Task 1: Exploration

1. This is the Module Information Brief for this module:

Design Principles MIB

2. Recap of the Design Principles taught:

• Gestalt theory
• Refers to how the human brain is wired to see patterns, logic, and structure. Gestalt principles or laws are rules that describe how the human eye can break down complex visuals into simpler shapes and on the other hand, shapes as a single united form rather than all the separate elements involved. For example, how we see the human face as a complete face rather than eyes, ears, nose, mouth, eyebrows, hair, cheeks and how from observing the human body we can break it down into several different basic shapes like ovals, cuboids, and spheres.

The human body can be broken down into simpler shapes and lines as well.

• Contrast
• The juxtaposition of dissimilar elements (i.e. colours, brightness, directions) usually used to help provide visual interest and express certain points in a design.
  

i.e. these two shapes contrast in size and colour.

• Emphasis
• Creates a sense of dominance or focus in an art/design work. Various elements can be used to do this such as colours, shapes, and values.
  
  There's emphasis on his eye.

• Balance
• There are 2 main types of balance, symmetrical balance and asymmetrical balance. Symmetrical balance is described by having equal weight on two sides of a central axis which could be horizontal, vertical or even radial. Asymmetrical balance is described by objects of various visual weights being placed around a point. 

Symmetrical.

Asymmetrical.

• Repetition
• The reusing of the same or similar elements throughout a design. Usually used to create a sense of unity in the art/design work which can also end up reinforcing the idea of an art/design work. It can be seen a lot in branding where companies often use the same colours and visual style in their advertisements which ends up making them more memorable because of how often they do it.

Soft drink advertisements (just example sketches).

• Movement
• Used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewer's eyes throughout the artwork. Artworks can have real movement like in moving sculptures while some artworks will have implied, movement usually in two dimensional artworks such as action lines or the way words guide your eyes through the page of a storybook. 

Action lines are too hard for me right now so here's Luffy punching as an example.

• Harmony and Unity
• Harmony refers to how similar visual elements on the design are relative to each other (i.e. colour, shape, value). This leads to unity which refers to how well each visual element fits in with the other elements in the design.

Harmonius colour group.

• Symbol
• A sign, shape, or object that refers to something else, usually certain information, one or more sentences of text, or sometimes even a whole story. Symbols can come in different types; pictorial symbols: image related and simplified pictures, abstract symbols: look like the object they represent, just simplified, and arbitrary symbols: they do not resemble the objects or ideas they represent and must be learned.

A skull and crossbones could symbolize either death or pirates.

• Word and Image
• Typography is the design and arrangement of text to convey a message or concept to the viewer. Imaging is important as if the right images are used, viewers will be able to relate to a concept or brand easier. Picking the right wording and imaging to go with each other will be able to strengthen and deepen the meaning behind the art/design work.

Hamburger.

3. The goal that I chose to describe from the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) is No. 14: Life Below Water. This goal aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.

4. The art/design work that I chose that revolves around the goal that I chose:

Avatar: Way of Water directed by James Cameron, December 15 2022.

Specifically the scene where the Tulkuns return home.

5. My reasoning as to why I chose this work in relation to the UNDSG goal I chose is that it shows a well conserved and sustained environment under the sea. Underwater flora and fauna can be seen to be abundant which provides a large amount of marine resources to be used in development. The humanoid depicted above, a Na'vi, is a humanoid species in the world of Avatar with similar levels of intelligence to humans. They worship nature and try their best to live in perfect harmony with the ecosystem around them. They live on only what they need to sustain themselves, impacting nature as little as possible. As humans, we can learn from this way of life and implement it into the development of our technology in future prospects.

For the design principles I found, I will be referencing a YouTube video I found of the clip for more convenient timestamps. 

Link: Tulkuns have returned home

The design principles I found are:

• Contrast
• 0:13, The bright orange wings of the Skimwings, the flying fish-like animals the Na'vi are seen riding, contrast with their blue bodies. This can also be seen at 0:26 where the blue bodies of the Na'vi contrast with the beige background of their homes.
• Emphasis
• Emphasis can also be seen used at 0:26 drawing attention to the Na'vi because of their movement and bright colours compared to the static and darker background. There is also emphasis at 1:16 where a light is shone down on a Tulkun and it's child.
• Balance
• 0:00, There is an asymmetrical balance with how there are islands on the top half of the screen and blue ocean at the bottom. it can also be seen with how the Tulkuns, the whale-like animals, are heading from the top left to the bottom right of the screen.
• Repetition
• There is repetition at 0:00 as well with how all of the Tulkun are following an implied path heading downwards. At 1:00, the aquatic life can be seen swimming in circles repeatedly.
• Movement
• At 1:00, the Tulkun can be seen facing a certain way when swimming in circles which can also imply the direction of movement even if the viewer is only able to see one frame. This can be said at 0:00 as well.
• Harmony and Unity
• The repetition and movement at 1:00 leads to harmony as well along with the colours used in the shot, everything being a shade of blue.
• Symbol
• The tattoos on the Tulkun as seen at 1:05, 1:10, and 1:16 express their family story and symbolize adulthood as they only get them after a coming-of-age ceremony.