DP/Final Project - Visual Analysis and Final Blog

DP; Final Project

26/10/2021 - 23/11/2021 (Week 10 - Week 14)
Diane Lim En Wei / 0345187 / B'Creative Media
Design Principles

Project 3/Visual Analysis and Final Blog

LECTURES

Week 9 (19/10/2021) Visual Analysis

Visual Literacy - A set of abilities that enables an individual to effectively find, interpret, evaluate, use and create images and visual media. It plays an important role across higher educations. 

Visual literacy does not arise from sheer exposure to visual content. A student's ability to take photos, find images, and post visual content online does not translate to the ability to critically engage with, make meaning from, and communicate with visual materials in an academic context. 

What is visual Analysis? 
  • A method of understanding design that focuses on the visual elements and principles. 
  • A description and explanation of visual structure for its own sake. 
  • Visual analysis can also recognize the choices that a designer made in creating their design, as well as to better understand how the formal properties of a design can communicate ideas, meaning, and/or content.  
Visual analysis sharpens critical judgement skills and helps people to seek out answers rather than passively receive answers.

How does visual analysis work?
  • Observation
    • Closely looking at, and identifying the visual elements of a design, with attempts to describe them accurately in your own words. Do not read beforehand about the design at all. 
    • Look, think, and find a good language to communicate what you notice. 

    Fig 1.1 ; Sample writing of Observation (26/10/2021)

    • Analysis 
      • Think about your observations and try to make statements about the work based on the evidence of your observations.
      • Think about how the specific visual elements that you've identified combine together to create a whole, and what effect that whole has on the viewer.
      • How your eye is led through the work, and why? 

    Fig 1.2 ; Sample writing of Analysis (26/10/2021)

    • Interpretation
      • Your observations, description, and analysis of the work, are fused with facts about the design work. 
      • What is the meaning of the design? What was the purpose of its creation? 


    Fig 1.3 ; Sample writing of Interpretation (26/10/2021)

    INSTRUCTIONS

    Week 11 (2/11/2021)

    Fig 1.1 ; Design by Daniel Deng (2/11/2021)

    Phase 1; Observation
    Week 11 and 12 (2/11/2021 and 9/11/2021)
    The only thing that I am aware about the illustration/design is that this is the box art for a fan project, in which a deck of Tarot cards was redesigned and remade using the characters from the famous game, Genshin Impact. The character's name is Mona Megistus. 

    Mona, in the video game, is an astrologist, a woman who analyzes and observes the stars to predict the future. In the game, she makes observations of the player's character, being able to pick up on the fact that they are looking for someone. I feel this is quite fitting with the theme of Tarot cards.

    This illustration is in a portrait orientation. The main color palette consists that of 'Royal colors,' with gold, purple, violet, red, and blue. 

    Fig 1.2 ; Royal color palette (2/11/2021)

    The illustration is divided, with organic and swirly elements observed mainly on the bottom half of the illustration;
    Fig 1.3 ; Bottom half of the illustration (2/11/2021)

    With sharp pointed elements and edges mainly observed on the top half; 

    Fig 1.4 ; Top half of the illustration (2/11/2021)

    There is an overall 'heavenly' aesthetic, with a Sunburst halo on the top half that is observable in Fig 1.4, that of which are also observable on Holy statues (Fig 1.5), and Angel wings.

    Fig 1.5 ; Statue depicting the Holy Trinity in Matthias Church, Budapest (2/11/2021)

    I broke down the design into layers;

    Fig 2.1 ; Bottom layer (8/11/2021)

    In the background (Fig 2.1), I observed that there's organic elements, mainly consisting swirly patterns, highlighted in red.

    Fig 2.2 ; Middle layer (8/11/2021)

    In the middle, behind the character (Fig 2.2), I observed that there are elements make up the 'heavenly' aesthetic, with the wings and the sunburst halo, as I have mentioned in my visual analysis. That of which is also highlighted in red.

    Fig 2.3 ; Top layer (8/11/2021)

    In the front and center (Fig 2.3), the character sits in the middle.

    Phase 2; Analysis
    There are certain elements that are colored a flat white (the star shapes and assumingly, cards, surrounding Mona). In the midst of all the chaos, made with how heavily detailed the drawing is, the white contrasts with the noisy background. This puts emphasis on the white elements. The white card shapes seems to represent the tarots, and the way that they are placed, it creates a sense of movement, as if going around Mona. If you were to see this art on a box in a store, it gets the message across and implies what's inside the box, and that is tarot cards. 

    The sunburst halo and angel wings brings harmony and unity to the design, with the different elements being able to complement one another. There is an asymmetrical balance with the piece, with the design having a common center, it being Mona, creating alignment. The organic elements of the piece that sits at the very back of the design creates Unity as it continues throughout the whole piece, starting from the top, and moving to the bottom. 

    The 'Royal Colors' color palette gives the Tarot cards a feeling of richness, it also gives the audience holding the physical deck that what they have in their hand is magical, with the Angel Wings and Sunburst Halo lending credence to that, tying everything together and creating Harmony in the piece. 

    Phase 3; Interpretation
    The function of Tarots are used for guidance, and to connect people with themselves spiritually, lending credence to the Angel Wings, and Sunburst Halo, elements that are typically seen in designs relating to religion/spirituality. I feel this piece relays that exceptionally well, at first glance, before knowing what the piece was, this gave vibes of something celestial. The wings behind Mona, to me, signifies spirituality, and supports her in the piece, as if lifting her off the ground. The multiple wings mean the character is high in spirituality and power.

    There is a frequent use of gold, relating to the colors of Royalty, or spiritual connection, with purples relating to the sky, and astrology. When using Tarots, one can say you are calling for your higher-ups, which would lend credence to the use of the color gold, or the use of the Royalty color palette in general. 

    Week 14 (23/11/2021)
    Something I felt was missing in the design was elements of religion. The art of Mona does not give me the impression of that of being a God, rather, someone who is in tune with the art of Tarot. When I think Celestial, which is exactly what Fig 1.1 gives vibes off, I think religion. Angels, Heaven, God. With this thought in mind, I tied all of these things back to a church, and something typically seen in churches is 'stained glass.' Stained glass is not typically seen anywhere else outside of churches. I did not necessarily want to tie the design back to the Christian faith, but I still wanted to give the impression that this piece, rather, the stained glass, could seen in a church (hypothetically of course). I then began the sketching process of my design. 

    When thinking of a design, I did not want to base it off of a pre-existing religious figure/God. I did not want people to be able to tie it back to saints/prophets that they already know. I do not want them to be calculative over who they think it is, I just wanted it to be basic, so like the narcissist that I am, I inspired the design off of my physical image. 

    Fig 3.1 ; First thumbnail design (23/11/2021)

    When creating the design, I wanted to put in elements typically seen in religious figures/art/etc. The main components that are visible in Fig 3.1 were angel wings (multiple wings, inspired by Fig 1.1), a halo, and a white hood. I added in bushes as well. When putting together this thumbnail or this piece in general, I decided to have it be done symmetrically, however, I wanted to make sure the bushes were asymmetrical, so as to not have monotony, I wanted it to be subtle. 

    When thinking of religion, I think of a church, and something that decorates the church is stained glass. I decided to create a piece mimicking that of stained glass! With Fig 3.2 being my main reference.

    Fig 3.2 ; Reference of stained glass (23/11/2021)

    When studying stained glass, especially in Fig 3.2, I observed a certain texture on the glass that I've never seen on any other type of glass, and knew it was crucial I added that in. Along with that, I recognized that if I wanted to add dimension into my design, I'd have to play with the line work on stained glass, to create the illusion of lighting but keeping the aesthetic of stained glass.

    Fig 3.3 ; Linework of stained glass (23/11/2021)

    Fig 3.4 ; First sketch, while mimicking 'stained glass linework' (23/11/2021)

    Fig 3.5 ; Linework, with and without 'stained glass linework' (23/11/2021)

    After the linework, I laid down the flat colors (Fig 3.6)

    Fig 3.6 ; Flat colors (23/11/2021)

    When picking the colors, I wanted to go for pure colors, like white. I then chose some natural colors like green, blue, and yellow to unite the background behind the figure, with the bushes in front. 

    To give the illusion of stained glass, I added shading around every black line, and also added the texture visible in stained glass.

    Fig 3.7 ; Shading and texture (23/11/2021)

    With the stained glass madness out of the way, I finished the design (Fig 3.8). Putting the stained glass in between two pillars, added dust particles and ambience. 

    Fig 3.8 ; Final design (23/11/2021)

    Fig 3.9 ; Final PDF (23/11/2021)

    Final compilation and e-portfolio 

    FEEDBACK

    Week 11 (2/11/2021)
    There are a lot of technical observations, of which are very well done, with good keywords used for interpretation. However it lacks personal input. Talk about the whole idea of  the design, what she's doing, who she is as a character, why are things placed there, observations come in many forms. It's not just about how the image is put together. Give analysis to the concept, the purpose of why it's centered for example, why are there different elements moving around the character, is it to bring Mona out and what she's doing? e.g; the wings behind her, what do they indicate?

    In response to the piece, how would you create it DIANE's way? Do not take things from the piece, try to distance yourself from that. The subject matter of focus is important, but don't take the formula from an existing artist, take it as a case study. Not so much the technique. 

    "What the artist could not fulfill in their design, you can do it."

    Week 14 (23/11/2021)
    More needs to be written in your rationale, why did you choose the window, why the framing is the way it is, why did you have to give it a pseudo-religious feeling to it. There is a sense of depth due to the use of colors and the gradient, it's as if the piece is 'expanding.' Very good line work. All in all, marvelous work (I have not recovered from receiving that comment).

    REFLECTION

    I had a a lot of fun when it came to the Visual analysis, trying to tie together why a piece looks so aesthetic, the reasons and research that went into making it, etc. I think out of all pieces made for Design principles, this final one has to be my favorite. I love the ambience I created with it, it definitely gives off the church vibes I described and was aiming for! I'm very proud of myself. 

    REFERENCES

    Special thanks to Emily C. Garcia, my beloved, for sharing information on Tarots and going very into depth about it.

    Daniel Deng; 

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