Week #9: Dimension/Depth/Space

The photo I have chosen is from the virtual world, Second Life. I chose this photo because it relates to graphic design as well as Veeder’s Depth/Size Perception notes. The image creates a graphic illusion of space to the viewer because it makes the computer screen look as if it has a three-dimensional dance party going on inside. This image relates to overlapping, relative height, and even linear perspective. The depth cue, overlap, occurs where the woman with blonde hair is standing in front of the man in white pants and the woman with a red shirt. From this perspective, the blonde woman seems closer to the screen because she is overlapping the two people behind her. The image relates to relative height because the woman with purple hair is below the horizon line which makes her seem closer to the screen, as opposed to the woman in the red shirt that is above or on the horizon line that seems further away. The linear perspective in this photo is a main component because the floor, ceiling, and walls have a lot to do with how we visually see this image. The picture appears to be in a 3-D space even though were viewing it from a 2-D surface. The linear perspective in this image indicates greater distance as the walls go back and it appears that the vanishing point would be behind the woman in the red shirt.

Photo found at:
http://www.rpgonline.com.br/games.asp?id=117

Week #8: Tone and Color

Tone operates in this picture by showing gradients on the bottom on top of the poster. There is a sense of light to dark pattern being depicted through the color scheme. The tone in the poster interacts with the visual design element of lines. On the top of the poster, there is a yellow gradient that shows presence of light while lines are beaming out of this light source which makes it feel like there is a sunrise in the distance. Color operates in this poster by context and theme. The theme of the poster is a Memorial Day celebration at UCLA with Jam Day and Reggae Day. The colors chosen for the event are festive, fun, and give the poster a Jamaican vibe. Color interacts with movement. Although there is no physical or digital movement occurring in the poster, there is a visual movement with the use of color. In the bottom green area of the poster, it shows two shades of green with curves. The curves and different colors makes the image have a sense of movement like waves in the ocean.


Photo found at: http://www.last.fm/festival/602507+The+22nd+Annual+JazzReggae+Festival

Exercise #7: Basic Elements

Tone

Tone is active in this website layout because it builds off the lines which occurred in the development process of this layout. There is a border around the page to focus the viewer in the center of the page. There is a light to dark pattern on the page. For example, the background is black while the centered page with content is white. The menu bar and company bar has a black gradient flowing through it to create tonal value. The tone is active in both the design process and the final result of this web page.

Color

Color is active in this website design because the color is dependent on the content on the page. Although there is not too many colors used, it is used in a way that simplifies the navigation of the site for the user. The colors used are two shades of red, gray, and white. The lighter red color is used for titles or the most important information. The darker red is used for the user to understand that they are clicking on and what they are reading. The white is the background, and the gray is used as a subcategory color for the less important aspects. Therefore, color performs as a hierarchy. Color is active in both the design process and the final result.

Line

Line is active in this website design because it is used on the sides of the page to create a linear border. There are also lines that surround the menu bar, as well as the sidebar on the left side of the page. The line performs the job of organizing the page for the user to better understand what’s going on. I think that the lines succeed in how they perform on this page because it’s clear what their purpose is. The line is both active in the design process, as well as the final result in this case.

Photos found at: http://shashi05.deviantart.com/art/Adidas-Website-Design-89966296 http://adrialdesigns.com/website-design/laurus-foundation-website-desig/ http://www.completewebpagedesign.com/webpagedesign.html

Exercise #6: Design Success and Failure

I chose to pick two examples that intersect with magazine design because I'm very interested in magazine layouts. In my opinion, I feel that black and white layout displays a good use of the syntactical guidelines. It succeeds because the positive and negative space creates a balance and a strong relationship between the active and passive. There is not too much white or black, they are both equally contributed. In the Lifestyle magazine, I feel it does not put in a good use of the syntactical guidelines. The basic composition of the layout is very cluttered, imbalanced, and has nothing that stands out. There's no stress or hierarchy in the text colors or size except for the title of the magazine. It's attempt to be sharpened is not fulfilled because it does not have your eye focus in the direction of the graphic because of the large text and colors on the opposing side.

Photos found at:
http://www.lostateminor.com/2008/06/19/canvas-magazine/
http://home.exetel.com.au/lindaweil/book_magazine_graphicdesign_page.htm