2/11/2022 - 02/12/2022 (Week 10 - Week 14)
Ahmad Firas Bin Ahmad Fisal | 0345121
Design Principles (GCD60804) | Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Final Project: Visual Analysis
INSTRUCTIONS
<iframe
src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S0XMWF9tsjnidzCFhwLEUccMl2pefgGk/preview"
width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>
PROJECT BRIEF
Week 10: Final Project briefing
Week 11: Blog for the Final Project & Show progress for
Phases 1 (Observation) and 2 (Analysis) of the Visual Analysis
Week 12: Show progress for Phase 3 of Visual Analysis and show
initial ideas
Week 13: Show developed ideas
Week 14: Finalisation of the idea and submission on the 2nd of
December 2022
Overall Requirements
- Assess, investigate, document and analyse a design material
(billboards/television commercials/movie clips/work of design) of our
choice.
- Notice the size, placement, purpose, effectiveness and design principles
applied.
Visual Analysis
- Theme: Reduced Inequalities
- Provide a 50-word explanation for the choice
- Write a 500-word visual analysis, describing and analysing the
design principles of the selected design, discussing/interpreting the value
and meaning of the design work
- Create a work of design, inspired/influenced by/reacting to the one you
had analysed.
- Write a 200-word rationale explaining and defending the decisions
made in your design.
The specific target of SDG10: Reduced Inequalities that I will be touching is;
- 10.3 Ensure Equal Opportunities and End Discrimination
.png)
FINAL PROJECT: VISUAL ANALYSIS
Part 1: Visual Analysis
Phase 0: Chosen Design to Analyse
When I was looking at this poster, I was reminded of one of the central tropes in the show, The Queen's Gambit which involves gender inequality because the lead character, Beth Harmon decided to partake in what is called a man's game in a man's world at the time, Chess. I feel like it is one of the shows where there is an execution of feminist themes by making the character challenge this social construct of feminity by disregarding worldly claims through her actions and outfits. She also challenges the construct of women not being able to enjoy doing things that they enjoy just because of gender biases.
|
| Figure 1.1 - The Queen's Gambit by Iaroslav Koskosov, 2021 |
Phase 1: Observation
The work can be seen in a portrait format and as for the visual elements
present we can see that the main colours observed are in shades of brown and
green. It is a rather muted piece than a colourful one. The wording is
positioned at the bottom of the poster design in different sizes and the
centre to the top part of the poster is more focused on the visuals. There
is also a blurred effect on the background behind the main figure. There is an obvious presence of the lead actor in the poster making her the centre focal point. Also, Chess
pieces are arranged in curves at the top part of the poster and green pills
are scattered strategically across the poster to highlight one of the
main elements of the show.
Phase 2: Analysis
The design is radially balanced and the elements are arranged around
a central point in a portrait format. The emphasis is on the central figure of the
character in the poster, and the position of the light that is hitting on the girl's face shows that the emphasis is on her as the main character of the show, making her the
brightest element in the whole composition of the poster. The green-coloured pills and the chess pieces at the top are positioned to mimic a crown that shows implied movement to subtly lead viewers around the poster. There is also a repetition of chess pieces at the top and the
use of figure-ground from Gestalt's Principles showcased through
the blurred chess pieces at the bottom as the foreground and the main character at the centre as the background. There is also unity in the overall
composition from the way elements are positioned which creates
proportion in the layout, creating adequate visual hierarchy -
by naturally looking at the image of the character with her chess crown and
down to the titles below passing through the scattered pills.
Phase 3: Interpretation
This is an alternate (fan art) work by the artist Iaroslav Koskosov. It is about a character named Beth Harmon. Beth became an orphan when she was 5 years old due to a tragic accident and the orphanage that she was in forced the kids to consume tranquiliser daily. Due to this daily consumption of heavy substances with her newly found interest in the game of chess, she began her journey as a chess prodigy by even practising with her mind before she goes to bed, majorly as a side effect of the drugs she's been consuming. That is why we could see green drugs arranged strategically around Beth as a sign of emphasis to the plot, visually.
As we all may know, in the 60s, it is a world filled with misogynistic ideas and mindsets, to highlight the plot in this show that shows the gender inequality faced by Beth Harmon is that in the very first episode, when she grows up in an orphanage and told to be a "good girl", teaching her etiquette and proper manners. Essentially, the girls were educated to fit the norms imposed by a patriarchal society in order to become good women later in their lives. To relate it back to the poster, we could see how the artist, Iaroslav portrays her posture and expression to be rather polite and sophisticated, fitting with the ongoing theme.
How this relates to SDG 10: Reduced Inequality is essentially the overall main plot of the whole show. It is showing Beth's journey in the 60s, in a male-dominated society, beating them at their own game, this is also seen in the poster with the chess arranged in curves to mimic a crown to show dominance and that's how the show is breaking stereotypes with this female-centric plot.
*Sources to this interpretation are gathered from personal viewing of the show and also by further reading a specific site that talks about the summary analysis of this show (Shikhar Agrawal, 2020)
Part 2: Design
Visual Research
.jpg) |
| Figure 1.2 - Illustration by Barry Falls |
After doing a thorough visual research in Conceptual Illustration, I've decided to centre my design on the topic of Gender Inequality in the Workplace.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Idea Exploration
My first idea revolves around the idea of literal imbalance shown by the scale and illustrations are added around the scale to show gender inequality in the workplace. However, I feel like it doesn't resonate well even in the sketching phase so I've decided to produce another sketch with a much better thought process accompanied by the feedback given by my lecturer.
.jpg) |
| Figure 1.5 - Sketching for Idea #1 |
I've also decided that I was going to create a rather informative-looking poster that could be used as an awareness piece. Seeing the statement "Equal Work Deserves Equal Pay" is a straightforward and bold statement that is fitting for my design theme.
 |
| Figure 1.6 - Sketching for Idea #2 |
When I was sketching the light fixtures, I got the idea of representing the 'scale' from the previous sketch by varying the height of the fixtures and putting the illumination of each lighting to represent the two gender and the gender symbol attached to it as a hanging switch.
 |
| Figure 1.7 - Coloured Version for the Idea #2 |
After my feedback session, I agree with what has been said by my lecturer that if I cover the typography and look at the poster design as a whole, it doesn't feel like it fits the theme rather than a female figure being trapped and even the symbolism of the light fixtures wasn't fitting to the inequality in workplace theme. After looking at it again, I realised that using the idea of the colours to depict different genders was stereotypical so I intend to avoid that in my next ideation.
While waiting for the class to end, I decided to quickly create something in Adobe Illustrator to have another round of feedback from my lecturer, she said that this is definitely better than the second idea. Her feedback and recommendation were to entirely remove the 'male leg figures' and add illustrations of males talking/chilling by the wall below the wordings while the female figure is seen to be working hard on a desk or the like.
 |
| Figure 1.8 - Idea #3 |
I've decided to work around the new feedback and recommendations and go back to my artboard to tweak some things and finish up the illustration. It definitely looks better with this new composition without the top part of the legs and it definitely gives away the 'gender inequality in the workplace' experience just by looking at it or if I were to remove the typography, it will still feel like the message is there.
 |
| Figure 1.9 - Comparison between Idea #3 and the Final Idea |
The final outcome of the new recommendations and feedback is attached below;
FINAL OUTCOME FOR FINAL PROJECT: VISUAL ANALYSIS
-02.jpg) |
| Figure 2.0 - Final Outcome for Final Project: Visual Analysis |
For this project, I wanted to do something along the lines of gender inequality in the workplace because it is a serious problem in this world and we need to keep on spreading the awareness on this because it is unfair to the other party to suffer financially with the equal amount of work if not more.
The reason why I chose the colour Beige and Grey to be one of the main background colour because those are neutral colours and in a way we require neutrality in this situation that involves multiple genders and their unfair treatment to the one of the party. The choice to use the Greys on the left and Beige on the right was also calculated to show that the left side is much more dull, dark, and negative while the other is brighter, relaxed and calmer.
For the colours used around the female character is more bold-looking to grab the attention of viewers and to see that it is a serious issue. Red is often associate with something that requires your attention or a warning you might say. Hence why the decision to use that colour and harmonise it with orange as the colour of the shirt for the sake of colour harmony.
As for the male figures, shades of blue and green were used because those are more associated with calmer elementals like water and the earth. Those radiates calm and peaceful energy. In this poster context, the male figures are working way less of an effort but with the same amount of pay as the female figure.
FEEDBACK
Week 11: Phase 1 and 2 is well described. I've successfully covered important and obvious design principles in the chosen poster design. Slight grammar changes to both phases to better it is recommended and include an observation about the lead character before talking about the chess pieces and the crown in Phase 1.
Week 13: Great interpretation but it is recommended for me to strike some sentences that are related to the show but are not really portraying the theme that I'm going for so it's best for me to remove it and add something that happens in the show that is more aligned to the discussion at hand. For the design, if I were to use that Balance object, it should be in the background and more metaphorical rather than using it literally as is depicted in the sketch.
Week 14: Need to be clear with the function of the light and great subtlety on the gender symbol on the lighting fixture. However, try to make it bolder for it to pop even more during the digitalisation phase. Shadowing could come into play too and include small indications to relate the whole design to the theme. Try looking at it the poster without the title to see if the poster itself could symbolise gender inequality in the workplace. A suggestion to include a pay gap difference illustration to show symbolism on the lighting fixture could work too.
(Part 2) A much better version that relates to the chosen theme. Make the female figure as if looking like she is working by her desk or the like. Have a few male figures relaxing or chilling on the other side of the poster to show the disparity.
REFLECTION
I particularly enjoyed this final project because it requires complete creativity from me in so many ways. It feels like the combination of our past assignments. However, there is a set of challenges along the way no doubt. However, I was able to push through it to the final point. Seeing myself being able to have a visual analysis on my own now proves that my knowledge on Design Principles has broaden out and that makes me proud of myself. We could see that the past projects almost only require us to test our knowledge in the principles on itself but this time around we are required to have an analysis beforehand which tests our knowledge to recognise principles on the highest level.
Comments
Post a Comment