Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Using a grid in Design

I recently created a cover design for a website which follows a grid. When I created it, I specifically made a point to align vertical sections of the design, to keep it unified.

The design is separated into three horizontal sections and you can see subtle vertical breaks that align along the top and the bottom.

Unity in Design

As mentioned in the reading, an important aspect of visual unity is that the viewer see the entire pattern before its parts. This illusion can be created through proximity of the separate items in the design, repetition and/or continuation. The grid is often used as an aid in creating unity in a design.

I have a calendar with photographs of New York City. The two photos below display the use of a grid, although I wouldn’t have noticed it as such before this reading.

One of the reasons I’m drawn to these photos is because they depict what I love about NYC, the crowds, the architecture, the chaos, yet it’s all contained in the photographs in a way that is easy to look at. There is a sense of order beneath the photos, a template of horizontal and vertical lines that restrain what might have become too busy.

In the “Hudson River” photo, the vertical lines predominate. Continuity is obtained through the color tones, which are similar. The dark horizontal line at the bottom of the photo unifies the buildings.

I love the photo of the stairs. The horizontal and vertical lines dominate, and the photo would be monotonous without the interruption of diagonal lines. It’s a perfect example of the importance of variety when seeking unity through repetition and continuity.

Friday, January 27, 2012

What Design means to me

The first thought that comes to me when I think of design is graphic design. I realize that design encompasses so much more but, after so many years in the graphics field, my brain thinks of a “problem to solve” for a customer.
A customer might request a simple design, a colorful design, a busy one, a serious tone, one that pops, etc. 
I enjoyed this reading. It seem to reinforce the idea that a design is a solution for a "problem". It states that the definition of design as the opposite of chance. What we can do to stimulate a solution involves:
Thinking Looking Doing

When I think of design as intentional, I don’t get caught up in the argument that design is not art. I used to be concerned with “selling out” if I became a graphic designer. . . the argument being that I would not be producing real “art”, I would be creating something for someone else, not something from my heart. I don't think that is true any more. Whatever solution the artist, or creator, comes up with, is still unique. There is not one answer.

When presented with a “problem to solve”, generally an artist will gather ideas, either by consciously viewing other artwork or the world around them. Part of what makes an artist, I think, is the ability to see the potential in everyday objects as a basis, or an idea, for a project, a painting, a story, etc.

I enjoyed the example in the reading about the sculptor Henry Moore, who noted that he had a tendency to pick up shells at the beach that resembled his current work in progress. 

I was interested in the section in the reading about critiques. I returned to school last semester, after many years, and I really enjoy the exposure to the variety of artwork and and unique solutions people come up with when given the same assignment. I like the model for critiquing (from the reading). . First, describe the piece.
Second, an analysis, how is it presented.
Third, interpretation, the meaning, implication or effect.

My personal definition of design is similar to this reading. The simple definition - design is a planned solution to a problem/request. 

Design impacts my daily life in almost everything that I do. I have restored two old houses and I love to design interior spaces, whether it’s the shape of a room, a kind of ceiling - texture (tin, wood, paint), tile and stone for flooring. There are certain colors and textures that I am attracted to, which is apparent in my clothing, jewelry, throw rugs, blankets and many other things I buy.

I really enjoy the design of the jewelry in the top picture (below). In the second picture, I've grouped together similar items and might attempt to create similar jewelry.