Hectic Hillsborough

For my joiner project, I attempted to showcase the hectic nature of an intersection on Hillsborough Street.  Because of the high level of activity in the area, I thought it would be the perfect location to explore different perspectives and the passage of time, as often is portrayed in photocubism.  I took many photos from varying angles and at several times of day and loosely composited them together.  I took this loose approach to suggest the constant changing nature and business of the scene, allowing the viewer’s eye to wander and explore.  I included connecting elements and leading lines (such as the crosswalk leading up from the bottom right to the center, and the stoplight post leading from the top right to the left) to give the viewer some guidance, while still allowing them to discover the scene for themselves.  I used the strong leading line of the stoplight post to lead the eye deliberately from right to left, opposite of how we are naturally inclined to read things, to create a stronger sense of rhythm throughout the composition.  This line is enhanced through the gradual shift from mostly day photos to mostly night photos from right to left, suggesting the cycling time of day.  The overall circular viewing path of the image suggests this constant change in time.   The critiques I received on VoiceThread influenced a lot of these decisions and were incredibly helpful.

Storyboad Practice

Class assignment: your guess at what the storyboards for Steve Ogden's short animation might have looked like.

Composition Studies and Cubes (Studio Project)

composition photographs

density

line / continuation

mass and void

pattern / rhythm

texture

value

Structure Exemplifying 'Value' 
Preliminary Models

paper models for structure exemplifying value

Final Models

Individual Units

Final Structure (made with Stephanie H., Maya M., and Ross A. out of wood and metal cubes)

Photos courtesy of Stephanie H.

Sustainability Posters

In this poster, I was attempting to utilize the Gestalt principle figure-ground relationship. I did this by layering the tiger, its stripes, and the trees, so that the viewer does not exactly know which object to distinguish as the main figure to focus on. I wanted the stripes to resemble and blend into the trees, symbolizing that when you lose the trees, you lose the tigers. I adjusted (as suggested) the angles of the stripes and added more trees so that they would connect and lead the viewer’s eye through the page, using continuation, leading up to the tiger’s face. In mid-review, it was suggested that I add some sort of man-made structure in the background to really emphasize the deforestation aspect. However, in the SecondLife critique, the version with a city skyline in the background was suggested to be changed back to a version without. Later, a VoiceThread comment suggested keeping the city. I ultimately decided to focus on only the tiger’s stripes and the trees, so that the symbolism and Gestalt principles of figure-ground, continuation, and similarity would be clear.

 In this poster I was attempting to utilize the Gestalt principles of similarity, dissimilarity, and anomaly. After the repeating the trashcans and landfills, the recycling bin with the forest breaks this visual repetition, acting as a dissimilar element to convey contrast. There is also continuation between the two trashcans due to their shared landfill background that leads the viewer’s eye through them. In mid-review it was suggested that I simplify and down-size my text, which I did. In a VoiceThread critique, it was suggested that I make the text just a little smaller, and also emphasize certain parts of the text by enlarging them and using a brighter color. I used both these suggestions, and believe my piece is now better for it.

In this poster, I was attempting to utilize the Gestalt principles of proximity grouping and closure. This is created through the water droplets that suggest the shape of the earth, as well as the text wrapping around it. There is also similarity between the water droplets that make up the earth and the water droplets in the background. The comments through mid-review led me to really simplify my message, as well as completely rearrange the text to wrap around the earth. VoiceThread critiques gave me additional comments on how to tweak the text and unify the poster more fully from the faucet, through the earth, to the bottom text.

oh deer

simple toony reference sheet commission for Alex H.

Studio: Paper Project

walking sketches, detailed studies

chronophotography

precedent research

design proposals, models

prototype

final wearable paper piece

Gravity Falls Geb (and other Cartoon Characters)

Doodled myself in the style of Disney's new cartoon, Gravity Falls.

Doodled a friend in the style of Cartoon Network's Regular Show.