Aesthetics Portfolio

Megan Carleton-Smith

Color Line Shape Texture Space and Movement Light Balance and Symmetry Proportion and Scale Emphasis Closure Complexity Order Similarity Rhythm Proximity Citations

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Color
The predominate hues in this embroidered Valentino gown are cool colors, including the greens and blues used.
These cool colors are accented with small amounts of the warmer red toned hues.

Elements as seemingly as simple as a line have distinct symbolic qualities. As in this garment, the jagged and angular design has dominant and arousing effect on the viewer.

3.1 Phillip Lim

Line

Both of these garments represent a current popular coat silhouette. The left floral patterned coat represents the oversized bell-shaped silhouetted while the dusty rose coat on the right represents the more traditional hourglass silhouette. The bell shape creates a more masculine look while the hourglass accentuates the curves of a womans body.

Though these images differ in the source of texture, both the deductive texture of laser cut fabric and the additive texture of fabric appliques give a garment an additional dimension. The decorative yet clean cut lines of the skirt provide a sense of formal delicacy. The added texture of the dress expresses warmth and playfulness.

Texture

The lightness of the fabric, the style ease added and the movement that these factors allow contributes an expression of freedom to this design. The solid red fabric creates a two-dimensional space that is unfilled and therefore relatively simple.

Space & Movement

The visual interest displayed in the dress is caused by a reflection of light from the models hat. Light is being utilized as a design element in this instance as it is used to create a temporary design feature on another garment. The other images represent just how intricate light reflection can be and the possibilities this brings to light.

Light

Balance & Symmetry

Balance can be seen as the distribution of visual weight within the composition of an object. In order to balance a composition the visual weight should be equally distributed on either side of the felt, or invisible, axis. This garment displays symmetrical balance along the vertical axis as both the left and right sides of the garment are balanced.

Proportion &Scale
Proportion and scale are a way of comparing the relative sizes of units within a composition or between two compositions. In relation to the herringbone pattern in the left images and the sleeve ruffle in the right images, the outer image has a larger Scale in proportion to the inside design.

The emphasis of a design is the area of strong visual interest to which the viewers attention is drawn. Waist emphasis is the primary emphasis of the two left images while the emphasis of the right is primarily on the hips. The emphasis can be created by the contrast of units (as in the mint colored dress with contrasting white waist piece), or by the placement of the units within the composition (with the majority of the ruffles in the black ensemble resting in the hip area).

Novelty

Closure is the perception of an implied shape from connecting design elements. While the shapes, lines and points may not be directly connected, closure causes the image to result in complete shapes. In this drawing, the red stripes of the garment are not connected or outlined to show completion, yet the viewer sees a complete garment.

Closur e

Complexity
Complexity relates to the degree of stimulation from the number and physical quality of units, the degree of dissimilarity of units and the level of organization in the arrangement of units. These designs by Mary Katrantzou have a high level of complexity for their highly detailed and intricate patterns.

Regularity of the arrangement of units in an object comes from the orderly placement of its units and the cohesion between the units. These designs look quite complex, yet the high level of order creates cohesion. This order allows such a complex design to still be visually pleasing.

Units that are similar are viewed as a grouping rather than individual units. This decreases the number of units and perceived complexity in the viewers eye. The similarity of the double cone shapes within the background design of this Anthropologie window display causes them to be grouped together and viewed as a cohesive unit.

Similarity

Much like in auditory elements, the rhythm of visual design relates to the repetition of elements in a specific manner which causes the eye to move across repeating elements accordingly. In regards to this Anthropologie window display, the background element is created through the irregular and progressive rhythm of circular pieces from the heavier bottom left up to the upper right.

The proximity of a various elements in a design refers to their grouping by sameness and closeness in space. In this look, the proximity of each of the horizontal lines creates a unique focus. The large space between the top yoke and peplum band creates a long torso. If the proximity of these two elements were to be adjusted, the length of the torso would be affected as well.

Images found from:

www.pinterest.com www.style.com

Information found from:

Understanding Aesthetics for the Merchandising and Design Professional by Ann Marie Fiore