Task 2 Visual Analysis

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Week 4- Week 5
SIMON KO JING LIANG
0364359
BACHELORS OF DESIGN(HONOURS) CREATIVE MEDIA
DESIGN PRINCIPLE

INSTRUCTION



Topic 6 


Why writing is a valuable design skill?

The importance of writing as a design skill is often underestimated, yet it plays a critical role in crafting memorable and personal digital experiences. Great writing is essential for producing effective content that guides users seamlessly through interactions, addresses their questions with clarity, and imbues products with personality. 

Furthermore, writing enables designers to envision future scenarios, understand user perspectives, and navigate complex design challenges. It complements visual media like sketching, facilitating communication and exploration. 

Clear and impactful writing communicates design ideas to diverse audiences, spreads concepts rapidly, and articulates the rationale behind decisions. It's an ongoing skill development process, requiring practice and study. Overall, writing is a powerful tool that enhances the effectiveness and impact of design efforts.


4 reasons designers should write
  • Effective Communication: Writing helps designers express ideas clearly to clients and team members, ensuring everyone understands project goals and feedback.
  • Deeper Understanding: Writing prompts designers to think critically about design principles and user needs, leading to better-informed decisions.
  • Collaboration: Writing documents discussions and brainstorming sessions, fostering teamwork and ensuring alignment among team members.
  • Personal and Professional Growth: Writing serves as a tool for self-reflection and development, helping designers refine their voice and contribute to the design community.

Visual Analysis

  •  It is a method for understanding design that emphasizes visual elements and principles.
  • Strictly defined, it involves describing and explaining visual structure for its own sake.
  • However, the purpose of visual analysis can also involve recognizing the choices made by a designer in creating the design, as well as understanding how the formal properties of a design communicate ideas, content, or meaning.
  • It is a critical part of visual literacy.
  • It can improve critical judgment skills rather than passively receiving information.
Three phases in visual analysis:
  • Phase 1: Observation 
Observation involves closely examining the visual elements of a design and describing them accurately in your own words, without prior knowledge about the design. It's about looking, thinking, and finding precise language to communicate your observations.
  • Phase 2: Analysis 
Analysis means thinking about what you've observed and making statements about the work based on that. Consider how the elements you see come together to create design principles and affect the viewer. Think about how the arrangement of these elements guides the viewer's eyes and why. Apply what you know about design principles to understand this better.
  • Phase 3: Interpretation 
In this concluding stage, the observations, descriptions, and analysis of the work are merged with verifiable details about the design itself and its historical background obtained from credible sources. You delve into the significance of the design and its original intent or purpose.


The 13th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is: CLIMATE ACTION
"Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts."


fig 1
Steam and smoke rise from the cooling towers and chimneys of a power plant in Juliette, Georgia. 

Observation

The image depicts a power plant in Juliette, Georgia and this image is in landscape format. In addition, this work is presented from a bird's eye view. In the foreground, several tall chimneys stand in prominent positions, soaring into the sky. The main colors in the image are classic industrial colors, with shades of gray and black dominating the landscape. It is also worth noting that the sky above the factory appears hazy due to gases emitted from the chimneys, indicating potential pollution at the facility. Furthermore, The strong lights of the factory and the darkening background of the sky reveal a striking visual impact.

Analysis

The image achieves dynamic balance through its asymmetrical composition, with the visual weight of the power plant offset by the expanse of sky and landscape. The focal point is the towering chimney, emphasize the industrial infrastructure against a serene natural backdrop. The stack's vertical lines and rising gases draw the viewer's eye upward, highlighting the scale and activity of the power plant while conveying a sense of energy(contrast). The repetition of these lines enhances visual movement and cohesion. Despite their differences, the various elements blend harmoniously together to create a unified(unity) composition. Scale and proportion have been carefully maintained with the chimneys positioned to follow the rule of thirds, further enhancing spatial organization and visual coherence.

Interpretation 

The image is photograph by Robb Kendrick and located in Juliette, Georgia as the title mention. When going to the photographer page, there are some images that related to climate action which are photographed by Robb Kendrick.



fig 2
The Scherer power plant in Juliet, Georgia

It is another view to look the power plant in Juliette, Georgia.

fig 3
Steam and smoke rise from the cooling towers and chimneys of a power plant. Artificial intelligence is being used to prove the case that plants that burn carbon-based fuels aren't profitable.

fig 4
A farmer prepares for spring near a power plant in Shanxi Province, China. The facility, which supplies electricity to Beijing, 200 miles away, covers local fields, crops, and people with soot.

Look at the page, I find that the photographer mostly take the images about natural and humanities. In the terms of  weather disaster, he likely took the images like factories have the tall chimneys and steam/smoke. In addition, it is not ruled out that his boss requested to take such a photo where the exhaust emissions from the factory can be clearly seen. Therefore, I think the purpose of the design, especially in the context of the image of the Joliet, Georgia power plant, is to potentially raise awareness of climate action and environmental issues. According to Robb Kendrick's page, he currently specializes in capturing images related to natural landscapes and human activities, including the impact of industrialization on the environment. The image of the power plant emphasizes the impact of industrial pollution on the environment, aligning with Kendrick’s broader narrative about the need for sustainable practices and climate action. The design therefore aims to highlight the consequences of carbon-based fuel consumption and advocate for more sustainable energy practices.