Design Evaluation Presentations: Bad vs. Good

When you think of water what, is the first thing that pops into your head? For me, one word comes to mind, PURE.  Water is clean, crisp, clear, and satisfying. When you see a bottle nicely chilled and ready to drink, you're taste buds go for a ride and your mouth just is thriving to have that nice, cold sip.

Now, have you ever thought of the difference of how your water is packaged? Say your water is sitting inside some rusty old jug.  Then would you have the same satiation and reaction to pursue that glass of water? No, you would probably turn down that rusty jug and wait until you could get your mouth on something a little more clean. Look at a bottle of Smart Water for instance. Its just water, but has a little bit higher of a price tag. Is Smart Water actually better tasting and better for you compared to plain old rusty jug of tap water? no, tap water actually is better for you that's rich in more minerals and vitamins and its free. So why is it then that people choose to drink a $4 bottle of water compared to a 50cent bottle of water? It's because of the design, marketing, and packaging of the bottle that keeps drinkers coming back for more.

 Bad design

Take a glance at these bottles of Arrowhead; I think to myself, "mmm, I'm thirsty".   Now compare it to a nice bottle of Norwegian Voss water...

Good Design

Isn't this bottle of water just screaming, prestigious, expensive, and quality? It might not actually even look like a bottle of water with its state of the art glass bottle design.

What is it what makes these two so alike, yet so completely different in the aspect of their design?

Well for one, the Arrowhead bottles of water are made out of plastic and the Voss water is packaged in glass.  The Voss bottle has so much more substance and purity with its crystal clear bottle and the simple four letter word V O S S printed in a straight vertical line with no distractions, pictures or colors. It is organized and very, very clean. 

The Arrowhead bottle still serves the exact same purpose just doesn't seem as enticing when compared to a bottle of Voss water.  Arrowhead bottled water has quite a few distractions with the mountains and grass in the background flooded with colors of red, green and white.  Sure, it was a great idea but maybe just a little outdated when put next to a bottle of Voss water.

Drinking a bottle of Voss water is just like comparing Nike to the cheap brand at Target. Ya they are both nice quality and serve the same purposes but its the brand and the way that they are packaged that sets them apart from one another. 

Contrast, Harmony, Balance

This photo is me.  It shows and tells so many more things than just a ballerina in point shoes and a tutu... It has depth, and real raw meaning.

 

 

 

Contrast 

Not only do I love this photo just because I too am a dancer, but I love the contrast of the black and white against each other.  There are different shades of black and white against each other, some more washed out and dull, while sometimes the color "pops" and is crisp defining the contrast and composure of the photograph. 

 

Balance

There is much to be said about the depth of this photo.  It is very symmetrical with the reflection of the ballerina shinning below her.  She is faced down and bent in half almost as if she is just laying ALL of her emotion out there.  You can't see her face, so it seems as though she is cutting off all emotion to us, but with her symmetrical reflection of her bent in half almost opens up the photo and broadens the sense of her sharing her feelings with us. 

Harmony

If contrast and balance weren't present in the photograph, then there would be no harmony.  Because of these elements being shown to us, it gives the feeling of contentment and a finished product when you see this picture.  If there wasn't differences and similarities then this photo wouldn't feel whole per say, and the mood or feeling that you get when you look at this wouldn't be present.

 

Its amazing to me to think of all the different aspects that go into play when a good photograph is taken.  Its so much more than just an image, but a story that tells a million different words.  

 

 

Viscerole Response

 

This is STUPEFYING... I am speechless!

 

As a dancer, when I see something so abstract and powerful I can't help but stop and pause at the story being told. I then am taken into a whole new world.

This is just a glimps of "The Office Mob" piece from the latest movie Step up the Revolution. My jaw is dropping in the amazing aspect of this dance. Its amazing to see that the saying, "actions speak louder than words" is so true. I love the power that dance can have on the world.

 

There are so many different elements going on during this piece: Music, acting, color, line, precision, balance, and emotion. I can only imagine all of the countless hours of practice and choreography that went into this, let alone all of the outstanding production crew who captured everything so perfectly.

 

Gestalt Principles

1. Figure ground relationships: I think a great example of this is when you can see the contrast of the dancers with the floating money in the background.  They are two different images but come together as one creating a solid prestigious message to those watching the flash mob.

2. The Law of Similarity: when the dancers start coming together and dancing as a whole group solidifying the flash mob dance.  Their choreography becomes extended and heightened to a new level; there is power in numbers.  It becomes even greater that all of the dancers are dancing together in sync, all with the same passion.

3. The Law of Proximity: I think its interesting because even though some dancers are dancing on escalators, and then others are dancing in the halls of people, they are "grouped" together and then recognized as being apart of each other for the same cause.

4. The Law of Pragnaz: I have a hard time picking this out, but for me, I would have to say the sole fact of the music, dancing, costume, etc. come together as one and in a sense become simple.  If we only knew how much hard work went into this one minute dance, it would be considered more than simple to us.  The reality is reduced and simple, yet complex all at once.

5. The Law of Continuity: LINE. Need I say more.  Without these this piece would not even come close to what it means. The lines of the escalator in motion, with the lines of choreography going on, and then balancing all of that at the same time, then throw in dancing in straight organized lines.  With each line drawn with each movement, a new feeling is felt and then tells a story to those who watch.  It is much more than just line, it is emotional and complex. 

6. The Law of Closure: These dancers have power because of the sense of closure, and commitment to one another.  They dance as a whole to solidify what they are fighting for.  This piece would not be the same if there weren't as many dancers, or if they weren't dancing together as a whole.  The closure describes unity and finalizes what is going on.  

 

Now go and watch the whole entire movie, it will blow your mind! It is just crazy to me how something shown can mean so much more than something said.  And that is why not only do I love this piece, but just love dance in general.  It is motivational and beautiful.