August 27 Reading Summaries

Gestalt: Entire figure or configuration.

Aspects of Gestalt:

1. Closure - The design as a whole
2. Continuance - Dominant to secondary
3. Proximity - Form through distance
4. Similarity - Similar parts hold form together

Interactions of Form:

1. Position - Perception can change based on distance from the frame
2. Direction - Lines cause movement and focal points
3. Space - Distance between elements as important as the elements themselves

Depth and Perspective:

1. Depth - Distance creates contrast and meaning
2. Perspective - The use of lines to create an illusion of depth

Visual Weight and Balance:

1. Visual Weight - The sum of a form's components
2. Visual Balance - Equilibrium in the weight, caused mainly by position

Form and Design

Design - The process of purposeful visual creation

Elements:

1. Conceptual
2. Visual
3. Relational
4. Practical

Conceptual Elements:

1. Point - Single position
2. Line - Moving point
3. Plane - Multi-directional line (2D)
4. Volume - Multi-directional plane (3D)

Visual Elements:

1. Shape - Main identification in anything that can be seen
2. Size - Bigness or smallness; can be measured
3. Color - Hues of the spectrum as well as neutrals
4. Texture - Surface characteristics of a shape

Relational Elements:

1. Direction - Shape in relation to the observer
2. Position - Position in relation to the frame
3. Space - Position in relation to other objects
4. Gravity - "Heaviness" of grouped objects

Practical Elements:

1. Representation - Shape derived from nature
2. Meaning - Message conveyed
3. Function - Design serves a purpose

Form - Conceptual elements made visible

Form as a Point - Non-directional circle, usually compact

Form as a Line - Extremely narrow, prominent length

Form as a Plane - All flat forms not a point or line on a 2D surface

Form as Volume - Completely illusory in 2D space