Design Principles: Project 2
31.1.2022 - 11.2.2022 (Week 5 - Week 6)
Tan Yi-Tyng (0353327)
Bachelor
of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Design Principles
Project
2: Sense of Place
Index (Jump Link)
- Lectures
- Instructions
- Visual Research
- Idea Exploration and Description
- Feedback
- Final Outcome
- Reflection
Lectures
Lecture 7: Sense of Place (the importance of observation)
Introduction
- In the simplest description, a designer’s role is to solve problems with effective visual communication.
- “Problems” that a designer solve are aplenty – ranging from personal goals to community events, and from corporate functions to world changing projects – all through creative, visual communication means.
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| Fig. 1 Design a poster to encourage participation for the betterment of the earth |
The Importance of Observation
- Being observant means to be attentive to your surroundings, to pay attention to the details and to be analytical about them.
- Observation can be an effective way to get ideas. Sources of observation can stem form artifacts, daily happenings, physical surroundings, and such.
- Our senses are important for us to know, feel, understand, analyze, and even plan what we want to do. Observation is important to designers as it enables them to see 'problems', as well as getting ideas for solutions to those problems.
“All we have to believe is our senses: the tools we use to perceive the world, our sight, our touch, our memory. If they lie to us, then nothing can be trusted.” - Neil Gaiman (American Gods)
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| Fig.2 Example of design that inspired by nature |
8 Ways to Improve Your Powers of Observation
- Know your subject (You'll notice more if you understand it)
- Slow down and look outward (Use mindfulness to focus your attention on your surroundings)
- Try something new (Choose an activity that will engage your senses and heighten your awareness)
- Improve your concentration by cutting out distractions (Turn off your phone or go somewhere quiet where you won't be disturbed)
- Challenge yourself to a mental workout (A smarter, more agile brain will help you observe with greater insight)
- Test your observation by playing a memory game (Describe a photograph, or list everything in the room you're in right now without looking)
- Record and consider your observations (Go beyond the things you see & note down smells and sounds you experience)
- Stay inquisitive (Question and analyze your observations)
How do we express our sense of the place?
- Think about the place you’re in now, or a place you had spent some time at previously, or, a place that had created a lasting memory in you.
- Start by documenting your observations – photographs, diary, talking to relevant people, etc.
- Create a mind map to work out your idea, this will be helpful for you to brainstorm your idea for this project.
Instructions
Observe your surroundings - people, vehicles, buildings, plants, signages,
nature, activities. Record these in sketches, photography or video
recording. Study all the visuals that you had collected. Select visuals
that you find relevant and interesting to you, which you can translate
into a design work that reflects your interpretation of a place. Remember
to apply design principles in your work. For materials, you may use any of
your choice, but do consider their suitability to best express your idea.
Upload Project 2 to your blog. The post must contain:
1. a recap of Project 2 brief
2. your design process: visual research
idea exploration and description
final outcome in PDF and short rationale
feedback by lecturer
reflection on the project
Visual Research
Firstly, I did some research and understanding of how artists create their
own art pieces to express their feelings, the main focus, and even their
relation with the places. It shows how a sense of place can be captured
through their own artwork and let the viewer immediately draw into the
scene that will show an emotion in the eye of the beholder.
Here are some of the artworks that impressed me:
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| Fig. 3 Abstract skyline painting by Jason Anderson |
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| Fig. 4 Tranquil painting by Henri Le Sidaner |
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| Fig. 5 Knife oil painting by Alena Shymchonak |
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| Fig. 6 Fallen Monument by Jules de Balincourt |
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| Fig. 7 Pastel-colored illustrations by Marina Ester Castaldo |
Idea Exploration and Description
When it comes to brainstorming to choose a place for this project, the first idea that came to my mind was my first experience travelling to Europe. I feel so grateful that I got a chance to travel right before the world is hit by the pandemic, and now it's hard to get an opportunity to travel again. This moment is also special to me as it was when I decided to take a gap year after graduating from high school, and I spent 20 days travelling and exploring five countries in Europe. I brought my first camera along to capture and document the precious moments along the whole journey. I would like to share a summary of my Europe trip experience and take you on a mini-vacation with me through the video below that I have edited myself.
Fig. 8 video about the summary of my Europe trip
However, I decided to narrow down my options to choose my favourite city in this Europe trip as the main focus of my artwork. Without hesitation, for sure I'd have to say it's Venice, Italy! Venice is known as the "The Floating City", which is arguably one of Italy's most picturesque cities. It is also one of the world's oldest tourist and cultural centres. With endless canals, tiny alleys, delicious food, and amazing green or blue water all in Venice. I have spent the most time (5 days) in Venice for my Europe trip. I'm was so in love with this city with a blast exploring the island and surrounding areas.
I feel like it's so difficult to describe Venice in a word or two. It is so beautiful, and that is probably an understatement. It is absorbing... romantic... And it is most definitely unique. As I arrived in Venice, it was like being transported into another world, one in which atmosphere and beauty remain incomparable. I could feel like I was walking through a movie scene the entire time I was in Venice.
The things in Venice that felt so special to me were the framework of canals and narrow streets, which prevented the intrusion of automobiles. So, I didn't need to worry about my safety being threatened by cars, Vespas or bicycles. You can reach any point in Venice is by foot or taking water transport. This gave me a chance to slow down my steps and enjoy every corner of Venice along the banks of the canals or on the paved streets.
Here are some of the photos that I took in Venice:
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| Fig. 9 Photos taken in Venice |
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| Fig. 10 Photos taken in Venice |
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| Fig. 11 a romantic scene |
After looking through all my photographs to get some inspiration, I decided to choose these photos (Fig. 12) to incorporate into my artwork. Because among all photos, the spot of the view in this photo has a lot of precious moments for me, whenever I think of the word of Venice, this would be the first scene that comes to my mind immediately.
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| Fig. 12 photographs that my father took for me |
Why does this place give me a strong impression? As this place is where the walkway and the bridge that I would always pass by and back to our Airbnb. When I first reached Venice and was on my way to look for my accommodation, I walked across this bridge, and I was so amazed by the magical scenery, it was fascinating and breathtaking at first sight as if I had entered a movie scene. Coincidentally, I didn't expect that this canal was just right outside of our room's balcony! Could you just believe that this aesthetic scenery in which you wake up, open your balcony door and look out, you could even hear the gondoliers singing as they are approaching, and also watching them casually glide through the cobalt blue canals.
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| Fig. 13 the view of looking out from our balcony |
We walk so frequently across this canal, which helped me to get familiarize with this place, I could even choose not to use Google map, and walked back to our Airbnb by intuition, especially walking across this canal, made me feel affirmed and relieved that I'm in the right way to back home.
If it comes to choosing a main focus in my artwork, I would say it is the Gondola! As I think it's the signature to represent Venice, which is the only place in the world that you can see and ride it. The Gondola is the best-known form of transport on the waterways of Venice. It can be observed that the elegant, long, narrow, asymmetric in shape and gleaming black paintwork have made them a symbol of Venice. It also made them the perfect mode of transport for navigating the narrow Venetian canals. The gondolas are so appealing and special to me, I could truly feel like the Gondola made up the water scene with the houses that line the canals.
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| Fig. 14 example of how the gondola looks
like |
What is different and unique between the Gondola with other transportations (water taxis/water buses) is that they are traditional wooden motorless boats rowed by gondoliers, who would usually wear an iconic uniform with stripes on them.
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| Fig. 15 example of the gondolier wearing their striped uniform |
I can still clearly remember that at that time, I was so curious about the history and the reason why they were wearing this pattern design of the uniform. So, my dad and I went to ask the gondolier that was standing at the staircase. The gondolier was enthusiastically sharing the background and stories about the Gondola. After knowing more from him, it makes more sense to me why the gondolas are so unique in Venice, and I feel such warmth that how he's so enthusiastic about sharing their own culture interestingly! But, I feel so guilty that we didn't take a ride on Gondola as the price were so expensive, it cost €80 for a 30 minutes ride. Even when we rejected to take a ride, the gondolier was still putting on a smiley face and told us it didn't matter and said goodbye to us.
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| Fig. 16 The friendly gondolier that I mentioned |
Throughout these five days in Venice, with every day passed by this bridge from day to night, we saw different background settings of the view: the sunrise, the sunrise, the dark night. Every time we passed by this bridge, we would stay there for a moment to enjoy this perfect view with all the water transport passing by. It was so interesting seeing how the gondolier steers the Gondola, as they have different skills and techniques to control the boats. For example, I saw some of them would use one side of their leg to kick the wall of the building to avoid collision with the building.
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| Fig. 17 This is what I found a photo online that what I mentioned. |
What's interesting is that, this canal is one of the passages that the gondoliers will frequently pass by. I could stand on the bridge and just watch them passing through. Sometimes, it can also be seen that there's a "traffic jam" happening there, it can be seen five or more boats passed through the narrow canal. Besides, you can also observe the gondoliers using the oar to paddle from one point to another within the canals while explaining the history of Venice to the passengers, and they would even sing occasionally.
I still remember how emotional I felt on my last day in Venice. As we carried our luggage and were on our way to leave Venice, we walked through this bridge to enjoy the scene for one last time. The sunset was so mesmerizing as the fading sunlight reflected in the canals. The beautiful scenery was just ingrained in my memory. And at that perfect moment, a gondola passed by with passengers smiling and waving at us, as if the city was saying goodbye to us.
Progress
With all of the flashback memories scene and the feeling of that place, I proceed with sketching out my idea.
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| Fig. 18 Sketching |
When it comes to choosing what colour to use for my artwork, I found something interesting about the building in Venice. It can be observed through the photos that all the houses in Venice are completely painted with a warm colour tone or the natural coloured (especially using brown, muted yellow, dark red colour) washing contrast with the canal. Besides, all of the window panels are only using green colour to contrast with the building. I was surprised at how the residents there are complied with the rule to protect the culture of Venice. I also observe that most of the house along the canal intentionally exposes the red brick or ochre-painted stucco walls on their first and second floors. I think that is because the use of that materials can be resistant to the weathering and also the acidic of the water (the water level will rise sometime due to the tides, winds or lunar cycle)
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| Fig. 19 colour palette with warmer tones for the building and cooler tones for the canals |
Furthermore, I started to colour my work.
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| Fig. 20 Colouring process |
After thinking to create a focus point to the Gondola, I decided to add details to the Gondola to make it stand out in the whole composition. Besides, I also touch up the surface of the canal to create a movement.
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| Fig. 21 Adding detailed |
Next, I decided to use the golden ratio to determine the placement of the elements.
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| Fig. 22 Golden Ratio |
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| Fig. 23 Drawing Process |
Feedback
Dr Charles has commented that this artwork looks like an actual oil painting texture. Besides, Dr Charles asked and told me to consider a few questions when doing this project.
-What is the place to you?
-Why are you choosing this place as your project?
-Design is about interpretation, is not just based on your observation of the place, it also needs a story or narrative about your relative with the places.
Final Outcome
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| Fig. 24 Final Outcome: Sense of Place. JPEG |
Fig. 25 Final outcome: Sense of Place, PDF
Title: Sail Through Endless Skies
Rationale:
This artwork is almost like a condensation of all my most cherished moments spent in Venice. Throughout the 5-day adventure, I was able to fully appreciate the city as I got to learn more about their history and culture. Even though Venice has a lot of iconic and symbolic places, the scene of canals was the most memorable to me. It really shows how the water is incorporated into the life of the city. As a resident of Malaysia, I never got to see such clear water in the city. Walking across the bridge and looking at the canals made me feel like I was transported into a new world. A world that is so new to me, yet so familiar at the end of my trip in Venice. The luminous spectacle of natured and warm coloured buildings reflected in the sparkling waters of the lagoon under a blue Adriatic sky and seeing how the gondoliers are singing and manoeuvring their amazingly flexible craft around the sharp bends of the minor canals. I would never get bored or tired of this place, the serenity of the calm water, paired with the warm enthusiasm that I've received from the people on the gondolas.
I'm using an oil painting style once again by exploring different applications on ipad, and I'm so satisfied with what found a perfect painting tool to create this art piece. I'm using a palette knife to paint the whole composition and also using an oil paintbrush to touch up some details. It completely creates the illusion of the oil painting texture as it has a depth and some lighting and shadow to make it more like a realistic oil painting.
Design Principles used in this project:
Contrast: the colour used for the buildings are warm colour tone, while the colour used for the canal are cool colour tone. This has created a strong contrast between these two elements in the whole composition.
Movement: the painting technique and the oil painting texture have shown movement on the surface of the canal.
Asymmetrical Balance: the design of the building as a background is similar on both sides, and the gondola is placed in the middle of the canal to create an approximate symmetrical view.
Golden ratio: a guide to know how to place the main subjects-gondola to work well in the whole composition.
Harmony: An analogous colour scheme are used for the buildings, it uses colour located next to each other on the colour wheel. For example, red, yellow, orange and brown.
Reflection
For this project, I felt very enjoy during brainstorming and creating this artwork to express my feelings and observe the places of the precious moment in my life. As I was creating this artwork, I was reminded of how much I love this city and all its dreamlike moments. And make me feel like I am travelling again to Venice. This project helps me improve my skill in observing the surroundings and gives us an exercise to train our memories to recall back all the past things. Besides, I have also understood more of how Dr Charles said that art is art, not a photograph, an artwork is not just a drawing of that scene. It must depict your feeling, the story, and the moment related to you. Lastly, I'm quite happy that, in this project, I have improved my painting technique than the last project, it helps me build more confidence and develop experiences.
Reference & Further Reading
Fig.3-https://www.boredpanda.com/pixelated-landscapes-art-jason-anderson/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
Fig.4- https://www.itravelwithart.com/henri-le-sidaner-his-tranquil-paintings/
Fig.5- http://www.fubiz.net/en/2019/09/01/summer-beach-knife-oil-paintings-by-alena-shymchonak/
Fig.6- https://ropac.net/artists/30-jules-de-balincourt/works/10707/
Fig.7- https://www.picamemag.com/marina-ester-castaldo/
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