Visual Techniques

-Transparency
-Economy
-Stasis
-Simplicity
-Consistency
-Subtlety

-Active

-Variation

-Intricacy

-Spontaneity

-Boldness

-Opacity

     As I am interested in the field of graphic design, there are various visual techniques that can be utilized in getting a message out towards the audience. These two images portray a similarity in the sense that they are both trying to reach out towards their target audience, yet they have quite contrasting visual techniques to do so. In the first poster image, we see a use of transparency with the blue and red circles in the middle. This contrasts with the second image in which it contains opacity with its many objects overlapping one another on top of the woman's head. Simplicity and economy is evident in the first image because it is frugal with its use of elements. The same font is being used throughout the entire poster and the use of intricate design is nonexistent, unlike the second image which contains a variety of decoratives. The first poster image lacks a sense of movement, a technique that is found within the second image. The colorful rainbows and musical notes both shoot out in varying directions to indicate such movement. While the first poster is subtle with its design, the second is more bold and spontaneous which is likely to grab more attention from its viewers. In conclusion, while each image contains opposing techniques, they are share a common concept of utilizing visual techniques that adapt to a certain theme or idea. The first poster is trying to get people to attend an event that may not be as flashy as a "musical engima" that is being expressed in the second image.

Week 11 Contrast

 

     As I am interested in graphic design, I found this well-known iPod ad to be a good example of contrast. This image represents a contrast of color to tone. The black silhouette of the woman, the white iPod, and the pink background all contrast with each other. Although you would think that the pink colored background is what provides a pop-out effect in comparison to the black and white of the woman and iPod, it is actually the iPod that pops out in this ad. The white iPod and earphones stand out against the silhouette and pink background. This technique is used so that the viewers can focus their attention on the iPod, therefore making it successful in luring consumers to buying the product. If they had shown the actual woman instead of her silhouette and a busy patterned background instead of a simple colored one, the ad wouldn't have been as effective.

     This image was quite difficult to decipher at first. In the center, the phrase "Bad Vibes" is set out in yellow coloring. It appears that the designer was attempting to use contrast in color. Yellow shades of the phrase "Bad Vibes" was supposed to be used as a pop-effect compared to the rest of the design, which is set in orange, red, and pink shades. This did not really work since the designer utilized all warm colors. Because of that, everything in this image looks so similar that it would be easy to miss the "Bad Vibes" if one were to quickly take a glance. Perhaps if the designer had used cool colors, such as blue or green, to go against the warm colors, it would've made the pop-out effect of the phrase more evident and sharpened the visual statement.

Implied Motion In Design

     In a photo, an action or movement can be frozen in time. But when it comes to graphic design, the designer can create a concept of trickery to lead the viewers to assume something that actually isn't happening. In this photo, we see an implied motion of expectation. The person is holding out his hands to catch the pieces of paper. They appear to be floating in air with such perfect positioning without any blurred movement (The truth is they were held by pieces of string that were edited out in the finishing product). Yet it is common sense to know that they will fall into the individual's hands due to gravity. This motion of motion of expectation is relevant to the direction of horizontal-vertical.

 

     When it comes to web design or print, the designer wants to create something that will catch the viewer's eye. In this image, the design structure is set on a diagonal position. In terms of direction, diagonals represent stress and change. As we are accustomed to balance and harmony, this can throw off and grab the attention of the viewers. This diagonal design shows implied motion in the sense that it leads to the viewer to assume that the structure will slide downwards. Also, the font in the word "Motion" show a form of movement as well. The way that both letter "O"'s are positioned give off a wavy appearance. This wave gives off a continuous sense of movement.