness, triumph, “spiritual”

“top of the charts”, “top gun”, “top dog”, “things are looking up”, “high as a kite”

4 -- Lower half of picture plane = grounded, yet, threatened, heavier, sadder, and constrained

“down on the dumps”, “feeling down”, “low life”, “low-down dirty dog”

5 – Center of picture plane = Point of greatest attention

Closer to edges and corners = Greater Tension

“He’s cornered”, “She’s in a tight corner”, “Edgy”, “On edge”, “Being pushed over the edge”.

6 – Light Backgrounds vs. Dark Backgrounds=

Safe vs. Dangerous - - - - - - - - - (context depending) Washed out vs. Glowing

7 – Pointed Shapes = Threatening

Knives, arrows, spears, missiles, rockets, rocky mountains, saw blades, fangs, etc.

7 – Curved Shapes = secure

Rolling hills, rolling seas, boulders, rivers, curves of the body, etc.

8 – Larger shapes = Stronger Shapes

Exercise: Cut out the displayed shapes and arrange into two groups. 10 min.

Exercise: Cut out the displayed shapes and arrange into two groups. 10 min.

9 – Association of similar colors is stronger than association of similar shapes.

10 – Contrasts enable us to see.

Exercise:

Using black shapes on white paper, create a picture which evokes repetition and confusion/regularity and irregularity/ order and disorder.

40 minutes

Notes on Space

Space creates isolation and vulnerability.

Figure/Ground -- Positive/Negative Space

Overlapping

Furthest ---------- BACKGROUND ----------- top of picture MIDDLE-GROUND Closest ------------- FOREGROUND ----------- bottom of picture

Greater sense of space = Progressively smaller/thinner/lighter shapes

Misc. Notes:Gestalt = Sum is greater than its parts

-Figure/ Ground -Similarity -Grouping -Closure -Continuity

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