Basic Design: the Dynamics of Visual Form

Abstract

The fundamentals of 2/D design are the underpinnings of all image making. The dynamic and interaction of mark, line, shape, value and color determine the quality and meaning of all images, be they carefully planned or wildly spontaneous. Maurice de Sausmarez in the introduction to his book Basic Design: The dynamics of visual form characterizes Basic Design as “... an attitude of mind, not a method...A form of inquiry, not a new art form....emphatically not an end in itself but a means of making the individual more acutely aware of the expressive resources at his/her command, a fostering of an inquisitiveness...”. We will be directing our inquiries through 6 explorations that will be undertaken over the course of the semester. In all of this work the process will be as important as the finished product and will provide the key to what design is about. In addition you will be learning the rudiments of computer imaging by completing the “Against the Clocki tutorial for Adobe Illustrator. We will also look briefly at “Streamline” and “Photoshop” to enable you to work with scans. Familiarity with digital imaging processes is a powerful tool and valuable life skill. You will always have the option of using the computer to do your projects. The design explorations are set up to build on each other, the further along we go in the semester the more I will expect you to use what you have learned