Over the course of the first week of Graphic Design I we worked on three projects; learning how to compose and give structure to a designed piece. We learned about the compositional structures of a square and how they give the eyes a natural direction to look in. The three compositional structures are circular, diagonal, and square.
We learned about Gestalt principles, and the mind’s impulse to create symmetry, groups, and to fill in missing pieces.
Other techniques to apply when designing are: layering, which creates depth and complexity. Framing, which can create tension or alter the focal point of an image.Grids which help the designer place images and objects with precision and helps to generate form. Transparency, which blends and overlaps images, creates depth and the illusion of forward and receding planes, and works with opacity to facilitate other illusions.
Technically, we learned how to create our files, group and transform shapes and text, overlay a grid onto our working document, transform and alter shapes, and cut and edit images from photoshop. We worked with textures and learned how to use the clipping mask to fill text and shapes with the textures of an image.
I don’t feel that I have achieved a definitive style in my pieces so far. I need to work to perfect generating an idea and creating a project in a reasonable amount of time. I struggled to create a third piece during our collage project and feel that the white space is off balance. If given the chance to rework, I would separate the page into four quadrants, and separate those quadrants into textured triangles.
After this week I’d like to learn how to work more efficiently with the grid and create pieces that have elements set precisely on the page. I would also like to be introduced to the styles of particular artists.
our collage project, with a square structure
book cover (left), paint creation focusing on color blending (right)
