Urban Signs and Symbols (College Work)

Symbols and Signs are there to explain certain things to us, we need something to represent an object or a place so we can understand what it is telling us, maybe a image to represent your favorite team. The people who happen to research these sorts of things and the effects it makes to our own brains are called Semioticians. Semioticians research day to day on symbols and signs, working to create images in which we can understand in our own every day lives. Modern day Semiotics was created by a guy called Charles Sanders Peirce. Peirce really had the idea and interest in the world around us, and the way we treated and reacted to certain things, making sure each symbol or sign had a meaning behind the person.
Although, modern day Semioticians study not JUST the signs them selves but the way it means to people who live in different standards, and in contrast with one another. Other cultures could see colours differently and the way they mean, or a certain object could offend many, either way, Semioticians research each and every detail.
Semioticians will have to look at three different types of signage and symbols which make up these images; Icons, Indexes and Symbols. 



Icon and Indexes Images;
Icons, you can remember the meaning if you think about your icon, or dream person who is the "Icon" of your life, your infulence. So, an icon in another perspective is something which represents something to us, which resembles an object or being that we can truly relate to. For example, a no smoking sign; This is an icon because there is a cigarette placed behind a red vertical line, and a red circle. To many countries, red is a "disallowing" or "warning" colour. Although, Index images are quite the same as Icons accept Indexes give an order, telling you to do something. This could mean the signs on a road, what way goes to a certain city or area, and where the other goes, is the road slippery or stray rocks that could fall at any moment. These are called indexes. The two images beside this text shows examples of both icon and index usage.




Symbolic Images;
Now Symbolic Images, or Symbols, which ever you would prefer, these have absolutely no meaning what so ever between it and with the place which it is seen, which could be an object or area. This could include a Danger Sign, Road sign, Religious Symbols, or anything which could possibly direct you to think roughly 
what it means in perticular, but, in fact, could mean something completely different. Symbols are seen all over the internet, mostly, or even programs you may possibly use every day. (Such as Word Documents, or posting a blog.) The Undo button, for example, is an arrow pointing to the left (Or backwards as some people would like to think.) which resembles, to us, to "Undo" what we have changed or done. Religious Symbols, on the other hand, are known all across the globe. Each have hidden meanings which mean to the religious siblings, but the whole meaning could have changed over time, making it a Symbolic entity.

C.R.A.P Principles (College Work)

Explanation of C.R.A.P;
Not exactly the crap you may be thinking of but C.R.A.P basically is abbreviated for Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity. Each of these things are used mainly in design, and must be used frequently to ensure great work is produced. Graphic designers need to ensure this sort of rule is assessed in their own works to make far better work then you would do if you never bothered to follow it. Each point is simple, and easy to understand and you really see it every day for advertisements or even graphical artworks them selves can attract the eye. So, lets explain these four points of Graphic design (And website design!) in detail;




C is for Contrast;
Contrast is an expression of colour or sharpness, it's all about difference. Understanding that there's a yellow ball next to black balls on a grey background, the thing you would see mostly is the bright yellow ball which sits in between. This is a way to give some sort of design some energy or boost to give an impression of atmosphere or idea. This is the most powerful attribute to designing because any piece of work can be put against or contrasted with another, to show "Difference", which is the whole point of Contrast. Also, it's a great way to explain the use of space in an image, which Contrast needs to make the eye follow the correct path it conveys. So in this piece, beside the text, we see strobe lights in which contrast very brightly against the silhouette of a person holding onto a umbrella. What stands out more is the different coloured lights brightly shining. But you can also see the person, quite clearly, with the umbrella. This is a way to make your eyes travel and to understand the image better. All this is achieved by just using contrast and difference.

More examples of Contrast.

R is for Repetition;
Repetition is a repeat of a certain object, text block or image in a formal fashion. Doing this for an image gives it a sort of sense of alignment and unity, being a whole, should be viewed as a whole, not about difference or picking out the obvious which the rule of contrast does. This is a difficult rule to express in Graphical works, but when used, it can gift real detail into pieces because unity can place a big impact on the design, but using too much of this unity could cause a result in over usage and lack of interest when the viewer's eye gazes away from it. The example beside this text is a great example of what Repetition should convey. The word, Repetition, is repeated and has used the same type or text face, although there is one difference, there is a texture like these letters or words have been made by an ink stamp to give the text character. This is a way repetition should be shown.

More examples of Repetition.

 

A is for Alignment;

Alignment is common in most day to day things, you don't want anything looking skewwhiff/not straight. In any sort of text area or image area, these things in a program or even in real life, down on a piece of paper, is all attacked or straightened with an invisable line. Alignment focuses on one basic line of unity, either that could be text or an image. When a element is tilted to the side, or is out of the lines original structure, that's a disalignment, and many people who are not fermilier with alignment them selves are quite capable to miss this important rule. When that rule is broken, elements of products seem less professional, or pretty much less cared for in a sence of direction. It needs to be keen, and understanding to the eye, and never all over the place in an unorderly fashion. The example beside this text shows different sorts of alignment (mostly for text, but it can be used for images also!) which you can get both on Digital program databases and clean traditional paper. Flush left directs the text/image to the left hand edge of the page, Flush right directs the text/image to the right. Center Alignment can very much get mixed up with Justified Alignment, the difference is Center Alignment makes the text/image centered, as for Justified (Really used just for text) spaces the text out, which gives it a clean and even outlook. 

More examples of Alignment:

P is for Proximity;

Proxy normally means "Small" or "Short", but Proximity can suggest the distance between two objects. Like a base, a proximity would mean how far around is the surrounding area which this base occupies. Same goes for images and text, but this is to ensure the texts/images look; Making sure it looks organized. Proximity is usefull if you were to place a quote of text onto an image, it's basic common sence to not place the text some where over the subject which the quote is based upon, you have to place it where it will subject the image, as well as its self as a message. So, looking back at the Base idea, the text would be the base, and the whole image is the areas Proximity in which the base is placed in. In the image beside this text shows a common yet effective way of proximity usage. The image is bold, and up top of the text, the text illustrates the point in which the image is trying to make.  

More examples of Proximity:

The meaning of Deep Space (College Work)

The clear meaning of Deep Space is depth, perspective or dimensions of a certain image, in which the artist has used. These consist of Foreground, Midground (Or Middleground) and Background, and that is how an image shows depth. Frequently this is used to characterize a piece of work to represent a scene or a happening. There are many objections to gain if you plan to make an image interesting, or convey depth to draw or attract the human eye to it. Yes, this same technique is used or created by using The Rule of Thirds, but that is just the explanation of how to create depth.


Colour Contrast;
Warm colours which are normally noticed if in focus with something close, is seen mostly in the Foreground. Midground's tones tend to dull or subside to a much more grey tone to its colour, creating a fade. As for the background, covered in grey shades, but still spots of colour can be seen. This is how our eye sees things in real life, and these pictures bring in the same exact effect into drawn stander ed. This determines the space or perspective of something.


Object Position;
Overlapping certain shapes can also create forms of depth or scene, pieces become smaller when they are far away, just like colour, objects change with distance, yet, if more far away, objects seem more closer together then they would appear if a person was much nearer, looking upon it. Your eyesight acts as a sphere, only gifting a certain space or dimension to look, kind of like what Fish Eye does on a camera. The middle is more focused, but the surrounding spaces, you can make out what is there, but it's a consent blurry image. This determines the perspective and closeness of things, detail too!


Brightness and Shadows;
If there is a light source in an image, the light source can also show depth or "Deep Space" in an image quite easily. Dark areas are commonly known for "Out of sight" areas in which, a dark shadow casts upon it. Take a Sphere for example, the darkest areas will always be opposite to the light source, plus, a shadow underneath, if balancing on a table or a surface. So how does this show depth if talking about a huge area of space? Consider where the sun or "light source" is, if it seems to be far away, the shadows become bigger, more longer and spaced out. This is to show how much the sun is shining or focusing on the object.


So, Deep Space (or just space, perspective) can be seen by locating one of these three objections, which is; Colour Contrast, Object Position and Brightness and Shadows. Creating pieces of artwork or capturing a moment on photo, it would be a prime key to be able to example these three key points, to make the picture more pleasurable to the eye.

Personal Pictures that Resemble Deep Space;

 I did a few examples which use the whole meaning of deep space in their own designs. One happens to be a Yin Yang symbol where contrast is mainly used to distribute the white and the black, but it is quite equal in the way it is presented. For example, there is just the same about of white then there is black. So it contains such things as a colour contrast on its own body.






Here is another example of Deep space, but I decided to give depth in quite simple shape forms. I wanted to make a scene where there were light difference as well as perspective difference, as well. It was quite hard, but changing colour tones gives it a much bigger effect over all, using the space which is available.

  This image expresses feeling as well as the usage of simple shapes. Jagged edges and colour areas, you can really see the man himself being attacked by a bird on the other side. The very reason which is quite scary over all.

The meaning of Positive and Negative space (College Work)

The usage of Positive and Negative space is quite simple in many ways. Artworks show this sort of style quite frequently because they want to show the real subject in an image or the detail in a certain area which could produce a message or construction of thought in our minds as we gaze closer. Now these usages of Positive and Negative gifts character to an image which could contrast and attract the eye, so it is important to use this technique to influence such a simple mind. So all-in-all, this technique is quite common in day to day art, and even in building areas for structures.

Explaination of Positive/Negative Space;
The easiest way to portray a Positive and Negative space is by using the two colours black and white. First discovered by Mister Rubin or Edgar Rubin, a Danish psychologist which concentrated on how optical illusions effected the brain in the way to see things in a different manner. For example, to stare at something for some one to understand that there is also another meaning to an image then when a person only has a first glance at something and misses the whole point of an image exactly. This is where Positive and Negative space comes in; Rubin designed a clever image called the Rubin Vase. An image which was just a vase planted in the middle of a huge blank canvas. Now, you could just think it's a vase, but if you look real closely, and see what else it resembles, you can clearly see there are two faces making the rim and edges of this vase, edges and bumps.

This is called the use of Positive and Negative space. What Rubin did was convey a hidden meaning to the image by giving the characteristics of a face (Which would be the Negative space, as you see nothing is clearly there), imprinted in the Vase, as for just creating a vase in general (Positive Space, the vase you see is clearly there).

Usage of Positive/Negative space in normal images;
Believe it or not, Positive and Negative space is really focused on Positive and Negative space. Yes, it won't be exactly the same as Rubin's image, but this space can express what needs to be seen, and what is just there for show. This can also be referred back to the Rule of Thirds, which is where you focus on the alignment of an image or placement, which better suits the eye or what the eyes is drawn to. So, where does the Positive and Negative space comes into the Rule of Thirds? Simple, both have in common one simple rule; the "Alignment" of things.

Rule of Thirds - How it works is the top horizontal line represents the eye line as the bottom represents the horizon. 

First of all, a grid is needed to portray the detail of the Rule of Thirds. Normally the usage of Negative space is the space which is unimportant (Yet, still quite important in terms of an image looking good and all) normally this background is out of focus or just there to fill the space, but that is the point, Negative space is not just there for no reason, it's there to give flavor or idea to surroundings. So, in layman terms, the background, or objects, beings, surfaces, surroundings in the background.




 
So what does this have to do with Positive and Negative space? Simple, it shows what is positive (What is more clear to the eye) sits along the eye line as well as part of the horizon line, drawn near to the middle. The Negative (The background normally, sits just around the subject or Positive subject) will always be around the middle box, and rarely ever inside the middle box. 





But here's another thing which you may think is missing; explanation of a hidden message can be hard to communicate through any image whilst using Positive/Negative Space. Actually, any image shows a hidden meaning whilst using Positive/Negative. An emotional appearance or purpose of a image or artistic vision can express a certain sparks of ideas and concepts into the human mind. For example, the background can suggest certain tones or colours in the work, different colours mean different things to people. Or the subject in the foreground, or of course the Positive occupied space, can show expression or movement in the way the think is expressed. 

The History of Visual Communication 2 (College Work)

Pictogram; 
A pictogram is a symbol which represents a certain object, form of a human, a place or it could even be a event (Just like a picture, basically). Used in the form of teaching, each symbol can represent a certain goal or purpose. Originally, a Pictogram was never seen without a certain thing such as Ideograms drawn with it, but some do believe that the Pictogram came just before the Ideograms. During 5000 BC, Pictograms were used by ancient cultures to convey certain ideas or development in communication, using pictures could explain what they had to do or what a story was to tell them. Yet, seems quite complicated, Pictograms are still used today by many other cultures such as 3rd World Countries and places dotted around the European and Asian district.



Ideogram;
Apparently, and normally connected to the normal Pictogram, Ideograms is a symbol an idea of a certain happening or a message which could be confused with a Pictogram, but is quite different in the way they work. These symbols can be used to represent text or each symbol may represent a word or letter for writing. In other words, this was the upgraded Pictogram in a way everyone could understand and could use it as a language, or a pronunciation of a language. These things are still used in Egyptian hieroglyphs, Chinese and Japanese characters (Although, both Japanese and Chinese characters can also be classed as Pictograms), Israeli or Hebrew characters.


Logogram;
Quite similar to both Ideograms and Pictograms, Logogram just focuses more on the idea concept of a symbol or "image language". These symbols are not exactly used for language purposes; instead just a visual communication thing, no language was included, quite like how Pictograms work. Instead these Logograms convey a symbol of a letter for reading regards. These were known to be easier to remember and execute when ever they were needed to be used. (Much easier then Ideogram and Pictograms)






These ideas of symbolic or picture referenced languages, still used today, have always made appearances in countries, made influences on the whole world. This is because these images mean something to us in a way which we understand. The symbol for Pi or "π" is a Greek example of something we do see almost day to day, possibly more in school years, but it makes its appearance in many stages whilst being a builder, architect, mathematician or science reasons (Physicians and Chemists mostly). This, in some stages, is peoples day to day lives and Pi is quite a common symbol we get to see commonly and understand exactly what it means. This is where the past will always influence the future.

The History of Visual Communication (College Work)

Cro-Magnons;
The Cro-Magnons is the most oldest form of homosapiens in the European district 40,000 years ago, multiplying themselves from the populations in the middle east (Which this race started). These homosapiens have lived from 40,000 to 10,000 years ago in the Upper Paleolithic period in the Pleistocene epoch. The Upper Paleolithic period is originally called the Late Stone Age which does range from 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, which only occurred in the boarders of Europe, Africa and Asia. Although the name "Upper Paleolithic" normally refers to the European district, as "The Stone Age" time refers to the African and Asian districts.

Artifacts that dwelled and survived during the turning Ice-ages and weathers, cast in clay or stone, these objects were preserved and picked out, showing the signs of aging. The most recognizable piece would be the cave paintings scribbled across the walls in deep caves. Others consist of Huts, Tusks and Pottery. The most extraordinary is the Calendar; Not so reliable now, but these people used to follow this tradition to the extent that this is how they managed their days, how they held festivals, just like our time.



Cave Paintings; 
These sorts of paintings have been around just as long as the Cro-Magnons. Yet, we don't know exactly of what they originally tell or represent. (It could be a menu!) All we can make out of these cave paintings, themselves, is that they tell stories, or triumphs that these people conceived in their travels. Most Cave paintings portray animals against humans; resulting in our findings, we can establish these people thought of hunting as a serious sport, it was life changing and a great experience. The reason we can make this out is through Visual Communication. Shamans were the most common to produce these paintings, retreating to the caves to create these images. It has been said, Cave Paintings them selves had been drawn whilst the artist is experiencing emotional pain or imbalance in their own current state. This could explain why these pieces of art are, in some what, deformed.


Petroglyphs;
These types of images are incited in rock, dug in by much harder rock such as flint to create these images and bodies of symbols or humans, which were started 12,000 or 10,000 years ago (give or take 2000 years), but still go in the modern age by tribes, in which, still exist. But that is not all, because these things are still carried on today, the decedents are possibly able to explain in much detail the meaning behind such an amazing, symbolic art work. Researchers have discovered that these Petrographs changed over time, because of the land, the sea has eroded away the inhabitants which once was there. There is also change in the economy, crisis after crisis, there's always changing "tides" in life. These qualities have been said to inspire these people to create these remarkable objects of art. Other theories scrap this idea, and comment that these images are a sign of how Shaman's them selves wanted to express the natural hallucinogens or their altered state of consciousness.




Geoglyphs;
Huge images imprinted into the ground, a stone cast or even arranging objects to represent a certain shape, greater then the length of 4 meters, these things can be captured or seen directly from a high peak or in the sky. Geoglyphs aren't becoming extremely rare, in fact can be seen in many countries still and remade to represent a certain city (Such as creating the name of the City in a certain manner, into the ground); Australia, South West America, Scandinavia, Iceland, Lappland and former Soviet Union in Russia. Few of the biggest Geoglyphs you can find is located in the Nazca Desert, the Geoglyph dubbed The Nazca Lines, which is more then just one, but loads of images of certain characters or animals. The strangest thing is that the Nazca people whom created these pieces (Between 200 BC and 600 AD) strangely had no other way to view their artwork from such height then on the ground. Made by simple equipment, these Nazca people were more advanced in the way to make these Geoglyphs during their time, research has been conducted its self, and were made in a 48 hour period. Yet, claimed to explain the reasons behind these huge objects of art, but still don't grasp the key factors of the reasons. So, Nazca's lines are still a mystery to many, and some people believe that is what it should be. 

The Colour Theory (College Work)

Colour Theory, an explanation of what happens when colours are mixed together to create another. These sorts of thoughts were first found around the 1400's by two artists, who happened to have written notes of these studies; Leon Battista Alberti (Dated; 1435) and Leonardo da Vinci (Dated; 1490). This was properly examined until dear Isaac Newton created an explanation of Primary Colours. Creating this possibility and reliable source, Newton managed to express a new world in both artistic standards and science all together.
During those days of the 1700's, confusion took place when they realized the same attribute to light generated colours, or Additive colours, reflecting off each other was not merely the same when paints or inks, or Subtractive Colours, were mixed into the same sort of state. Later on down the time line other general problems started to occur, such as understanding of light and dark, shadows and possible anatomy of colour usage and unseen blends of colours. It wasn't until the 19th Century that we finally understood Colour's properties, but scientific evidence disagreed on the facts, and demanded more research. 
Scientific discovery explains how light and darkness really effects the tone or texture of a certain colour which reflects into our eyes. During the 1900's, colour coding was introduced to keep track of these certain tones of colours to refer to the exact colour of what is needed. Programs or systems are transcribed to use these coding systems in today's software (HTML Pantone, Pantone in general, Truematch, etc).

The Meaning and Examples of Rhythm (College Work)

These images below are an example of "Rhythm", something which gives images an extra edge of interest. It also explains the construction of something in the real life world.
The different types of Rhythm are as follows:
Regular Rhythm is when a pattern is repeated in a formal fashion. (In other words, a line which repeats in a neat and tidy way.)
Flowing Rhythm is when a line has a curve, a flow that gives something edge or consistency.
Progressive Rhythm is when a image which has consistency but has flow in which it is laid out.

Image Number 1;

Image number one would be a Regular Rhythm. The reason why is because you see the same consistent pattern of circular shapes just repeat in a linear fashion.

Image Number 2;

Image number one would be a Progressive Rhythm. The reason why is because you can see a pattern of this image is repeated, but is not in a line, but in a circular fashion.

Image Number 3;

Image number one would be a Regular Rhythm. The pattern repeats in a linear fashion.

Image Number 4;

Image number one would be a Regular Rhythm. There is some elements of Flowing Rhythm hanging around in this image, which gives it an effect of construction.

Image Number 5;

Image number one would be a Flowing Rhythm. The wonkyness of the bars give a interesting flow and image.