Model for the analysis of design
Design is a process. It is visual problem solving, and in order for the designer to be successful; he/she must deal with content, the formal elements that make the content visible and the aesthetic of the visual language.
The content deals with the context a design and may include symbolism, thoughts, feelings, desires, emotion, beliefs etc ...
The formal elements that make up the visual language are broken into two categories, the concrete and illusionary concepts. The concrete elements are Line. color. shape and texture. The illusionary concepts elements are time and space. light and form.
Properties and categories of the concrete elements:
| Line |
Properties: expressive of ideas and
emotion, direction and movement Categories: 1) even-weight 2) thick to thin 3) light to dark 4) broken 5)implied 6)straight 7)curvilinear |
| Color |
Properties: hue, chroma, value, temperature,
any of the concrete properties
can be implicit or implied and expressive of ideas and emotions Categories: additive and subtractive |
| Shape |
Properties: expressive of ideas and emotions,
family, size, and direction Categories: negative, positive, picture plane, families (geometric straight and curved, geometric freeform and organic), implied |
| Texture |
Properties: expressive of ideas and emotions, Categories: 1) smooth-matte, 2) smooth-glossy, 3) rough-matte, 4) rough-glossy, tactile and simulated |
The aesthetic deals with the quality of a design. The eight characteristics of a successful design are unity. dominance. variety. contrast, appropriateness, balance. craftsmanship. and harmony.
Unity. The beauty of any design depends not so much on the qualities of its individual parts as it does on the relationships established between the parts which must be totally integrated into a whole. Identity. transition and dominance are the three ways to create unity between the parts.
Identity. Identity means sameness. Components of a design, which are integrated through identity, have characteristics, which are identical. Where there are no differences, all possibility of discord is removed
Strategies for using identity:
Repetition, Proximity, Rhythm and similarity
Transition. Transition implies intermediate steps between dissimilar parts. When components are integrated through transition, one component is related to a different component through the creation of intermediate steps containing qualities, which are related to both extremes.
Strategies for using transition: Gradations, Radiation and ordering of content and
visual material (hierarchy)
Dominance. Integration through dominance requires that one element or property of an element is so strong as to make insignificant everything that is in conflict with it.
Strategies for using dominance: Grids, visual paths, focal point. keying and
geometric forms
Variety. Variety is essential for the creation of interest. Regardless of how well a design is integrated, it will be boring and monotonous if there is a lack of variety.
Contrast. Contrasts, although conducive to the creation of conflict and discord, are usually necessary for the creation of interest. It is through contrast that the visual characteristics are emphasized. It is contrast that makes the viewer aware of the major characteristics of a design. Quite often anomaly is used to create contrast.
Dominance. All designs must have an overriding idea/attitude. Designs without this create conflicts for interest between its parts and will result in disharmony and disintegration. Gestalt theory states that the parts of an image can be perceived and considered as distinct components, but the whole is greater than - and different from - the sum of its parts: Development of dominance comes about from the design process.
Balance. Balance is a feeling equality of weight, attention, attraction of the various elements within a design.
Symmetrical - Identical compositional units on either side of a vertical axis.
Asymmetrical - Visual units are not identical but are placed as such to create a
psychological balance in the vertical axis.
Craftsmanship. If a well designed work is executed poorly or inappropriately for its purpose, its effect will be diminished.
Appropriateness. A design which is inappropriate to its purpose will be diminished. It is most important that the intent of a design be understood before the design process is begun, so that harmony between the visual elements and purpose exist.
Harmony. The pleasing interaction or appropriate combination of the elements in a whole.