Design Principles | Task 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation
17/2/25 - 3/3/25 (Week 3 - Week 5)
Kimberly Miaw Jya Nee | 0366836
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media | Taylor's University
Design Principles
Task 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation (40%)
[Table of Contents]
1.
Lectures
2.
Instructions
3.
Task
4.
Feedback
5.
Reflection
6.
Quick Links
[Lectures]
Lecture 6: Visual Analysis
Visual Analysis
- Method of understanding design that focuses on the visual elements & principles
- Strictest definition: a definition and explanation of visual structure for its own sake
- Purpose: recognise the choices a designer made in creating the design + understand the formal properties of how a design communicate ideas, content, meaning
- Critical part of visual literacy (a skills that helps people read & interpret images)
- Practicing visual analysis sharpens critical judgement skills + helps people seek out answers
How does Visual Analysis work?
3 Phases: Observation, Analysis, Interpretation
1. Phase 1: Observation
- Closely look & identify the visual elements in a design, describe them carefully + accurately in our own words
- Do not read beforehand about the design at all
- This phase is about: looking, thinking, finding a good language to communicate what you noticed
2. Phase 2: Analysis
- Requires us to think about the observations + try to make statements about the work based on the evidence of our observations
- Think about how specific visual elements combine to create design principles that complete that work of art / design + effects on viewer
- How our eyes are led through the work and why?
- Apply design principles knowledge
3. Phase 3: Interpretation
- Final phase
- Observations, description & analysis of the work are fused with facts about the design work in designer / historical context (trustworthy & published source)
- What is the meaning of the design?
- What was the purpose for it to be created
[Instructions]
[Task]
Brief Description:
- Assess, investigate, document and analyse the existing art/design work you selected in Task 1.
- You will study the design principles found in that work, as well as the size, placement, purpose, effectiveness of the design.
For our second task, we were required to write a 300 - 350 word visual
analysis of the artwork we selected. Then, we have to sketch 3 ideas on
how our selected artwork can be improved (supported by a 30-50 words
rationale for each idea). Visual references (with citation) that
inspires our ideas may also be included.
Fig. 1. 1899, The Water Lily Pond, Claude Monet
Title: The Water Lily Pond
Artist: Claude Monet
Year: 1899
Size: 93 cm x 74 cm
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Observation
This painting is in a square format. The top half of the composition
features a curved bridge. Beneath it, is a pond filled with water lilies
floating on the surface, leading the viewer’s eye toward the background,
which provides a sense of depth and defines where the pond ends.
Surrounding the pond are trees and dense foliage. The dominant colours in
the painting are shades of green, yellow, blue, purple, and pink for the
water lilies. The brushstrokes are short, loose and organic, which allows
the elements to blend together harmoniously without distinct outlines. The
only exception is the bridge, which has a structured form and is painted
with more defined, contrasting lines, making it stand out as the focal
point of the composition.
(108 words)
Analysis
This painting applies several design principles that bring the composition
together. The bridge stands out as the
main figure, while the
pond and foliage create depth as the
background through figure
and ground. The close placement of the water lilies creates a sense of
unity. The bridge is the
focal point because of its
strong structure, contrast against the lighter background, and placement
using the rule of thirds. The composition
balances symmetry and asymmetry since the bridge acts as a
central divider, but the reflections on the pond add slight variation.
Repetition of water lilies and
foliage ties everything together, while
movement is suggested by their
irregular placement, that they are floating naturally. Additionally, the
curved bridge, and leading lines of the pond guide the viewer’s eye
through the scene. Lastly, the analogous colour palette and soft
brushstrokes create
harmony, which makes
everything blend together into a peaceful scene.
(149 words)
Interpretation
This is an oil painting titled “The Water Lily Pond” done by Claude
Monet. I believe this is a painting of his garden that was designed by
Claude Monet himself when he moved to Giverny in the 1890’s. It looks like it was painted either in the early morning or at sunset.
Monet. Monet might have wanted to capture the peaceful moment when
the light hits his garden just right, which makes the garden feel almost
enchanted. The art style of the painting is called Impressionism,
which places emphasis on the accurate depiction of natural light by making
small, brushstrokes that forms organic shapes, along with unblended
colours (Sothesby. n.d.). In a letter, Monet described how he had planted the water lilies
for fun, he had never intended painting them. However, once they
established themselves they almost became his only source of inspiration.
He wrote: "I saw, all of a sudden, that my pond had become enchanted...
Since then, I have had no other model." (Source)
(123 words)
Sketch #1
Fig. 2. Sketch #1
This sketch explores a different perspective of the painting. It
is a slanted top-down view of the bridge, with the pond underneath filled
with lilies. While the bridge remains as the central subject, the
perspective also highlights new details, such as the submerged lily pads,
gentle ripples of the water, and reflections of the bridge, surrounding
trees and sky.
Sketch #2
Fig. 3. Reference Pictures for Sketch #2
Fig. 4. Sketch #2
This sketch is a submerged underwater view where the image looks like it was taken underwater, which has visible
lily roots, fishes, and ripples of light from above. The bridge would
be slightly distorted by the refraction of light in water which gives it a
dreamy, surreal effect. This version would focus on texture and
transparency which emphasizes how light interacts below the
surface.
Sketch #3
In this sketch, the composition takes on a wider view of the scenery, with the bridge positioned toward the right side of the composition. This perspective emphasises the dense foliage in the background rather than the pond, though the water remains slightly visible. It creates the feeling that the viewer is walking alongside the pond, and approaching the bridge.
[Feedback]
Week 3 (17/2/25)
General Feedback:
Start Task 2 and complete item 1-2 by next consultation.
Week 4 (24/2/25)
General Feedback:
Progress Check by Mr. Vinod and received good feedbacks on Observation and
Analysis. Continue on drafting out the sketches.
Specific Feedback:
Mr. Vinod's Feedback: include more of personal feelings / thoughts of the
artwork in Interpretation part. Started on the sketches + descriptions as
well.
Week 5 (3/3/25)
General Feedback:
[Submission Week] Finished 2 sketches so far. Progress Check by Mr. Vinod
during tutorial and received good feedbacks. He advised to proceed with
Sketch #2.
Specific Feedback:
Add in Sketch #3 and finish up reflection.
[Reflection]
Experience
Overall, I felt like I had taken my time to enjoy the process in this task. It is a continuation of Task 1, which is to visually analyse our chosen artwork or design, basically taking it a few steps further. Drawing out the sketches was quite fun since it allowed me to experiment and reimagine the painting from a different perspective. I had to be more imaginative in deciding how I wanted the painting to feel, which made me think beyond just replicating the original.
Observation
Being intentional with the placement of elements can strongly influence the theme and mood of a piece. Small changes in composition, perspective, or lighting can completely shift how the artwork is perceived.
Findings
Composition plays an important role in shaping an artwork or design, and perspective is a key part of that process. Exploring different viewpoints not only affects depth and structure but it also helps convey different emotions and interpretations. Through this task, I realized how subtle adjustments can lead to entirely new visual experiences.
Thank You
