Design Principles / Task 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation

A method to understand design by focusing on visual elements and principles. It helps explain how design communicates meaning and reflects the designer’s choices. Visual analysis is key to visual literacy, allowing us to critically interpret images in media, advertising, and everyday life. It sharpens judgment and encourages active engagement with visual content.

Phases of Visual Analysis

Phase 1: Observation

Closely examine and describe visual elements in your own words.

Avoid researching beforehand.

Focus on careful, accurate description.

Phase 2: Analysis

Use your observations to make evidence-based statements about the work.

Explore how visual elements combine into design principles.

Consider effects on the viewer and guide the eye through the design.

Phase 3: Interpretation

Combine observations and analysis with factual/contextual information (designer, history, purpose).

Determine the meaning and intent behind the design.

Why writing is a valuable design skill?

to produces effective content
to helps us imagine future scenarios
to communicates with clarity & impact

Instructions

Module Information Booklet

Task 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation (40%)

Task 2 Recap

We are tasked to:

1. Re-upload the artwork from Task 1 (together with its credit line) in this blog.

Then, conduct a visual analysis of the design. Write our observation and critical, analytical thoughts in about 300 to 400 words.

(Analytical write up may require references to supplement the write up, cite references and include a reference list at the end of the writing.)

2. Next, we must create three original sketch ideas inspired by the design principles used in the selected work.

*We are not allowed to redesign or modify the original poster. Instead, we need to identify the main underlying idea (e.g., contrast, identity, symbolism, minimalism, hierarchy), keep that design principle, and apply it to a completely new subject and concept.

Different content. Same design thinking.

Our sketch must show our original idea, not a modified version of the original poster.

3. After sketching, describe each idea and support it with a rationale in about 30-50 words. we are allowed to include some visual references (remember to cite the sources) that inspire our own ideas.

*Include all feedback received from lecturer in the Task 2 blogpost.

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Part A: Visual Analysis of Selected Design from Task 1

「初音ミクHappy 16th Birthday -Dear Creators-」

Artist and Designer: Rella

Year: 2023

Size: 1000 x 1417 px

(Highest quality I could find)

Medium: Digital

Source: https://piapro.net/miku16thbd/

Phase 1: Observation

This artwork is in a portrait format. The main focus of the design features a girl positioned centrally, facing left and looking upwards. She has extremely long, flowing twin-tails that extend outward.

She pose with one hand on her headset microphone, and the other gesturing toward her wings made of abstract drawing tools and musical instruments.

The background has a simple black-blue-white gradient, with a radial pattern in the centering on the wings. Star particles are scattered in the background and around the girl

A spotlight is shinning at her, highlighting her face and wings, This lighting creates strong highlights and soft contrasts. A glow was used to increase the "ethereal" feel of the character.

The artwork uses mostly blue, with minor highlights of magenta on the headset, skirt, and shoulder tattoo.

(132 words)

Phase 2: Analysis

The composition shows asymmetrical balance. the girl’s position on the left is balanced by the visual weight of her hair and wings on the right, making it feel stable yet dynamic.

The light shining on her face and wings contrasts with the surrounding shadows, drawing the viewer’s attention to it.

The flowy hair and skirt create a strong sense of movement. The hair forms an S curve, guiding the viewer’s eye from the top left side of the composition toward the bottom right.

The radial pattern in the background also creates emphasis, directing attention toward the girl and her wings.

Harmony and unity are achieved using a white, blue, and black palette, with small magenta accents subtly drawing attention to the girl.

(122 words)

Phase 3: Interpretation

This artwork is the official key visual for the world-famous Vocaloid character, Hatsune Miku's 16th birthday project titled “Dear Creators.”

The theme “Dear Creators” is to express gratitude to the global community of producers, artists, and fans who continuously create music and artwork featuring Miku.

Since her 2007 debut as the first Character Vocal Series software by Crypton Future Media, Miku has acted as a "blank canvas," turning individual ideas into a global, shared culture.

A key symbolic element of the design is her wings. Instead of traditional feathers, the wings are formed from musical instruments (keyboards and guitars) and creative tools (sketchbooks and pens), symbolizing every producer, artist, and fans that create works of art featuring Miku.

By looking toward an infinite, starry sky, this artwork reflects on Miku’s 16-year journey while celebrating the "circle of creativity" that connects the world through her voice.

(145 words)

Total: 399 words

Bonus: What is a Vocaloid?

Vocaloid is a singing voice synthesis software developed by Yamaha. It allows users to create vocals by putting lyrics and melody into a computer. Think a digital musical instrument i guess?

There are many different type of voices. For each voicebanks, they have different characters to represent them, designed as virtual pop stars. Hatsune Miku is the most globally recognized Vocaloid character.

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Part B: 3 ideas sketches inspired by the selected design in Task 1

Below are the three original sketch ideas inspired by the design principles used in the selected work, alongside their rational.

Idea 1: tree in cave with shrine

Rough sketches:

Fig 1.1 - Idea 1 rough sketches

Coloured sketches:

Fig 1.2 - Idea 1 coloured sketch

Idea 1 is a tree with a shrine, in a cave, surrounded by water. The light directs the viewers eyes to the main subjects (movement). Red colour for the shrine as contrast and to bring emphasis to it. Using asymmetrical balance, the tree leaning to the right is offset by the shine on the left.

Idea 2: Moving forward

Rough sketches:

Fig 1.3 - Idea 2 rough sketch

Coloured sketches:

Fig 1.4 - Idea 2 coloured sketch

Idea 2 has the main character running on a bridge, toward the light, surrounded by building with gears (the circles) and a big clock. The big clock is inspired by the radial background pattern in the selected artwork in task 1, it also captures the viewers focus and bring them to the main character in the middle.

This piece will use mainly yellow and gold tones, with cold colour tones to emphasize the main focus. The light ray will directs the viewers eyes to the main subjects (movement).

Idea 3: offering help

Rough sketches:

Fig 1.5 - Idea 3 rough sketch

Coloured sketches:

Fig 1.6 - Idea 3 coloured sketch

Idea 3 has 2 girls sitting, one in the dark, the other in the light. This piece focus more on light contrast, one side dark, one side bright. The flowy hair has movement. The piece is balanced with the shadow on the left, and the hair on the right.

Feedback

Week 5:

Phase 1: Observation good, continue work.

Week 6:

Good, may proceed with Sketch Idea #2 for Task 3.

For sketch Idea #2, the write up, try to related back to the selected artwork in design principles and elements, like the radial background pattern with the big clock.

Can have text in the middle of the artwork, on the bridge where the main characters is running on.

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Rachel Ng Jie Ting (0378902)