Design Principles

26/04/2021 - 17/05/2021 (Week 5 - Week 8 )
Rusydina Fazlin Athirah Binti Fauzi ( 0344000 )
Design Principles / Bachelor of Design ( Hons ) in Creative Multimedia
Task 5 / Exercises / Lectures

INSTRUCTIONS

[Indepth understanding of Harmony and Unity]

April 28th, 2021

In today's class, Mr. Charles started off week 5's class by going through the class exercises and gave feedback from E1 all the way to E3 before starting off exercise 4. After that, he gave some further explanations on Ms. Jinchi week 4's recorded lecture.

[Symbols, Imagery, and Typography]

April 30th, 2021

During the 5th week's recorded lecture, Ms. Jinchi guided us through a lecture slide that contains the topics of Symbol, Imagery, and Typography.

Symbol

The first topic that was covered in the lecture was 'symbol', a symbol is a sign, or object that is commonly used to represent something or something else, that statement is according to Cambridge University. Though in design; symbols can provide or convey information to a viewer, it can even be interpreted to one or more sentences in texts, or at times even a whole story!

From the lecture, Ms. Jinchi made the class aware that symbols go back way back in pre-civilization.

Figure 5.1.1 - Random pre-historic wall paintings/symbols

Figure 5.1.2 - caveman symbols of hoofed animals and handprints

Figure 5.1.3 - Bull caveman drawing, symbolizing

The pictures above are a few examples of the earlier symbols, but sooner in the symbols of the era develop to have better understandings and deeper meaning to them as a form of communication.

Figure 5.1.4 - Ancient Egypt symbols

-And symbols from Egypt are great examples of that as shown in the image above.

In general, symbols have two sub-topics to represent them. One of them being Figurative Representations and the other being non-figurative representations, but from Ms. Jinchi's recorded lecture, non-figurative representations are not covered in design principles.

Continuing into 'figurative representations' this topic parts both ways as well; Visuals and Graphic Symbols, which is more focused on design principles and divided into 3 sub-topics which are; Pictorial symbols, abstract symbols, and arbitrary symbols.

Figure 5.1.5 - Symbols mind map

Pictorial Symbols

Here are a couple examples of pictorial symbols, they're image-related and simplified pictures.

Figure 5.1.6 - ecosystem, pictorial symbol

Figure 5.1.7 - single-use plastic, pictorial symbol

In a sense, pictorial symbols are meant to have multiple symbols related to each other into one whole illustration that symbolizes a particular topic that is recognizable at first glance.

Abstract Symbols

Next down the line are abstract symbols that can look like the objects they have represented but with lesser details.

Figure 5.1.8 - Rows and columns of abstract symbols

Taking this to mind as well, abstract symbols does not mean abstract art, their terms are much more different than we think. Abstract symbols are simpler representations of certain objects or representations to convey a piece of certain information.

Arbitrary Symbols

Lastly, we have arbitrary symbols, these symbols have no resemblance at all to the objects or ideas they represent. Neither invented or constructed. Many of them are based on geometric shapes and colors. Though it is compulsory to have some knowledge on 'arbitrary symbols'.

Figure 5.1.9 - Universal arbitrary symbols often seen in machines

Figure 5.2.1 - making sense of singular arbitrary symbols into one

There are many arbitrary symbols that we'd stumble upon and over time we understand what it means when it has nothing to do with any kind of object itself.

Imagery

Imagery is a vital part of the design, whether it be printed or digital. Every single user and viewer is able to relate o a concept or a brand if the right images are used in a work of design. It is therefore important to use suitable and relevant images when designing.

Figure 5.2.2 - Autumn sale poster

The image above is a very aesthetically pleasing poster of an autumn sale at a shop, having brown leaves to portray the autumn season is a great way to understand what imagery generally means.

Typography

Lastly, we covered the topic of typography, typography when it comes to design it is the design and arrangement of the text to convey a message or concept. Though it has a successful use of typography will result in visual hierarchy and balance in work of design.

Figure 5.2.3 - Coffee beans spelling out coffee, typography

Figure 5.2.3 - Typography merges with the environment of the photograph

Exercise 5

May 5th, 2021

For the firth week, our exercise that was assigned to do is that we are meant to;

-design an arbitrary symbol and write a 20 -50-word rationale for the idea.

-Create a design that has a combination of imagery and typography.

Arbitrary Symbol

Inspiration:

Figure 5.2.4 - Mitzie and Whikkur, Characters sketch

I wanted to start my symbol ideating through characters and what their bonds mean to each other. So I chose two of my favorite characters that I've designed a while back, I've had these two characters for a while now and I've set in and created a lot of narrative towards them.

I can say that in the whole world they're in that I've created for them, their bonds are my most favorite. They have a mutual bond and supposedly are lovers-

From that statement, a symbol and creating it would be an interesting take on their bonds and relationships.

But before creating and designing it, a little recap on the definitions of 'arbitrary symbols'. I understand that they don't have specific or general meanings to them but in a way at times no matter the shape or design of it it still portrays an understanding towards them.

Therefore, I shall give a brief introduction to these characters to better ideate the symbols that correlate to these characters.

Character Introduction:

Mitzie

Figure 5.2.5 - Mitzie profile

This is Mitzie, what I'd like to apply when designing my arbitrary symbol from her is the kind of personality she displays. I can say that the bond that she shares with Whikkur is that she's the optimistic half of the two. She can be empathetic at times but she likes to keep things bright and cheerful. Other than that, what can be added are the colors that I want to extract from her. For me, she gives an aura of pink and green, since at times colors do symbolize certain feelings and traits.

Whikkur

Figure 5.3.5 - Whikkur Profile

This here is Whikkur! Whikkur on the other hand, he's much more of the sentimental and soft plus timid half of both of them. Though he may have similar ranges of personality and feelings just like Mitzie and can be very energetic in his own ways except it's more reserved and he's more open and loud around the people he's comfortable with, moreover towards his partner, Mitzie! For a character like him to be big and greater in size but deep inside he's a warm loving fluffy soft soul, which allows me to see him radiate a warm orange color along with blue to portray empathy and allow sadness in from time to time.

Idea Development:

Color Research

Since I mentioned that colors in a way can represent certain emotions or even a kind of bond. So I searched for the specific kind of colors that correlate to my characters based on their meanings, symbolization, representation, and associations.

Figure 5.3.4 - Color meanings notes, May 5th, 2021

From the image shown above, I also added in research to do with the color gold or- texture??? material??? The reason why I wanted 'gold' to be associated with these colors is that- well the way I see it, "Bonds between anyone ever are always golden."

To add to that, I kickstarted off the logo idea with a hexagon, just to see if there are any general symbolization and meanings to what a bond is and can be.

Arbitrary symbol sketches

I started sketching out ideas for the symbol because I took Mitzie and Whikkur's first letter of their name into consideration. Since the letters can be flipped and still identify as similar letters it made it easy to put that into an idea.

Figure 5.3.5 - Manual sketch for M&W's Symbol, May 5th, 2021

I messed around with a lot of other general symbols and representations that in a way could portray 'love' since that's what these characters are in. There were many interpretations that I stumbled upon when I did research on mutual bonds, close relationships, and well- 'love'.

It's even visible that I attempted to merge their initials into the symbols that were sketched out, to have letters be visible and a symbol of love at the same time.

Figure 5.3.6 - W&M Symbol final design, May 5th, 2021

After a few tries, I tried to dumb down the amount of "details" I wanted and just drew hearts right-side-up and the other upside down and extracting it to make it look like the letter M and W.

Digitized Sketch

Figure 5.3.7 - Progression #1, May 5th, 2021

Figure 5.3.7 - Progression #2, May 5th, 2021

Completed logo (final outcome):

Figure 5.3.8 - Whikzie, Arbiturary Symbol, May 5th 2021

Overall the symbol is completed, though I want to showcase it along with the colors and additional symboled shape that I did the research on.

Figure 5.3.9 - Color sequence ideas, May 5th, 2021

This part of showcase art progression was just me differentiating the color sequence that portrays Mitzie and Whikkur. I settled on the 1st and 4th sequences, for further experimentation.

Figure 5.4.1 - Whikzie flag, May 5th, 2021

Later then! I decided on applying Whikzie's symbol on the stripped sequence flag like a pride flag (which I was inspired by and how their bond should be taken pride with). I also played around with the design of the hexagon.

Figure 5.4.2 - Arbitrary Showcase sketch, May 6th, 2021

Figure 5.4.1 - Illustration progression, May 6th, 2021

Imagery and Word

Inspiration

For the imagery and wording part, I settled on a very common theme I'd always go for and that is to do with the ocean.

Figure 5.4.2 - Ocean collage inspiration

I wanted to experiment with image editing by putting in collages of different kinds of ocean photographs together and adding a subject that is closely related to the ocean.

Idea development:

Figure 5.4.3 - Leap of faith by Raayzel on Deviant Art

My idea reseanated by looking back at one of my favorite movies 'Life of Pi', with countless times of me watching that movie, each scene is just burned in the back of my mind and I remember this one particular scene where a whale breached out of the waters. Which was one of the most beautiful scenes in cinematography but an unfortunate event for the protagonist in the movie.

With that, I wanted to include a whale breaching as a part of the general theme of the exercise being collage-based.

Figure 5.4.4 - Life of Pi, still ocean scene

For the background of the image chosen, I did my best to find oceanic photographs that correlate to this scene in the movie, the heavy amount of reflections and the brightness of the sun, and the overall color palette portrays in it.

Progression:

Figure 5.4.5 - Progression #1, creating a collage effect, May 6th, 2021

Figure 5.4.5 - Progression #2, adding the main subject, May 6th, 2021

Figure 5.4.5 - Progression #3, adjusting typography, May 6th, 2021

Lastly, I put the edited collage through illustrator to work mt around and adjust the words in the image.

Final Outcome

Arbitrary Symbol Outcome:

Arbitrary Symbol

Figure 5.4.6 - Whikzie arbitrary symbol

Arbitrary Symbol showcased through a flag

Figure 5.4.7 - Whikzie Flag!

Imagery and Word Outcome:

Figure 5.4.7 - Everything WHALE be alright with ocean suns

PDF Version:

Reflection

May 6th, 2021

In this week's exercise, I was able to reflect on not only the general additional knowledge about symbols in design, imagery, and typography and how they play important roles in setting off our creativities but I was also able to reflect on how even our personal feelings and ideas can help ideate at times; relatable and meaningful messages that other people can interpret in their own ways based of our mutual thoughts and feelings towards it.

Other than that, learning about symbols, imagery and typography was a fun way for the exercise to lead up to it!

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