a not-really-balance balance!

A sense of balance is in every human’s instinct. In other words, lack of balance disturbs us. Often when the word “balance” is mentioned, people relate the term to a symmetric lever where like shapes are place in the same position on both sides. We call that kind of balance a “bilateral symmetry”. However, feeling is more casual than this kind of balance. Therefore, another kind of balance comes to our mind! Asymmetric balance is when two dissimilar objects provide an equal visual emphasis. Balance is not always has to be in the middle. This informal balance is more complicated yet more expressive. Portraits often show this kind of balance in order to express feelings.

For instance, instead of just standing straight in the middle of the frame balancing every parts of body, these fashion models express their feelings through their actions. The portrait does not represent any symmetric balance; everything is not in the middle yet we can still feel the balance. A balance with feelings.

pictures taken from http://www.vandaimages.com

COLLAGE!?

Collage is a kind of art, which is very approachable for ordinary people. It encourages everybody to give a try on design. It is when people create a design by stick pieces of materials together. This kind of art is very convenient and sensible. People can simply turn trash into treasure! It is also very flexible in the forms it takes. Collage can vary from papers, bottles, buttons or clothes. For example, this quilt is made from a bunch of used jeans. Instead of just throwing them away, the artist cut jeans into different parts, rearranges them, then stick them together, and end up with a quilt!

This quilt below is also made of jeans. From these two quilts, we can see another advantage of collage. Designers can adjust composition easily and freely. It is an excellent way to improve designing skills for beginners and the materials are wisely reused!

pictures taken from The African American Quilts Exhibition, Nelson Art Gallery, UCDavis

another view on RHYTHM !

“Rhythm”

What is the first thing that comes in mind after you see this word? Something related to music?

We often relate rhythm to music. However, today I will introduce another type of rhythm – a visual rhythm.

Visual rhythm is one of our visual sensations. It is due to movement of our eyes, which moves along a repetitive design patterns. Not only music terms like legato or staccato but rhythm is also a characteristic of nature too. For example, ocean tides are repetition of the ocean’s movement every single day. The quilts below are some solid examples of this phenomenon of visual rhythm.

Like the ocean tides, this quilt shows a repetition of the same element in a regular order. It consists of black and white bowed-shape pattern in a certain rhythmic arrangement, which results in an impressive quilt.

Pattern can occur in both individual tiles and the larger units. Like this quilt below, it is actually made of a bunch of circular shape cloth. Then the artist simply expands the circular pattern into a rectangular quilt!

Artists can also expand their imagination by combining other experiences or senses to their work of pattern. This process is called “kinesthetic empathy”. This abstract quilt is made after the death of Annie Ruth Collins. The artist expresses the complexion of human’s feelings for certain situation through this quilt.

Pattern and rhythm are closely tied and they play a crucial role in the world of design. Designers are capable to play with visual presentation through the variety of patterns and rhythms.

pictures taken from The African American Quilts exhibition at Nelson art gallery, UCDavis

balance counts!

Not just some random clusters of food but intentionally adjusted is how the pictures are made at the Mittongtare Studio. Pornchai Mittongtare, the owner of the studio, is a food photographer. He emphasized on composition, balance, lighting and unity of each image so that it conveys the meaning effectively. He brings the message from food to the viewer. Each picture has its own dynamics, consists of both unity and variety. Even a mushroom can look so emotional. Or a group of fork seems to be dancing lively in the picture as we give it a glance. Without any use of commercial words, Pornchai serves his clients from various food companies successfully. He can make the food or even the fork look so delicious!

Some people might think that this is a pure aesthetic. However, art has always been a mean of visual communication. After all, composition and balance bring each picture to the best definition it can be. As we can see from Pornchai’s work, the objects in the picture are well organized, in a way that the viewer will see its true beauty. Unbelievably, balance and unity play such an important role in each visual presentation.

credit: http://www.mittongtarestudio.com/

is that possible?!

Some people originate ideas within themselves, while some does not. There are numbers of designers who are inspired by the materials they have been given. Design process might roughly be summarized as a process of thinking, looking and doing. However, some designers just simply start his process by doing it! They just happen to play and have lots of fun with the materials. For example, Tom Friedman is one of the designers who is significantly known for his remarkable designs which, most of them are made of simple household materials. He finds his way through stuff like toothpaste, soap, chewing gums, or even sugar cubes and end up with very impressive products. He even builds his own portrait out of sugar cubes! Tom evaluate ordinary to the art, which in some ways, is very useful design thinking method. We would not want our society to be packed with amazing designs that harm our environment. How nice would it be to have a society full of beauty that sustains!

toothpick creation!

foiled rock star!

cards creation!

black paper open cube !?

credits for picture:

https://secure.fangamer.com/forum/Fan/Forum/16659

http://smilingirisheyes.umwblogs.org/artists-that-inspire-me/

http://www.markmcleod.org/Mark_Mcleod/Art_Press/2006_12_01_archive.html

http://eyelevel.si.edu/2007/06/sculpture-as-an.html

perception

What did you just see? A sphere, right? Have you ever wondered why you see a sphere when all the image shows is cones and triangles?

How about this figure? Actually, it is just 4 blue circles with one side missing arrange in a certain way but we tend to see a white square instead!

And if I ask what you just see, you will probably tell me you saw a smiley face. Aren’t that just circles assembling in a way that we perceive as a smiley face? And again, our brain perceive differently from reality.

All of these happen because of the Gestalt Theory. It states that human brain tends to group object together. We want to see things as a whole. Our brain prefers unity rather than detail in each visual presentation. Even when those lines and shapes did not show the figure directly, our brain is capable of drawing those connecting lines by itself. This may be one of the reasons why people can perceive things differently. We all have got a diverse in visual ability. Variety of perception depends on each person’s experiences in life. They combine it with what their brain perceive and create unique visual solutions. On the other hand, this phenomenon allows artists and designers to participate in the audience’s perception. They have wider field to play with their ideas and ways to present it just like this poster from School of Visual Art. If you look at it closely, all you will see is tons of words. However, if you just swiftly walk passes it, you would only see a picture of an eye.

Isn’t that amazing?

Pictures taken from:

http://hayleyjones.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/gestalt-research/

http://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/2006/10/24/the-timing-of-the-shrew/

http://www.dday.com/blog/tag/gestalt/

window shopping

Occasionally as you walk through shopping arena, you might witness some thrilling displays on certain shop’s windows. But that only happens occasionally! Since the golden age of Display-1950s to 1960s ended, the display has been observed dead. Because the arrival of graphic designs was so new and notable, visual excitement ended in early 1970s. Display designers found themselves losing respect in their job. As the graphic designs conquer the market, displays and window scenes are similar all over different places. Decorative and mannequins were replaced by graphics. Each shop loses its identity without even recognizing it. Shoppers would not be able to distinguish between shops as they walk through.

However, displays have been saved and revived. One of the promoters of this resurrection is Harry Bader, creative director for the Banana Republic store on the Fifth Avenue. The reason why this action is being held is because the company changes its focus from product to brand. They want to build the love of the brand in consumer’s heart. As a result, unique display techniques, sophisticated styling and combination of art and music cooperate to create a new experience for consumers. Inspirations mostly come from interior design, art and theatre. Displays act as brand billboards.

As for now, displays are back and its best is yet to come !

pictures and information taken from:

"Store Presentation and Design No.2, Branding the Store", Martin M. Pegler, 2007