Final Project: Visual Analysis

Name: Adrianna Sofea 

Module: Design Principles GCD60804

Duration: 03/02/2023 - 24/03/2023

(Week 4- Week 7)

Instruction 

Week 4 - Week 7

In week 4, we were assigned to our final project which is the 

visual analysis on our chosen issues from the UNSD Goal (United Nation Sustainable Development Goal). This project is 4 weeks long as it requires a lot of research and practices on the design outcome. Other than that, the requirement included a thorough analysis on our understanding of design by using observation, analysis and interpretation.

Chosen Issue 

United Nation Sustainable Development 

Goal 16

UNSDG 16 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals)

I have chosen the UNSD goal number 16. In which it is regarding reducing violence and promote peace within a nation or globally. It is convincing to think of peace, security, and governance as either highly political problems that are solely the responsibility of governments and security organisations, or as problems exclusive to "war zones."

Therefore, UNSDG 16 is not solely focused on lowering the frequency of violence and eliminating wars, although it contains an emphasis on significant drivers of conflict, such as access to justice, corruption and bribery, transparency, and fundamental freedoms. In addition to two targets on reducing violence.

  Visual Analysis

Figure 1.0 War Is No Fun Poster

The design above was chosen because the conflict of political interests and benefits to power has resulted in many catastrophes to many innocent lives, which is considered as a playground for the higher ups to neglect the lives that matter above their greed. The text "War Is No Fun" has made it evident that politicians or the government do not apply a sensible approach to solving their problems, as we have advanced and seen through history, what death and destructive occurrences have caused our ancestors and people to live in tragedy. Other than violence, better solutions must be required in the twenty-first century. Lastly, I wanted to challenge myself with visual communication on a controversial issue that might be challenging to execute.

Observation - 

This artwork appears to be in a portrait format, based on my observation. In terms of visual aspects, the primary colours applied are black, red, and white. Additional elements visible are three various sizes of identical black rockets heading towards the city close below the rocket. In addition, white lines are seen to radiate from a single spot in the city and spread out to the sky. Lastly on top of the rockets there are four words of lettering in two distinct colours.

Analysis - 

At first glance, this design gives a strong statement from the elements used. The texts "War Is No Fun" gives an emphasis on the subject matter especially when the "No Fun" text is in the brightest colour among all. The minimal colour usage helps to ease the viewer's understanding of the serious statement it is giving. For instance, the contrast colours make the design more appealing when the red colour is indicating an alarming message which is regarding the war, and the shape of the buildings from the city (which is in black) helps to balance the overall structure of this design which is straightforward and simple. The strike lines behind the city took up most of the space layout of the design and it somehow looks as if there are sirens alarms which alarmed the city about the war happening. Furthermore, it is seen that there are 3 levels of this layout (blue line) - first level is the text in horizontally, the second is the elements of the rocket in vertical and lastly, is the city in horizontally. Therefore, it balances out the entire composition. 

Interpretation - 

This poster is a campaign poster to promote awareness on the seriousness on war.

From my understanding, a poster is a visual way to present its study and findings. Without any assistance, the reader should be able to read the full poster in 5-10 minutes and understand the idea. This poster used minimal elements in order to give an efficient message to the viewer. The negative and positive spaces used here are also well executed in its proportion and positions as the rockets as well as the typography is aligned at the centre. This type of poster reminds me of propaganda art in 1917 which is when the soviet union war begin and the emergence of constructivism style was used all over newspapers, television in order to interpret their views on the support of authority.

Visual Research on 
Controversial Issue | Propaganda Poster 

PROPAGANDA POSTERS

Figure 1.1 (World War Poster Collection by UNT Libraries Government Documents Department)

https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc399/

Figure 1.2 An Australian WWII Women's Land Army recruitment poster

Figure 1.3 The Art of Chinese Propaganda

 https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/chinese-propaganda-posters-cultural-revolution-shaomin-li

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE 

Figure 2.1 Anti-American 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700318413743/

Figure 2.2 Easy Access 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700318474070/

Figure 2.3 Technology increased inequality 

https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/29/is-technology-contributing-to-increased-inequality/

Figure 2.4 Freedom 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700318474039/

Figure 2.5 Alessandro Gottardo 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700318474074/

Figure 2.6 Trump 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676243700318406916/

Figure 2.7 Harrasment 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1120481582264822083/

Idea Exploration 

Thought Process:

After multiple researches on war or propaganda posters, I came across 

the Ukraine-Russian war event that is still ongoing and it seem that it has been over 9 years 

that Russia invaded Ukraine and has caused many destruction and sacrifices. 

Therefore, I would like to focus on creating a design on War. 

However, my poster would generally be about the destruction of war. 

Articles and Researches Findings

      UKRAINE-RUSSIAN WAR

    CNN NEWS - UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR

Composition Ideation #01

Composition Ideation #02

Composition Ideation #03

 

Design Process 

I have sketched and redo over 900 ideas (jokes aside). It felt like it took years 

for me to come out with the idea. I wanted to create a poster that is straightforward, yet, moving.

I positioned and created each element using Adobe Illustrator 

and played around with colors. I had to find which colors were most suited 

to the concept I had. 

I went with the third ideation as I thought that had more potential to show

a two-world view of the situation. I began from separating them into half, 

which gives a balance structure. Then, I started sketching on elements like mountains, house, 

kids running around as well as jets, rocket and explosions to give them little details as it 

makes it more interesting. 

I added a sort of-spotlight in the end to give an emphasis on the contents and ensure 

the elements I added were not outside the spotlight because that would disrupt the entire 

layout and a mess. 

Design Process using Adobe Illustrator (AI)

This process took a week and a half. 

Ensuring balance, contrast and movement was in order. 

DESIGN DETAILS

PEACE SECTION:

• COLORS RED, ORANGE, GREEN, PINK, BROWN, BLUE, YELLOW-BEIGE
• FONT: DIDOT TYPOGRAPHY
• SHAPES - ORGANIC SHAPES: CLOUD, MOUNTAIN, SUN
• GEOMETRY SHAPES: HOUSE 

RUINED SECTION:

• COLORS: MULTIPLE TONES OF RED
• SHAPES: FORM SHAPES OF VEHICLES ORGANIC GRASS
• FONT: DIDOT TYPOGRAPHY

Final Design 

Video Form:

Visual Form in PDF:

Description: 

My objective is to raise awareness about the Ukraine-Russia issue. This design is a sort of reflection of peace and damaged/ruined. If you look at the forms of the cloud reflecting to the jet and rocket, I used more varied colours to represent how bright and lively a peaceful life can be compared to when war occurs, which is more alarming and dark, which is why I used different shades of red.

It might be a general conclusion to the war or a focus on the end of the war in Ukraine. 

(It can be whichever event that the viewer might think but it's specifically 

about the circumstances of war and no war)

This poster interprets in a way - I want to emphasise on peace, so I added more various colours to it, 

it would show how Ukraine would appear if there was no war, as opposed to how it is now. 

On the other hand, it could also show another country living in peace whilst 

Ukraine is still at War simultaneously. 

Feedback

Dr. Charles advised me to change the background music of the video to a 

much more peaceful in contrast to intense- music to ensure there's a difference 

in those two situations. 

(Result of the video click here: Peace is Ruined )

Reflection

After 7 weeks of studying design principles,

I have learnt a lot throughout my experiences, and having to make many mistakes

from creating a design. This final project was very chaotic for me because I felt that 

the issue I had chosen was heavy and I worry that I was not able to

deliver the message. However, I liked the final product and the awareness I am promoting. 

In addition, the entire process of this design was very long because I experienced many 

confusions due to my design. I had to overanalysed and see from the viewer's point of view. 

Although a design is simply my own language of expressing through visuals, I knew

I had to ensure it made sense. Therefore, each element on the design are important.