– 6 Stable
– 6 Ambiguous
– 6 Stable
– 6 Ambiguous
For the Curious Compositions project, we were asked to create a black-and-white composition consisting of four figure-ground pieces: two stable images and two ambiguous images based on topics that sparked our curiosity. Figure-ground compositions refer to the relationship between a subject and its background, with stable images having a clear subject that stands apart from the background, and ambiguous images challenging the viewer’s perception of the subject and background. Like Project #1, this project utilized a four-step design process. The first step of the design process, the Discover step, involved creating a mind map with “curiosity” as the central topic. From that word, we branched out into topics that piqued our interest. Among these topics, we had to choose two that resonated with us and write about what curiosity feels like and why we chose them. My curiosity mind map included the following main topics: knowledge, government, traveling, music, art, and the quote “Curiosity kills the cat.” Of these, I chose “government” and “art” because of their impact on my life. For the Define step (step 2), we were asked to create 12 thumbnail sketches for each of the two topics we chose from our mind map, with six of the twelve being stable and the remaining six being ambiguous. In total, we had to draw 24 thumbnail sketches. Once we completed these sketches, we discussed with a partner which of the sketches should be used for the final composition. This resulted in one stable and one ambiguous image for each topic (for example, one stable and one ambiguous image for “art” and the same for “government”), leading to four final figure-ground pieces. The third step of the design process, the Develop step, involved transferring the final four thumbnail sketches onto Bristol paper and using ink pens for the line art and coloring. We also labeled the images as “stable” or “ambiguous” and included the chosen words for the project. Lastly, the Deliver step involved writing a final reflection on the process and providing constructive feedback on other people’s posts.
As for my thoughts on this project, I can honestly say that I enjoyed the process of this project more than the first one. For the first project, we were asked to make a final composition based on a song or piece of music of our choosing, but we could only use lines and shapes to do so and could not create distinct, recognizable figures. This acted as a creative boundary for me. This second project, however, allowed me to be more expressive with the subjects I chose and create figures that displayed my current art skillset. I am also thankful that I did not have to use Adobe Illustrator this time. While I understand Illustrator’s versatility, there is something more satisfying and straightforward about putting pen to paper. It was tiresome, though, to conjure up 24 neat-looking thumbnail sketches and create ambiguous patterns that did not utilize too many lines and were ambiguous enough without needing extensive explanation. Overall, the project taught me about figure-ground relationships, which is a relatively new topic for me. I would recommend this project to prospective graphic design students, or anyone interested in learning about figure-ground relationships.
I believe that curiosity is subjective. By that, I do not mean that its textbook definition greatly varies, but that its trigger is dependent on the individual. Some may say that curiosity goes hand in hand with intrigue or interest, and what intrigues a person depends on that person’s experiences and values. There is also the misconception that intrigue always implies a craving for positive information, when in fact, anything that turns heads, good or bad, can be considered intriguing or worth investing in. For my mind map, I wrote down the following words that I personally associate with curiosity: knowledge, government, traveling, music, art, and the quote “Curiosity kills the cat.” As a woman of color and member of the LGBTQ+ community, I decided to emphasize the word “government.” While I am writing this, U.S. politics has been among the most controversial topics discussed around the world—especially with the presidency changing hands. With this transfer of power came the stripping of rights from numerous minority groups and organizations aimed at aiding the less fortunate—from mass deportations to the elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Regardless of the party one affiliates themselves with, these orders can and will impact everyone. As a result, I have grown more invested—curious—about the moves the U.S. government is and will be making from this point onward, as they will directly impact my life and the lives of many others. On the more positive side of curiosity, I also chose to emphasize the word “art.” It may be obvious that I find art interesting considering that I am a Communication Design major, but for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to learn whatever I could to develop my art skills and style. In the early days of DeviantArt and Amino (online art communities), I would discover various users whose art styles caught my eye. I would try my best to replicate them and incorporate some of their techniques into my own style, not with the intention of infringing on their art but for practice studies. For these reasons, to say that I am merely “curious” about art would be an understatement.
write about it (Discover Step of Design Process)
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