Shape Grammar

 

Final Analog Design. Black Background.
Final Digital Design. White Background. Program: Vectornator.

Project Statement

In this project, I was asked to explore how the elements and principles of design are used as compositional and communicative tools, and to explore strategies for conveying meaning and intentional experiences in design work. I was to create one digital and one analog composition involving only triangles, squares or circles. In my design in particular, the analog has a black background and the digital has a white. I was deeply drawn to minimalist designs involving triangles and squares in my iteration process, a consequence of my perfectionist nature. I ran with this realization, and came up with a design that features triangular arrow shapes. The repetition of the small arrows contrasts with the scale, direction, and color of the larger ones. This shows that sometimes life doesn’t always work out as planned. I see these triangles as “arrows” pointing me where to go. Like when life presents two paths and there is uncertainty on which one to take; maybe one path is the path following the heart and the other is following the mind. Especially in design, I sometimes think I have a great idea, but it doesn’t always work out, leading me back to square one. This design highlights that it’s okay to fail and be led back to the place you started, because the next path may be the one to success.


Process

View detailed project process at Shape Grammar: Process


Reflection

In this project, I initially noticed I was the most inspired when working with triangles and squares. The iterating process was the most fun when I was working with these shapes, and I found myself unintentionally using them the most. While working with circles was still exciting and interesting, I did not get the results I wanted with them. The iterating process, however, was probably my favorite part of this all. I learned to just let go and not try to make everything so perfect right from the start. I learned to trust the process of design–not everything is going to be the way you envision it at the beginning. Also, I learned that patience is key–wait for things to click and trust that they will. I learned how to look at compositions, see certain principles of design, determine what they mean, and how they make me feel. While I could have made this design more complex, looking back, I still think it is impactful even as a simple form. My main objective when designing is to always put meaning behind everything I do. Even if it comes out as minimalistic, I want to impact people. Overall, I am obsessed with the messages and feelings I get when looking at this design, and am already starting to look at the world through the different principles.

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