Artefact 1 - Evaluation

LINES

The aim of my first artefact was to understand the visual elements of art and design, which in return will help me understand the visual components of space such as depth cues and the role they may play in determining the perception of space. My task was to analyse one visual element of art and design. I decided to analyse how different lines contribute in the formation of space, therefore influencing ones perception space. I successfully created a questionnaire of images with open ended questions. One section was linked to the book, Visual Elements of Art and Design, Frederick Palmer as he suggests visual designs evoke different interpretations and reactions to a viewer. Vertical lines can indicate strength or perhaps growth. Horizontal lines can indicate calmness and rest. Curves portray smoothness. Diagonals suggest movement. Zigzag and other articulated lines give out a feeling of agitation. The second section was a mixture of 3D rendered images and images of the real environment. Members of my focus group generally agreed with Palmer’s theory. Nonetheless I discovered that analysing lines alone does not fully help in answering my research question, ‘Is the perception of space within the 3D Environments the same as that in a Real or Non virtual Environment?’. It is depth cues like movement, rhythm, shape, colour and tone sound assist us in determining how believable our three-dimensional worlds appear in a two-dimensional screen surface. These are considered some of the crucial elements that make people perceive these spaces differently whilst simultaneously communicating moods, emotions and ideas. For my second Artefact I shall analyse one other visual element of art and design shape, by creating different environments and comparing them to real environments, thus testing how ones perception of space can be influenced by the shapes with in the space.

Live Client Project Blue Prints

I shall be creating a retreat and conference centre for my client Nest Limited Company. They are a Real Estate company based in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania that want visual work done for them for marketing purposes. I finally found the blue prints (had misplaced them) so now i can begin my live client project!

SECOND & THIRD FLOOR PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SITE PLAN

LHS ELEVATION

REAR VIEW ELEVATION

CROSS SECTION B-B

LHS ELEVATION

FRONT ELEVATION

ROOF PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

RECAP

Okay I have honestly been feeling slightly lost whilst doing my first two artefacts. I was not sure if my experiments where directly related or answering the question at all. However after talking to Danny and Joolz, things seemed to get clearer. This is a reminder to myself and a reflection of the conversations I had with them.

Its occurred to me (only after joolz pointed it out )that my first artefact (about lines) and my second one (about shapes) seem, to be obviously related. He said 'lines make up shapes, perhaps you should have done them as one artefact). Nonetheless he said it is good that I'm to define the most important 'things'.

During our conversation I mentioned to Joolz that two out of the four members in my focus group have read some parts of my research project document, they are not experts in the subject nonetheless they now have sufficient knowledge about my area of discussion.

He advised me to make my experiments more complex and create constraints, especially because two members of my focus group understand the topic and could possibly make biased decisions. The constraints will help me get more 'realistic' or less biased answers from them. For example give members of my focus group a time limit e.g 30 seconds to look at my experiment. He then went along and said, it is good that two members have an understanding of the research document, therefore the two members can be my 'placebo'. Don't give your focus group guidance and only answer questions when asked. I will carry out my coming artefacts as advised. I will also track the answers from my placebo group and the non placebo and compare the difference and similarities in their answers and asses the placebo effect.

He also suggested that "awareness of space is provoked by other visual elements of space". For example." Limited space is the same as deep space without depth cues, it is movement that joins the two". He asked me to think about how other elements help define the space.

One thing I realized is that I was approaching my artefacts from a different angle, I knew forehand the things I was keen to experiment on, after writing my research document, however Joolz explained to me that it is the results of one artefact that are meant to lead you to your next artefact. He said it is fine in knowing what you want to experiment next, although I should be hoping to find out e.g. for my second artefact, how shapes influence the space without being to explicit. Both Joolz and Danny mentioned that my questions were guiding the viewer into making them believe what I wanted too.

Danny advised me to restructure my questions in my questionnaire and also look for appropriate images that matches the question. He also advised me to use unreal editor when experimenting with my next artefacts.

Note to self : You can't divorce other elements of space whilst looking at another one, Block never privileged any elements, so why should I? I should try and combine all of the elements and so to find out what are the key elements that often make people perceive spaces differently.

Tutors want to know what the experiment is and why have I done it?

PROBLEM!

Okay all my research for my third artefact is in my flash disk and I cant get it to open up!!!!!!!! I am extremely frustrated right now. So now I have to re write my second artefact evaluation and my third!!!!!!

ARTEFACT 2 - THE IDEA

After interviewing members of my focus group, It occurred to me that the visual element of art and design ‘lines’, acts as a foundation in both the perception of space in 3D environments, as well as a real or none virtual environment. It is depth cues like movement, rhythm, shape, colour and tone sound assist us in determining how believable our three-dimensional worlds appear in a two-dimensional screen surface. These are considered some of the crucial elements that make people perceive these spaces differently whilst simultaneously communicating moods, emotions and ideas. Therefore, for my second Artefact I shall analyse one other visual element of art and design SHAPE.

I am hoping to discover how the visual element of art and design, shape can affect ones perception of space. I shall still be referring to the book Visual Elements of Art and Design by Frederick Palmer, and the justifications he makes about shapes. He argues that “shape may be used by artists and designers to manipulate the spectator’s response to an image or construction”.
His book suggests that;
‘Squares and rectangles are associated with stability’
‘Circles and curved shapes suggest movement and continuity’
‘Triangles can lead the eye in upward movement; but
‘Inverted triangles tend to give a sensation of imbalance and tension’

My aim is to find out whether it is true that shapes can make people perceive spaces differently and the moods and ideas they communicate to a viewer. I intend on finding out how far shapes go out in assisting to make two dimensional screen surfaces appear believable and of a 3dimensional nature. I am to interview members of my focus group, and ask them open ended questions, based on images that consist of several types of shapes and record the response of members in my focus group of each type of shape. I will also create two rooms, one with depth cues, and the other with none and see how the perception of space will differ from the other. With this interview I shall also be able to find out on whether Palmers suggestions of space are fully agreeable. This will lead me to my next artefact. I am not expecting a common occurring answer or pattern in their answers, however I think rectangles and squares as shapes will be the most common depth cue which will drastically change ones perception of space.