Statement of Intent
The intent of this assignment was to convey a complex emotion with repeated shapes and a singular design principle. While exploring communicative and organizational tools, I attempted to develop strategies through elemental principles of design.
Goals & Perspective
Composition #1: Construct a cohesive composition using repetition of shape and focus on one selected principle. By using these forms of expression, find a way to communicate a specific state of being or energy. The shapes must not overlap and need to be contained on a by 13” x 8”.
Composition #2: By collecting ideas from Arp’s Laws of Chance, construct a compositional process using an unintentional/indeterminate/random process. Iterate and explore methods of “randomness” to disperse your shapes from Composition #1. Minimum of 13” x 8”/ Maximum of 5’x 3’ maximum.
Ideation
To help understand the connection between emotion and the used principle, I began to experiment with the ellipsed oval paired with various principles. By doing this I slowly began to learn the use of each principle as a specific tool.
From this, I then needed to choose a repeated geometric shape and principle to express this in two compositions. From this, I needed to produce a high-quality template from iterative equilateral triangles. I began constructing various sizes with a compass and a precision knife.
Brainstorming
Now having multiple variations of it of my triangles, I began to iterate through brainstormed concepts using both digital and analog processes to test layouts. From this, I discovered I enjoyed the weight pressed up a singular shape. I felt this gave a sense of tension — a feeling of time standing still as the triangles remained suspended — ready to be unpaused at any moment.
Iteration + Production
Composition #1
As I began to create I wanted to continue to play on these feelings of tension and stress. I looked to convey a sense of “nail-biting” seconds before the fall. By taking the general idea of the weight of many shapes on one cohesive position, I created my first composition title: COLLAPSE. 
This was meant to convey the tension before the collapse of a stacked tower as it teeters back and forth. I feel the use of asymmetry helped provide a lack of predictability and lack of balance that helps convey this tension. Scale also shows the relation of each shape by using different sizes and numbers.
Composition #2
By using randomized summations of shapes I began the second composition and wanted to continue using the tension of the breath being held. I wanted to experiment and find an orientation that could convey the moment was frozen in time. After iterating for 15 minutes and allowing the triangles to simply fall by chance I began to see a similarity that seemed to create a moment second after an impact. My final depiction really demonstrated this sense of suspension. I titled this piece: COLLIDE.
This follows an impact. As the shapes flutter in debris, it’s meant to feel like you could “unpause” the design and release the tension they are suspended in.
Reflection
In this project, both processes posed a challenge. With the limitations of Composition #1, I found it frustrating to not have the ability to overlap the shapes. In contrast to Composition #2, the first was much more intentional and methodical. It was less organic and truly came with attention to the orientation and placement of every shape. Throughout this first process, I scraped many original ideas and went through around 10+ drafts to achieve the tension and moment before the collapse of a structure.
By the use of Arp’s Laws of Chance, I iterated many different types in an attempt to give a sense of tension. To create this sense of a frozen moment following an impact of energy. I looked for ways to convey a sense that you were able to “unpause” the design. This randomized orientation helped give a sense of inertia. I think this helped create a sense of anticipation as you see the triangles flow in controlled chaos.
To help build further confidence, I want to continue to practice the use of design principles to help demonstrate the feeling or state of being I am attempting to convey. I think this can continue to come throughout intentional practicing with Arp’s Laws of Chance as well.
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