Research

Abstraction Research:

I began this project by collecting 20 images (10 man-made/10 human-made) and analyzed each form by using my line drawing techniques and digital skills.

First Row: Original Images

Second Row: Proportion/Size

Third Row: Direction/Line

Fourth Row: Component/Shapes

Fifth Row: Value

View abstraction sources

Mandala Research:

I was having a hard time communicating visual rhythm in my composition so I did research for inspiration.

Rhythm in design is using a repetition of patterns and evenly spaced/angles lines. Having variety between the spacing of lines will create a flowing rhythm as well as suggest a movement for the eye to follow.

View mandala source

Color Research:

Analogous: color schemes are color combinations made up of those that are next to each other on the color wheel. These create a visually pleasing and calming design.

Split Complimentary: compromised of two colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel as well as immediately next to them. These create a good contrast and balance between different colors.

View color source

›Exercises/Activities

I used rhythm as my compositional principle by combining my umbrella and ocean wave abstractions. By using the basic shape of the forms, I was able to construct them together to enhance movement.

I began repeating the forms by flipping them vertically and horizontally because I felt the waves together were visually appealing.

After our small group discussion, I revised my design by adding value to both the wave and umbrella which made the movement in my pattern enhanced.

Iterations

Mandala and Grey Scale Iterations

To start my final mandala composition, I experimented with the radial, grid, and mirror tool to create different templates in illustrator.

Template #4 and the one I selected to test my abstractions.

Once I chose my final template, I began combining my natural and synthetic abstractions that would create visual rhythm.

Using the lock as my focal point, I started arranging my elements using repetition to create flow.

To create interest, I added lines that were abstracted from the ferris wheel. After looking at it, I found them to be distracting.

As a solution, I added color to see if that would help make my abstractions pop out.

After many variations with the background to bring more unity to my composition, I felt the design as a whole was too static.

View other iterations

The more I manipulated the design, I was drifting away from my main principle being rhythm. While using the same ideas from my first mandala draft, I was able to create a more rhythmic design by doing additional research and experimenting with visual rhythm.

To start my new design I used the wave pattern I created in exercise one. Once I shaped them in a circle I liked the shapes that were formed.

Continuing the idea from my original draft, I used the four leaf clover to create depth. I did this by manipulating the size and value of the abstraction.

I focused on repetition as my element of rhythm by repeating the waves and clovers in the center to show more movement.

Once I had completed the main structure of my design, I experimented with line weight and grey scale value.

Color Iterations

Using my grey scale value, I experimented with different translations by using related color application. Since my values of grey are very similar, I chose to use an analogous color scheme for my first color iteration.

I used blue because it represented the color of ocean waves.

Although these shades are appealing, I felt it was too bland for my application.

These shades of blue translated with too much grey and didn’t feel it would be visually impactful.

I chose to use a split complimentary color scheme for my second color iteration because it created more contrast in my design while also creating a sense of harmony.

I liked the balance of the blues and purples with the pop of orange.

This palette has too much green and didn’t like how the colors worked together

Although i liked these colors, they did not work well with my design.

Production

I was happy with how my final mandala design evolved but I changed some minor details to make it feel complete.

I added butterflies flying around the outside of my mandala to add visual interest.

To make the design feel complete, I shaded in the triangles to create additional movement.

The different values in the trangles wasn’t necessary so I decided to keep them consistent.

After the group discussions I received positive feedback that helped revise my final piece. I used illustrator to soften the hard edges where the triangles and the waves met. Below is the grey scale example of where I show a close up. I went back in and darkened the center of the waves to give it more depth as well as lightened up the center.

Final Design

Each composition creates a different feeling when placed side by side. This project taught me a lot about the process of getting to the best solution for my goals. That sometimes that a design that I like may look good but doesn’t always meet the initial goal. The more I experiment in these projects, I am learning to continually remind myself of the objectives for the assignment.

I’ve enjoyed learning new tools and techniques in illustrator that have made the design process easier. Although I’ve used illustrator in the past for basic ideas, I never knew all the shortcuts I could use to manipulate my designs.

Portfolio Project

View portfolio project

Ohio State nav bar

Patterning and Abstractions: Process