VC1 Project 1–Research and Development

 

Research

What is figure-ground?

It is the perception of the relationship between the figure (form) and the ground (backgrounds) that surrounds it.

Types of figure-ground relationship

Stable– It’s clear what’s figure and what’s ground. One or the other usually dominates the composition.

Reversible-Both figure and ground attract the viewer’s attention equally. This creates tension, whereby either can overtake the other, leading to a dynamic design.

Ambiguous-Elements can appear to be both figure and ground simultaneously. They form equally interesting shapes, and the viewer is left to find their own entry point into the composition.

Other influencing factors

Using space as a design element:

  • Proximity – Proximity uses space to connect and separate elements by enclosing some elements in space. An example we might take for granted is paragraphs of text on the page. The space between paragraphs is greater than the space between lines of text within a paragraph.
  • Closure – This makes use of space as gaps between elements. Viewers fill in the gaps with their own information to complete a whole from the parts. Too much space and no closure occurs. Too little space and no closure is needed. Only the correct balance between space and filled-in space will activate the space and lead to closure.

 

Dictionary definition of Hope:

  • a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.
  • “he looked through her belongings in the hope of coming across some information”
  • a person or thing that may help or save someone.
  • grounds for believing that something good may happen.
  • a feeling of trust
  • wants something to happen or be the case.

Personal interpretation of Hope:

It is a positive feeling of security, safety, and comfort. Believing and wishing that something in your favor might happen. Someone is there for you. The unfavorable situation will dissipate.

Keyword Generation:

+ve NOUNS

-ve NOUNS

·      Hands

·      Birds/ Dove

·      Rainbow (after rain)

·      Freedom

·      Plants/seedlings

·      Newborn/ Birth

·      Angel

·      Dream

·      Bloom

·      Stars

·      Santa

·      Sky

·      Sunrise

·      Love/heart

·      Thousand origami crane

·      Temple/ joss stick holder

·      Quilt

·      Sunflower/four leaf clover

·      Umbrella

·      Rain

·      Tears

·      Scars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ve VERB

-ve VERB

·      Flying

·      Reaching out

·      Helping hand

·      Smile

·      Growth

·      Praying/ wishing

·      Believe

·      Wither

·      Pain

·      Isolation 

 

 

 

 

+ve ADJECTIVE

-ve ADJECTIVE

·      Yellow

·      Bright

·      Touched

·      Warmth

·      Soft

·      Full

·      Comfort

·      Security

·      Safe

·      Dark

·      Cold

·      Alone

·      Empty

 

 

 

 

 

Keyword Generation

3 Theme

(Exploration Sketch of 3 themes)

At the very beginning, generating figure-ground was really challenging for me as it is so difficult to grasp the concept of making 2 combined object together in order to look like the form you want to show. At the same time, the element chosen that you would like to inject in your form must be related to hope as well. I really not used to this. As coming from an animator background, I’m very used to illustration. I was stuck at this exploration stage for at least 3 days. Experiencing art block as you can see from all the above sketches that I’m struggling and really trying my best to grasp the idea of creating figure-ground.

However, I guess the research I have done has helped me a bit in this exploration process as I have learned to focus more on the outline and silhouette at this stage. After the exploring, I have finally came up with 3 final concept: Wishing lantern, Rainbow after the rain and The thousand cranes.

 

 

(Finalised 3 Theme)

1 ) Concept: Wishing Lantern (Chinese theme)

Wishing Lanterns

Keyword: Sky lantern, Clover (hope, love, faith, luck), Hope, Light in darkness, Wishing, Praying

Description: The first theme that I thought of was a Chinese theme and incooperate with the use of wishing lantern as a form. Wishing lantern in the Chinese culture symbolizes hope. People usually write down their wishes on the lantern and send it to the sky to hope that their wish will come true. I was inspired by that concept and went on to further explore with 3 main forms of it by tying up together in a Chinese culture theme. The first was a clover in a lantern, the second was a wishing hand that clasps together that forms the shape of the lantern and in between is the Chinese praying candle. The last was a lantern with a Buddhist Chinese goddess statue of “Guan Yin” (Goddess of mercy–associated with compassion/helping).

Feedback: However, this idea is being discouraged as it was not universal enough. Relating back to the idea of visual communication, at times in the brief of a hanging mobile of hope in the setting of the hospital. It would be more ideal that the element and form used are in a more universal visual language instead of something that not everyone might understand what is it or what it meant. Hence, after the feedback session with the class and Prof. Michael, I have decided to scrape off this idea.

 

2 ) Concept: Rainbow after the rain/ every cloud have a silver lining (雨过天晴)

Keyword: Rainbow, Umbrella, Raindrop, smile, Girl dancing in the rain, encouragement, support, perseverance

Description: The second idea was based off the chines phrase of “雨过天晴”. Meaning every cloud have a silver lining. After all the rain and storm (analogy of the bad things that happened), there will still be rainbow (symbolizes good weather, happiness, hope) showing and the bad weather will go, the good weather will eventually approach.

This saying analogy inspires me to have this concept of making a mobile that makes people feel hopeful by showing the juxtaposition between rainbow something that is hopeful versus umbrella and raindrop that is usually related to gloominess. The intended story that I would like to put across in this concept is that despite in life there are many hinderance and pessimistic events that might happen, eventually, all of these challenges and obstacle will soon be over and the “good” will come. It is a piece that I would like to show hope through encouragement to all the patients to be brave and to persevere. Stay hopeful, and things will eventually become better.

Feedback: The form of incorporating an umbrella within a rainbow is interesting. This form could be further explored and developed.

 

3 ) Concept: The Thousand Cranes (Senbazuru) (Japanese theme)

Keyword: Paper Crane, Wishing, Freedom, Support, Comfort, Peaceful, Calm, Hand

Description: The Thousand Origami Crane ( 千羽鶴 ) legend has said that if we were to fold 1000 origami crane, a wish would be granted by the god. This legend originally originated in Japan. In the present days, it is usually seen folded from families/friends to patients in the hospital as a symbolism of hoping their loved ones will get well soon. With this legend, I was inspired to create forms that show support from others with hand gestures that symbolize hope. In my mind, I pictured the entire mobile to be a very calming mobile that shows support and comfort. Hence, I have developed the first form of having 2 cranes forming a hand gesture of hope. The second, 3  cranes forming a silhouette profile of somebody wishing. The final form of 2 cranes forming a hand holding/grabbing/supporting another hand.

Feedback: The forms and message conveyed are clear and universally understandable. Instead of using 2-3 cranes to create the form of hand gesture within and make the cranes not very readable, try to keep the gesture within one crane and knock out shapes from it. In additional this look more like a dove then a crane, perhaps would like to consider using a more origami crane form. Continue working on this piece.

 

 

Moodboard

Moodboard-Thousand Crane
  • For the Crane idea, I wanted to choose something more down to earth and warm to depict the support and comfort feelings.
Moodboard-Rainbow after Rain
  • For the rainbow idea, perhaps something more colorful, either vibrant or pastel.
Moodboard-Wishing Lantern
  • For the wishing lantern, a color palette that is more like sunset color.

Form Development

Design Development Sketch

 

Design Development Digital

For the further development of the form, in general, the rainbow idea was more preferred than the crane one as the crane ones appeared as being too strong due to its hard sharp edges, it does not look hopeful at all. For the raindrop ones, the cloud is too heavy at the bottom too.

During the later part of the consultation, it was also being mention that the head is very out of place in this piece as compared to the other elements. Hence, I have squeeze and simplify the “girl dancing in rain” element into within one raindrop.

Simplified girl dancing in rain

Colour

Color exploration

pastel
Analogous
split complimentary
triadic
triadic variation (less vibrant)

After all the color testing, consultation and asking around for opinions. I have picked color test 4 and make amendments such as including all the 4 colors into the raindrop instead of just putting 2 out of the 4 colors.

Final Color palette

Decided to go with this final color palette. I have chosen this one as it is more vibrant and it does bring out the feeling of hope and happiness. Color test 1-pastel was too soft. Color test 2-analogous was too overpowering, passionate and strong. Color test 3-split complementary gave out the feeling of “save the earth” instead of hopeful. Hence, I have chosen color test 4-triadic.

Structure

For structure wise, I have decided to go with number 1 as it brings out the raining feeling visually with all the straight line going down in one direction.

Post-production Problems encountered

  • Printing issues:
    The first shop I went to print, the color was off from my original digital piece. I went to another printing shop and it achieved the color I wanted but I only realised I forgot to mirror the rainbow which caused a mis-match and is not aligned when pasted back to back. Causing extras on one side and not enough coverage on the other side. I tried to salvage by going back to print however the store that I went to is closed on that say. Therefore, left with no choice I had to use the remaining left over raindrop of the same color. Cutting out shapes and paste it on the the rainbow.
  • Craftsmanship: As a result it also affected the craftsmanship of the rainbow. The rain droplets also encountered craftsmanship issues as i use the wrong adhesive and material causing the edges not being able to stick together properly.

Reflection.

Fortunately, we were given one more week for the final submission and I was able to salvage the craftsmanship issues. I went back to the same shop to reprint, making sure there was no mistakes and redid my hanging mobile by repasting everything.

What I have learn from this project is that:
1) I really like how this project allow me to hone my visual design skills in the sense that it pushes me to think in a figure-ground perspectives instead of illustration perspective.

2) Something for me to takeaway is also that we must always learn to think ahead because as a designer its not just about doing things in the digital copy but also the hard copy. At many times, translating a digital copy to a hard copy will definitely encounter many issues. So it is really important to plan ahead in regarding to the materials and color/design that your want to use.

Bibliography

http://www.gdbasics.com/html/figure/figure.html

https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2014/05/design-principles-space-figure-ground-relationship/

The Principle of Figure-Ground