ASSIGNMENT 1: Illusion Poster

What is Magic?
What makes something Magical?
What influences Perception?
What is an Illusion?
What is isomorphic Correspondence?
What does it mean to Suspend Disbelief?

Visual Illusions
M.C. Escher
Tessellations
Optical Illusions Create Art and Provoke Thought (segmation.wordpress.com)
Mighty Optical Illusions
Julian Beever’s Sidewalk Illusions
Crazy Chair Illusion! (futuretwit.com)
Illusion (onelightmanywindows.wordpress.com)
Marilyn or Albert?

Printing Resource Links:

Joanne Kwan, 2011

Illusion Poster Assignment

Overview

What is magic? Illusion, wonder, the unusual, the unexpected, the hidden, the revealed. Choose any topic where an aspect of illusion could be applied. Make the rest of us (your audience) feel that aspect by how you visually capture the essence of your subject and represent it magically on a poster advertisement or promotion. This quality of evoking feeling, not simply representation, is referred to as isomorphic correspondence, and is a major goal of this assignment.

Utilizing several elements of Gestalt Psychology are key to the success of almost every visual design. However, on this assignment it is especially important. By utilizing the main elements of Similarity, Figure/Ground relationships, Isomorphic Correspondence, and Proximity the designer can use visual “trickery” as one method of creating a unique and visually engaging image. In addition to this major requirement, the use of typography, color, style, symbols, composition, wording as well as visual grouping and hierarchy are additional means of evoking a psychological response—isomorphic correspondence.

Design an EXPERIENCE!

Gestalt

The theory of Gestalt identifies very specific areas of design which can be manipulated, and in turn, affect our visual perception. Among them are the use of implied line, continuation, closure, color, & contrast. Consider their effects on the viewer’s sense of Isomorphic Correspondence (their emotion or feeling in response to seeing your poster.)

Gestalt includes the following specific areas of visual organization and how they might be manipulated and in turn affect a viewer’s understanding of that image. Those specific areas are:

Figure and Ground Relationship
Similarity
Proximity
Isomorphic Correspondence
Closure
Continuation

Arguably, the most important of these is the understanding of the visual relationship between the figure and the ground. The three main states of the figure and ground visual relationship are:

1. clear figure on ground—This one is the easiest. It is all about clarity, no ambiguity what-so-ever. EVERYONE, would have exactly the same understanding of what the image is or what it means. It may be described as generally having all or most of the following characteristics:

it is possible to name the shape (ie. 4 or S or square or triangle, or house, etc.)
central within the ground (centered)
it is a completely closed shape (not cropped)
primarily convex
if colored, is usually warm in color
textural, patterned, or detailed
is vertically oriented
object-like
regular shapes

2. figure becoming ground (mostly identified by the use of implied line)—This one has a degree of ambiguity. There can be differences of option about what it is or what it means. Itmay be described as generally having all or most of the following characteristics examples:

usually makes use of implied line in some way
some parts of the ground contain elements of figure (see above)
light color nuance
some shared elements
illusion of transparency
coincident line

3. figure & ground reversal(mostly identified by the use of shared contour) This version of the figure/ground relationship is what we will focus on in this assignment.—This one has a degree of ambiguity also. There can be differences of option about what it is or what it means. It may be described as generally having all or most of the following characteristics examples:

shared contour, shared or adjacent edges
tends to become an overall flat pattern
sequential alternating of attention
heightened sense of visual tension
both are equally namable shapes
MC Escher-like tessellation pattern
optical illusion

Whatever your interpretation of illusion happens to be, you will need to visually explore the relative ambiguity that can be suggested through the manipulation of images and/or text. This means that you will be working with either Figure becoming ground (implied line) or figure/ground reversal (shared contour).

Use these effects to emphasize the ideas and concepts that are inherent in your subject. Use magic (illusion, sleight of hand, misdirection, supernatural, superstition, etc. to help you visually do this. In other words, use the effects of visually interesting figure and ground to illustrate and convey a magical feeling (isomorphic correspondence).

You may interpret the general subject of magic in a variety of different ways. Joanne Kwan did the version shown above. It successfully incorporates all the requirements of this assignment by applying creative use of shared contour or figure ground reversal to convey a feeling about the magician. This would be an example of applying visual illusion effects DIRECTLY to a subject (a magician). You do not have to do a direct application to a magic act, etc.

Santana

The image above, by Lee Conklin, is an album cover created for the very first album by Santana. It makes extensive use of fig/ground reversal (shared contour) as well as Proximity and Similarity

Examples of possible subjects/topics for your poster include any topic/subject where some quality of “magic” would apply or help promote that subject/ object or event. We want the look to evoke a magical feeling or quality in some way by manipulating the figure and ground relationship between the shapes, patterns, images, and words that are used on the poster. (an optical Illusion would be an example).

Requirements:

advertising or promotional poster
Size is 13 x 19
Color or black and white, your choice
Medium is your choice, by hand or using digital techniques, photography or in combination
Include factual/practical information such as names, dates, locations, tag line or catch phrase. This information will vary from person to person depending on the subject or direction you choose to take. Generally it is information that should answer the questions, Who? What ? Why? Where? When? How?
You must make dynamic visual use of Figure and Ground (either fig becoming ground or fig/ground reversal)
You must evoke feeling or emotion (isomorphic correspondence)

https://youtu.be/rMfCZ5haSlo

Process:

Decide on the feeling you will be trying to communicate
Decide on the subject/topic of your poster
Thumbnail versions
Rough refinements
Decide on the version of figure and ground you will be using
Decide on the style and medium
Final Print

Examples of visual vernacular, Vintage Magic posters:

These posters use a specific visual vernacular and may give you some ideas about the classic subjects of magicians and their acts of illusion. You may choose to create a poster which references this vintage vernacular but it is not a requirement. Certainly you should be aware of the symbols involved/used in this specialized visual language.

Examples, Figure Ground:

These are not necessarily about the subject of magic, but demonstrate some of the possible effects that either figure/ground reversal or figure becoming ground can achieve.