Assignment 6: Design Analysis (Powerpoint Presentation)

Again, I grouped together with Geri for this Assignment. We each went to find different posters, both good and bad, and then got together to pick out two for our presentation. These were what we came up with:

Hitler Propaganda Poster (Good)

(1) Principles of Interaction
• Contrast – Dark Foreground vs. Light Background
• Visual Balance – Rays and crowd balances the ‘weight’ of the flag
• Flow – keeps the focus on the picture

(2) Gestalt Principles
Figure & Ground
• Size – Hitler and flag VS. everyone else
• Contrast – Hitler and flag VS. blurry washed-out background
• Details – Hitler and flag VS. everyone else
Similarity
• Red Swastika – featured everywhere in the picture
Continuity
• Rays of Light – Implies to be God’s ‘chosen one’, illuminating and emphasising his presence
• Frame – keeps the focus within the picture itself

(3) Symbolism
• Eagle – Symbolising strength and strong leadership qualities

However, the border distracts and fights for attention with what is within the poster.

Casino Royale Movie Poster (Bad)

(1) Principles of Interaction
• Contrast – Light & Dark Foreground vs. Light Background
•Visual Balance – Gun points towards the right hand side; he looks to the right, drawing attention heavily on that side.
•Flow – There is no proper flow formation in the poster. Confusing cues.

(2) Color
• The White-on-Black color scheme brings too much attention to the gun.
• The predominantly dark colors represent darkness and secrets, possibly foretelling the plot of the story.
• However, unity in color choice on the right hand side makes image indistinct.

(3) Gestalt Principles
• Figure and Ground - There is no good contrast btw the background and the figure.
• Proximity - The different images on the right of the poster makes it very messy
• Similarity - There is no similarity in images.
• Continuity - The only sense of direction and continuity is the flow of the 007 logo flowing vertically on the left hand side of the poster.

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Our tutorial mates said that perhaps we were looking to find too many problems with the Bad Poster, that it was bad, but not THAT bad. I don't know - perhaps it is because we're specifically looking for things to say, so we're pinpointing every single thing that we find.