CRAP.
I would write something witty about how the word for a design principle is also a curse word and a synonym for... Well, you know what, but I am not in a particularly witty mood tonight. In fact, I was just woken up from a wonderful nap by my stupid boyfriend who told me to do my blog or else. So, here I am. As I said before... CRAP: Otherwise known as contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity.
I chose four different images that all use more than one of these concepts.
My first image is an iPod advertisement:
This image uses all four concepts. The colours (dark orange, red, and black against beige) make a huge contrast. It isn't the typical contrast you would find where the opposite
complimentary colours are used. However, this use of colour still makes the contrast stand out and pleasing to the eye. The image also uses repetition with the iPods and the lines unifying the adverisement. The image is symmetrical, and the lines and iPods are spaced evenly without looking sloppy or messy, which means the artist is using proper alignment to make the image aethetically pleasing. Not to mention, the text is centered. Finally, the organization of the iPods within the picture is a clear use of proximity.
My second image is a band poster for The Mars Volta:
The contrast, much like the first photo, is found in colours that are not the typical opposite complimentary c
olours. When I say this I am referring to the picture from class that showed how on the complimentary colour wheel generally opposites create the best contrast. In this photo the yellowy-beige and red contrast in the background and the white and black contrast in the text, the circles and the cityscape. Both contrasts put together, too, are a contrast in itself and make the poster stand out. Repetition is found where the circles and ribbon type shapes are used over and over within the same poster. The strip of city on the left helps create pleasing alignment, as does the text for The Mars Volta on the right. Finally, the grouping of the circles and ribbons adds to the proximity, organizing them together to make a pleasing looking poster.
On a side note, this image out of all three is one of my favorite because of the good use of alignment. It makes the poster look more interesting and I know what the main focus is because of the way everything is aligned.
My third image is a front cover to the first issue of the comic book Y: The Last Man:
The contrast on this image varies. First there's the black on white (the quotes and the outline of "Y") which draw attention to both those things, making them seem important. Next,
white on brown makes a good subtle contrast that's only importance is to make the picture appealing to the eye. Lastly, the red on black found in the "Y" draws the eye automatically there. Those two colours are used to make this stand out the most because it is the most important part of the cover (since it is the title). Repetition is mainly used with the fonts. The rather normal black font is used for the quotes and the authors. Also, the small images at the bottom are a form of repetition. The alignment of the quotes and the "Y" are done well because it makes it easier to read and it brings attention to the important things first (by placing the "Y" as the biggest and also on the left. Also, because the quotes and the "Y" are both on opposite sides and "The Last Man" is centered it makes it easier to read. The boxed images at the bottom are aligned perfectly, without being messy or uneven, which makes it more pleasing to look at. Proximity is used with the images at the bottom, since they are all the same size and same type of image.
My last image is a poster for an Arts Club:
The contrast is found with the only three colours on the poster: blue, brown and white. The brown and blue contrast against each other completely, making the text
look pleasing together, as well as drawing the eye to the brightest colour (the blue) and then to the brown afterwards. The repetition is used only in the text. The colour, the way it is the same font line after line and the use of bold both above the blue and below the blue. The alignment is simple. The text is all aligned right down the middle. This, however, is not pleasing to the eye because of how hard it makes the to read. The alignment makes the image symmetrical and pleasing to look at, but not to read. For proximity the date, time and location are all grouped together underneath the logo, and the information about the event is grouped together above the logo.
Now, to discuss the merits and shortcomings of the CRAP principles of design.
Merits: The CRAP principles of design help create guidelines for artists to use to make their posters, cd covers, advertisements, etc pleasing to look at. Each concept involved is known to make things look good. When an artists uses the CRAP method they know that the contrast between colours must work well together or else the font will be hard the read, the background will take away from the font, etc. If things were aligned poorly then it makes the artwork look messy, unorganized or make the viewer confused as to where the main focus is and where they are supposed to be looking. In short, CRAP is there to help artists make something that looks good.
Shortcomings: Not everything can fit within those four concepts. When something looks good, it just looks good, even if it defies the CRAP priniples of design. Also, some images only use one concept from CRAP because, as I said before, that's what looks good. Not every artist wants to use each concept included in CRAP.
So, there you have it.
CRAP.
Now I think it's time I go back to sleep. I am so tired...
Websites used:
Image #1: http://www.ilounge.com/gallery/wallpaper_contest/donaldemerson_05_CONTEST.jpg
Image #2: http://www.angryblackbear.com/secondposter.jpg
Image #3: http://adrianjames.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/ythelastman_vol1.jpg
Image #4: http://iconographi.ca/images/forportfolio/artsclub01.png
I would write something witty about how the word for a design principle is also a curse word and a synonym for... Well, you know what, but I am not in a particularly witty mood tonight. In fact, I was just woken up from a wonderful nap by my stupid boyfriend who told me to do my blog or else. So, here I am. As I said before... CRAP: Otherwise known as contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity.
I chose four different images that all use more than one of these concepts.
My first image is an iPod advertisement:
This image uses all four concepts. The colours (dark orange, red, and black against beige) make a huge contrast. It isn't the typical contrast you would find where the opposite
complimentary colours are used. However, this use of colour still makes the contrast stand out and pleasing to the eye. The image also uses repetition with the iPods and the lines unifying the adverisement. The image is symmetrical, and the lines and iPods are spaced evenly without looking sloppy or messy, which means the artist is using proper alignment to make the image aethetically pleasing. Not to mention, the text is centered. Finally, the organization of the iPods within the picture is a clear use of proximity.My second image is a band poster for The Mars Volta:
The contrast, much like the first photo, is found in colours that are not the typical opposite complimentary c
olours. When I say this I am referring to the picture from class that showed how on the complimentary colour wheel generally opposites create the best contrast. In this photo the yellowy-beige and red contrast in the background and the white and black contrast in the text, the circles and the cityscape. Both contrasts put together, too, are a contrast in itself and make the poster stand out. Repetition is found where the circles and ribbon type shapes are used over and over within the same poster. The strip of city on the left helps create pleasing alignment, as does the text for The Mars Volta on the right. Finally, the grouping of the circles and ribbons adds to the proximity, organizing them together to make a pleasing looking poster.On a side note, this image out of all three is one of my favorite because of the good use of alignment. It makes the poster look more interesting and I know what the main focus is because of the way everything is aligned.
My third image is a front cover to the first issue of the comic book Y: The Last Man:
The contrast on this image varies. First there's the black on white (the quotes and the outline of "Y") which draw attention to both those things, making them seem important. Next,
white on brown makes a good subtle contrast that's only importance is to make the picture appealing to the eye. Lastly, the red on black found in the "Y" draws the eye automatically there. Those two colours are used to make this stand out the most because it is the most important part of the cover (since it is the title). Repetition is mainly used with the fonts. The rather normal black font is used for the quotes and the authors. Also, the small images at the bottom are a form of repetition. The alignment of the quotes and the "Y" are done well because it makes it easier to read and it brings attention to the important things first (by placing the "Y" as the biggest and also on the left. Also, because the quotes and the "Y" are both on opposite sides and "The Last Man" is centered it makes it easier to read. The boxed images at the bottom are aligned perfectly, without being messy or uneven, which makes it more pleasing to look at. Proximity is used with the images at the bottom, since they are all the same size and same type of image.My last image is a poster for an Arts Club:
The contrast is found with the only three colours on the poster: blue, brown and white. The brown and blue contrast against each other completely, making the text
look pleasing together, as well as drawing the eye to the brightest colour (the blue) and then to the brown afterwards. The repetition is used only in the text. The colour, the way it is the same font line after line and the use of bold both above the blue and below the blue. The alignment is simple. The text is all aligned right down the middle. This, however, is not pleasing to the eye because of how hard it makes the to read. The alignment makes the image symmetrical and pleasing to look at, but not to read. For proximity the date, time and location are all grouped together underneath the logo, and the information about the event is grouped together above the logo.Now, to discuss the merits and shortcomings of the CRAP principles of design.
Merits: The CRAP principles of design help create guidelines for artists to use to make their posters, cd covers, advertisements, etc pleasing to look at. Each concept involved is known to make things look good. When an artists uses the CRAP method they know that the contrast between colours must work well together or else the font will be hard the read, the background will take away from the font, etc. If things were aligned poorly then it makes the artwork look messy, unorganized or make the viewer confused as to where the main focus is and where they are supposed to be looking. In short, CRAP is there to help artists make something that looks good.
Shortcomings: Not everything can fit within those four concepts. When something looks good, it just looks good, even if it defies the CRAP priniples of design. Also, some images only use one concept from CRAP because, as I said before, that's what looks good. Not every artist wants to use each concept included in CRAP.
So, there you have it.
CRAP.
Now I think it's time I go back to sleep. I am so tired...
Websites used:
Image #1: http://www.ilounge.com/gallery/wallpaper_contest/donaldemerson_05_CONTEST.jpg
Image #2: http://www.angryblackbear.com/secondposter.jpg
Image #3: http://adrianjames.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/ythelastman_vol1.jpg
Image #4: http://iconographi.ca/images/forportfolio/artsclub01.png
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