Understanding the Aesthetic Response

1
Understanding the Aesthetic Response

• A method for analyzing the different aspects of
  the human perception process

2
Framework for evaluating aesthetic perceptions

• Form
• All that is apparent to the observer
• Design elements and principles
• Expressive and referential characteristics
• Viewer
• Individual characteristics
• Preferences
• Values
• Context
• Physical
• Cultural

3
Summary of Elements

• Color
• Line
• Light
• Pattern
• Shape
• Space
• Texture

4
Color theories

• Physics or Light theory (Newton)
• Based on prism refraction light wavelength
• Additive all primaries add to white
• Pigment Theory (Prang, Munsell)
• Categorizes colors in primaries further
  differentiation dependent on theorist
• Psychological Theory (Ostwald)
• psychologically different hues r, g, y, b

5
Color

• Prang color wheel pigment and additive theories
• Pigment theory of color development
• Primary
• Secondary
• Tertiary

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Prang Color Theory
Tint
Shade
Warm Cool
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Prang Color Theory
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Color

• Munsell System pigment theory
• Hue
• Value
• Chroma (intensity)

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Munsell System
Hue
10
Munsell System
11
Line

• An elongated mark
• The connection between points
• Objects edge
• 9 aspects path, thickness, evenness,
  continuity, sharpness, contour, consistency,
  length, direction

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Light

• Lightness
• Darkness
• Provides depth effects roundness, flatness,
  2-D to 3-D
• Drama
• Temperature

13
Light
14
Pattern

• Arrangement of lines, color, shapes, space on a
  surface
• Not garment pattern
• Collective grouping of more than 7 objects

15
Shape and Form

• Line Space
• Shape 2-dimensional
• Form 3-dimensional
• Hollow volume
• Solid mass

16
Space

• 2-D or 3-D
• Positive or negative enclosed unenclosed
• Shape-space
• Figure-ground
• Foreground-background
• Internal-external

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Perception of Space

• Size of divisions
• Overlapping
• Closeness of shapes
• Density of divisions
• Convexity/concavity
• Enclosing lines

18
Space as Ground

• Provides importance identifies, isolates,
  defines, distinguishes
• Exerts pressure locates object in position of
  distance and position
• Provides distance

• Allows for rest and relief in composition
• Creates depth
• Appears more airy, less dense than surrounding
  objects

19
Space as Volume

• Convex and concave effects
• Hollowness

20
Texture

• Tactile
• Feeling in hand
• Visual
• Appearance to eye
• Created through repetition, pattern, gradation

21
Summary of Principles

• Balance
• Emphasis
• Harmony
• Rhythm
• Proportion
• Scale

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Balance

• Symmetry (formal)
• Asymmetry (informal)
• Radial

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Emphasis

• Focal point
• May be multiple
• Primary
• Secondary
• Achieved through contrasting color, gradation,
  repetition, etc.

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Harmony

• Agreement in feeling
• Consistency in mood
• Culturally constructed

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Rhythm

• Feeling of organized movement repetition
• Smooth, flowing, sharp, staccato, syncopated

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Proportion

• Comparative relationship between parts
• Parts are related to each other within the
  greater whole
• Greek Golden Mean 35 ratio
• 58 also considered classically attractive

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Scale

• Relationship of sizes to the whole
• Generally considered in human terms

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Viewer

• Individual personal characteristics
• gender, age, or height.
• Individual personal preference
• accumulated knowledge of likes and dislikes
• Expectations based on past experiences
• Individual personal values these are often the
  most difficult to discover superficially, as they
  may be deeply rooted.

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Context

• Physical
• Immediate surroundings
• Lighting
• Colors
• Space
• Cultural
• Date, time, place
• Values and ideals of society