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The Fortune Cookie
Visual Hierarchy: dominant, subdominant, subordinate

3 designs created by Heads of State

Design a poster using the fortune destiny has chosen for you, (minimum of) two images of your choice and background.

In this project you will need to deal with...

  • variety of visual elements in a two-dimensional composition
  • information which requires hierarchical organization
  • illusion of depth
  • variation of line
  • narrative
  • manipulated text

Analyze the text/images and classify them into three levels of informational importance: dominant, subdominant, and subordinate.  These levels will remain constant throughout the project.

Think about the meaning formed by the relationship of one part to another.  Consider how contrast, juxtaposition, exaggeration, isolation, etc. can contribute to creating a context for your message.  This makes your text and image choice very important to the success of your design. It must also contain an illusion of space/depth.

Requirements:
Minimum of 3 materials
Minimum of 4 patterns/textures
Black and 2 colors
Only one font

Research/ Sketchbook:
You will need to plan the project before you start to assemble it. Collect images that relate to your fortune. dafont.com has a wide variety of fonts to select from or use a font that is on your computer. Print out the font big and small.

How to create illusion of depth in your composition:

  • SIZE OF OBJECTS-smaller objects seem farther away (distortions can occur if objects are the same size or too close to the viewer).
  • OVERLAPPING OR SUPERIMPOSING-by partially covering one object with another it gives an appearance of depth (distortions also occur if viewer is too close).
  • TEXTURE-density increases as an object gets further away.
  • SPACING-objects clustered closer together seem farther away. Horizontal lines which get closer as they near the horizon line appear to be defining a recession in space.
  • FOCUS-objects lose detail as they recede into space.
  • BRIGHTNESS-objects are brighter when closer to the viewer, except for reflective surfaces.
  • SHADE AND SHADOW-darker shadows seem closer especially if overlapping other shadows.
  • UPWARD ANGULAR LOCATION-creates depth if juxtaposed to ground and sky lines, e.g. tall buildings.
  • COLOR-color intensity is much greater closer to the viewer and tends toward medium gray as it recedes.
    Hint: As objects recede away from the viewer in atmospheric perspective, bright whites and rich blacks tend toward medium gray and eventually disappear into a blue/gray background. Even colors have greater intensity closer to a viewer than they do further away.

Check out Sandy Skoglund, True Fiction 2004

Vocabulary:
Contrast: A large difference between two things: for example, rough and smooth, yellow and purple, and light and shadow.  Contrasts usually add excitement, drama and interest to artworks.

Juxtaposition/Juxtapose: To place two or more things together, especially in order to suggest a link between them or emphasize the contrast between them.

Exaggeration/ Exaggerate: to state that something is better, worse, larger, more common, or more important that is true or usual.

Isolation:  the process of separating somebody or something from others, or the fact of being alone and separated from others.

SCHEDULE
November 16: Introduction, Begin Project

November 21 : Work Day, Present Concepts (Roughs)

November 28 : Work Day

November 30 : Critique-Presentation