Gestalt Project
The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts
A designer knows they have achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
MAJOR AREAS OF GESTALT THEORY:
PROXIMITY
IN AN ASSORTMENT OF OBJECTS, THE ONES THAT ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ARE PERCEIVED AS A GROUP.
SIMILARITY
SIMILARITY CAN OCCUR IN THE FORM OF SHAPE, COLOR, DIMENSION OR OTHER QUALITIES.
CLOSURE
WHEN PARTS OF A WHOLE OBJECT ARE MISSING, OUR PERCEPTION FILLS IN THE VISUAL GAP.
CONTINUITY
OBJECTS ARE PERCEIVED AS A CONTINUOUS LINE THAT FOLLOWS AN ESTABLISHED PATH.
Project Details
STEPS:
- EACH STUDENT WILL START WITH A SOLID SHAPE
- TRACE THE SHAPE ONTO A PIECE OF COMPUTER PAPER
- USING PENCIL CREATE A UNIQUE DESIGN, WITHOUT LOSING THE ORIGINAL SHAPE
- WHEN DESIGNING, CHOOSE HOW MUCH CAN BE TAKEN AWAY BUT STILL SEE THE ORIGINAL DESIGN.
- IS THERE A PARTICULAR PATTERN OR CONCEPT THAT WILL MAKE THE ORIGINAL IMAGE MORE INTERESTING? WHAT IF THE BUTTERFLY IS MADE UP OF MANY TINY CATERPILLARS?
- PLEASE SHOW THE DESIGN TO THE TEACHER BEFORE PROCEEDING TO FINAL DRAFT.
- ONCE A DESIGN HAS BEEN FINALIZED IN PENCIL, THE DESIGN WILL BE TRACED ONTO DRAWING PAPER WITH BLACK PEN.
What is more visually interesting, the solid circle or the circle made from many circles?
Continuation occurs when the lines align.
Continuation occurs in the second example of the shapes. Two triangles are formed. There are no actual triangles.
Although the majority of the images is white circles, we first perceive the red circle because it stands out from the rest. Emphasis is achieved with the change in color.
Although the shapes and sizes are the same, we visually organize the circles into rows as the colors are the same.
Although the shapes and sizes are the same, we visually organize the circles into columns because of proximity.
The size, shape, color and spacing are the same. The small line connects the pieces.
