Design+Synectics

Choose one of the following project ideas from the list below. You may use any software program you see fit to complete your idea, and your solutions may be animated. You may combine serveral project ideas together if you wish.

1. **[|Visual Pun] -** The combination of two or more objects to represent a familiar phrase such as Watch Dog or Water Gun.

2. [|**Gestalt Laws of Perceptual Organization**] - Experiment with the laws of perception such as closure and similarity. [|Ken Knowlton - Mosaics] Drawings created with letters or numerals could be applicable here.

3. **Walking the Line - Synectic Trigger Mechanisms -** Symbolize, Fantasize, Metamorphose


 * What you do -** Starting from one side of your image, make a line design that depicts the fantastic journey of a moving point. As the line progresses, have it change in thickness and configuration. Make the continuous line change to a dotted or dicontinuous line; have it describe a shape, face, figure or other image. Make it change from black and white to colour, to an explosion of texture, etc. Have it finish up at the bottom of teh image by spelling your name or selected prose or lyric.

4. **Counterchange pattern -** A planned correspondence and alteration between positive and negative shapes
 * Synectic Trigger Mechanisms -** Repeat, Superimpose, Combine


 * What you do -** In Fireworks or Photoshop, make a group of line drawings based on scale variations of two different shapes. A geometric shape such as a triangle, could be combined with a simplified outline drawing of a recognizable object such as a hand or face, for example. To achieve visual interest, be sure to vary the size of the various drawings. Superimpose the drawings and move them slightly to discover the best arrangement. As you work, pay particular attention to the organizaional principles of repetition, variety, transition, balance, and emphasis to create an interesting composition.

Experiment with the opacity and blending properties of each layer you create in Fireworks or Photoshop, such as darken, lighten, screen, multiply, etc., to create a visual dynamism. Try additional filter effects such as motion blur or stamp for example, to see what other combinations could be created.

5. **Visual Onomatope -** A schematic doodle that can be used to analogize or represent visually feelings and emotions.
 * Synectic Trigger Mechanisms -** Empathize, Symbolize


 * What you do -** Draw or animate some schematic doodles which could analogize some of the following:

Love, peace, distress, sorrow, persecution, tenderness, anxiety, fear, apathy, birth, idea, death, freedom, constraint, puzzlement, et al.

6. **Art and Issue -** A social, ethical, or moral issue visually signified.
 * Synectic Trigger Mechanisms -** Empathize, symbolize


 * What you do -** Using Juxtaposition and combination, portray your views on a particular contemporary issue such as:

Proliferation of Nuclear Arms, Global Warming, The Oil Crash, Alcolhol use, Drugs, Guns, Endangered species, Capital punishment, Terrorism, Poverty, Geriatric Issues, Equal Rights, Greed, Corporations, et al. Ron English, **Last Breakfast,** 2006 Nancy Grossman, **Gunhead #2,** 1973