College of New Caledonia/Graphic Design Fundamentals

Activity C

Emphasis & focal point with 3D forms

Due: October 6th at the start of class

Submit a JPG or photo of your finished composition.

Goal

Explore the concept of emphasis or focal point using 3D forms.

Materials

By Hand

  • 1–2 pieces. Compass, ruler, pencils and X-Acto knife to draw and cut out shapes.
  • Tracing paper for refining and tracing the image down to the rendering surface.
  • Rubber cement or white glue.
  • Black card stock, illustration or post board, or other medium-heavy weight paper or board — approximately 11" x 11" or 11" x 17".

Or By Computer

  • Electronic drawing and design software such as Google SketchUp may be used to design and render a virtual 3D model.
Note

It is also possible to mix traditional and electronic media. For example, you could use electronic media to experiment with different compositions, then use Adobe Illustrator to create the final design.

Tips
  • Create three-dimensional forms based on the original two-dimensional shapes and arrange the forms into a new composition expressing emphasis and focal point.
  • Compare and contrast your results from the two-dimensional and three-dimensional project.

Some possibilities

  1. Reverse a visual or color assignment of a shape.
  2. Try symmetry vs. asymmetry.
  3. Change the focal point.
  4. Try taking one good solution and doing several variations of it.
  5. Try using “color” as the main design element.
  6. Bring 2 different shapes together to make a new one.
  7. Emphasize the size of something or compare the size to make a point.
  8. Analyze the visual dynamics of alignment and counter balance of the separate shape elements.
  9. Visually understand the use of negative and positive spaces created in the two-dimensional composition.
Grading
CriteriaPoints
Effectiveness of application of principle applied/3
Creativity of application of principle applied/2
Total/5
Student Examples

Past submissions showing emphasis and focal point in both hand-built and digital 3D forms.

Paper sculpture of a flower made from looped pink and green paper strips around an orange centre, mounted on blue board.
Kazi — hand-cut paper forms radiating toward an orange focal point
3D render of a glossy yellow and black patterned sphere with a glowing ring, balanced above glass rings and a translucent cube, with a red ribbon behind.
Holden — pattern, glow and colour draw the eye to the sphere
3D render of black and white striped cylinders and cubes arranged in a grid, with a single red star-topped cylinder in the centre.
Rod — a single red form breaks the black & white pattern
Pastel pink 3D scene with translucent coloured rings, stacked purple tubes, a terrazzo arch with frosted glass, a cone, an icosahedron and clouds.
Allysa Agay — the central arch frames the composition

Send your submission via email to mitchellh2@cnc.bc.ca. Please CC any other instructors for this course.