Jack and Jill:
Abstract
Representative
Gestalt Principles Used:
Abstract:
Artboard 1: I used the principle of proximity to establish a relationship between Jack and Jill.
Artboard 2: I used figure ground and created hills with the black background.
Artboard 3: I used continuation here, so the raindrops led the viewer’s eyes downward, without actually being on the bottom of the artboard.
Artboard 4: Here I used the principle of similarity to establish Jack’s fall . The smaller parts of him represent his whole self failing down.
Artboard 5: The principle of closure was used to establish Jack’s missing crown. A piece of him is missing, yet it is assumed that the circle is closed through closure.
Artboard 6: Here I used repetition so the viewer would perceive Jill’s tumble as one singular element, rather than individual elements.
Representative:
Artboard 1: Here I used similarity to establish a connection between Jack and Jill and have them contrast their background. This makes them a pair that stands out, rather than individuals.
Artboard 2: Here I used repetition to create hills. Many of the same circles are overlayed to create a large hill, rather than many small ones.
Artboard 3: Closure is used here to represent the pail of water. There is obviously not a gaping hole in the pail’s side, so the principle of closure fixes that perception for us.
Artboard 4: I used continuation to demonstrate Jack’s fall. The moons are portrayed in a curve and lead the eye off the page, narrating his large tumble.
Artboard 5: This artboard uses figure ground to establish Jack’s crown breaking. Small triangles contrast with the background to create fragments and the triangles in the upper corner switch places with the ground.
Artboard 6: Lastly, I used proximity to establish Jill’s tumble. Many shapes are put closely together to establish a connection among themselves. This contrasts Jill against Jack, who is on the bottom of the artboard.
Reflection:
In this assignment, we used Gestalt principles to create a Nursery Rhyme. For my project, I chose to show “Jack and Jill” through shapes in both an abstract and representative manner. In this project, I learned all about Gestalt principles and how to put them into practice. Additionally, I combined this knowledge with the Rule of Thirds when designing my artboards. I also learned how to use Sigma in this project, which is an easier alternative to Illustrator. I thought it was relatively easy to create the representative artboards in this project, as it was simply telling a story through shapes. However, combining Gestalt principles with the abstract dartboards was quite challenging. I struggled with creativity in the beginning as well as trying to satisfy all 6 principles. My submission could be improved if I spent more time learning the ins-and-outs of Figma. With more knowledge of the site, I would probably be able to make more intricate shapes and tell the story in a more complex manner. Additionally, this submission could be improved if I was able to be more creative. I struggled in making abstract pieces. The assignment could be improved for the next class by involving color. I think simply adding gray shapes to the black-and-white would enhance the storytelling. From the knowledge gained in this assignment, I will now be able to identify design crimes that go against the Gestalt principles. Additionally, I will be able to follow the Rule of Thirds in the rest of my designs in the future. I was helped in this project by referencing the Gestalt lecture presented in class, as well as the links provided in the directions. Specifically I found the Smashing Magazine article helpful (http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2014/03/design-principles-visual-perception-and-the-principles-of-gestalt/). This article helped me further identity the Gestalt principles with more examples.