Design Principles - Task 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation
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23/2/2026 - 9/3/2026 / Week 4 - Week 6
Ten Sze Ching / 0365326
Design Principles GCD60804 / Bachelor of Interactive Spatial Design / Taylor's University
Task 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation
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Table of Content
- Module Information Booklet
- Lecture Notes
- Task 2: Visual Analysis
- Task 2: Sketches & Ideation
- Feedback
- Reflections
Module Information Booklet
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Lecture Notes
Lecture 6: Visual Analysis
- Visual analysis is a method used to understand design by focusing on visual elements and principles.
- It involves describing and explaining the visual structure of a design.
It also helps us understand:
- The designer’s choices
- How design elements communicate meaning
- It is part of visual literacy.
Helps us critically interpret images in: m
useums, social media, advertising, news- Strengthens critical thinking.
- Encourages active observation instead of passive viewing.
Phase 1: Observation
- Carefully describe what you see.
- Focus only on visual elements (line, colour, shape, texture, space, etc.).
- Do not research the design beforehand.
- Use clear and objective language.
Phase 2: Analysis
- Examine how visual elements create design principles.
- Ask:
- How does the design guide the eye?
- Why are elements arranged this way?
- What effect does it create?
Phase 3: Interpretation
- Combine your observation and analysis with research, historical context, cultural meaning
Ask:
- What is the purpose of this design?
- What message does it communicate?
- Support interpretation with reliable sources.
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This task requires us to analyse the design work we have selected in Task 1. We will examine the design principles used, as well as its size, placement, purpose, and overall effectiveness. Based on our understanding, we will then develop our own ideas inspired by the chosen design.
What to Include our Blogspot:
- Task Recap: Briefly summarise our understanding of what this task requires.
- Selected Design Work: Re-upload the design we chose in Task 1, including proper credit.
- Visual Analysis (300–400 words): Conduct a structured visual analysis using the three phases: Observation → Analysis → Interpretation.
- References: Include in-text citations and a reference list.
- Ideation (3 Ideas): Sketch three design ideas inspired by the selected work.
- Rationale (30–50 words each): Explain and justify each idea using design principles.
- Lecturer Feedback: Include any feedback received in this blog post.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/216534025/Festiwal-Rymkiewiczowski-2024-Posters
Designer: Katarzyna Zapart
Year: January 11th 2025
Medium: Digital Poster
Size: A1 (7016*9933 pixels)
The poster is vertically composed and divided into two contrasting sections. The upper half is light grey and monochromatic, featuring a detailed anatomical illustration of skeletal bones. These bones transition into a realistic human hand that extends downward into the darker lower half of the composition. The bottom section is filled with dense, dark green fern leaves, creating a sense of depth and shadow. At the centre of the hand’s palm, a soft red glow appears immediately drawing attention. The title “Swiaty Podziemne” runs horizontally across the middle, visually separating and connecting the two sections at the same time. Informational text is positioned at the top left, while sponsor logos are aligned at the bottom. The overall colour palette contrasts pale, desaturated tones above with deep greens and blacks below.
Phase 2: Analysis
Visual Notes
The composition demonstrates strong contrast between light and dark, reinforcing the division between surface and underground. The transition from skeletal bones into a living hand creates visual movement downward, guiding the viewer’s eye into the darker space. Emphasis is created through the glowing red light in the palm, as it is the only warm colour in the composition, making it the focal point. The integration of word and image strengthens the concept, as the title directly supports and deepens the meaning already communicated through the visual. Gestalt principles such as continuation are evident in the smooth transformation from bone to hand, allowing the viewer to perceive them as one connected form rather than separate elements.
This idea reflects the concept of not only exterior beauty but also interior beauty. The small island represents outward appearance, while the vast underwater world symbolises inner richness. Strong contrast between the calm surface and vibrant depth enhances the concept, while the central light beam creates emphasis and visual focus.
This design shows the difference between outer appearance and inner depth. The surrounding crowd is in black and white, symbolising surface beauty and social pressure, while the person in the centre contains a colourful universe inside. The glowing core creates emphasis, and the contrast between dull tones and vibrant colours highlights that real beauty comes from within. Together with the title, the artwork clearly expresses that inner richness and authenticity matter more than outward appearance.
- The analysis is good.
- However for the sketches, instead of suggesting improvements or fixes to the original design, I should propose completely new ideas that are inspired by the original artwork. In other words, create a new design concept influenced by the original, rather than modifying or enhancing it.
- The first idea is the strongest among the three concepts.
- It would be good to include elements beneath the island (such as tree roots, etc.) to better show the transition, similar to my chosen artwork reference where the bone transitions into a real hand.
- Unless I want to proceed with developing the other two ideas, you can focus on refining the first idea and finalize the artwork in Task 3.
- The other two ideas share a similar approach and are good concepts overall.
- However, after reviewing the composition and use of space, the second and third sketches feel more limited, as they only utilize certain areas of the canvas.
- For ideas 2 and 3, there is a concern that it may be difficult to fill the empty spaces with elements later on.
Week 6 (10/3/2026)
- Use the tree as the main visual statement and incorporate its roots into the island core.
- I can also use Adobe Illustrator to create the illustration, depending on the art style I want to achieve.
Through Task 2, I was able to strengthen my visual analysis skills by applying the structured process of observation, analysis, and interpretation. Instead of viewing the artwork only at a surface level, I learned how to break it down and understand how design principles shape meaning. The ideation component also challenged me to think beyond analysis and focus on how I could create new ideas inspired by the artwork, rather than just studying it. This encouraged me to not only interpret design decisions, but also to develop my own concepts thoughtfully. Overall, this task helped me become more reflective and analytical in my design thinking process.
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