Design Principles - Task 2 : Visual Analysis & Ideation

02/03/2026 - 14/03/2026 (Week 5 - Week 6)

Lexandra Feodora Stefano/0384629

Design Principles/Bachelors of Design (Honours) in Creative Media/ Taylor's University

Task 2 : Visual Analysis & Ideation

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JUMPLINKS

1. LECTURE

2. INSTRUCTIONS

3. TASK

4. FEEDBACK

5. REFLECTION

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LECTURE

Visual Analysis : A method of understanding design that focuses on the visual elements and principles. Recognise the choices that a designer made and understand the formal properties of a design. 

Observation : closely looking and identifying the visual elements of a design and describing them without looking up the design. Observation is about looking, thinking, and finding good language. 

Analysis : think about the observation and try making statements about the work based on the evidence. Think about specific visual elements identified and combine to create design principles that complete the design. 

Interpretation : all the works before are fused with facts about the design and historical context from published sources. What is the meaning of the design and the purpose of it?

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INSTRUCTIONS

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TASK

• Create a visual analysis from the artwork chosen in task 1
• Create 3 sketches referencing the chosen artwork and state the reasoning & design principles of the sketches

Chosen Artwork : 

Fig 1.1 Chosen Artwork (20/02/2026)

Title : エルフ • ELF 🦚

Artist : Erica (@Ericathw_ on X)

Medium : Digital Art

Date : 10 May 2025

Size : 2136 x 4096 px

Credits : Twitter Link

Visual Analysis : 

Observation - The design is in portrait format. The main character is placed on the centre of the canvas that is rendered with a pink-ish tone that makes it different from the rest of the colours of the artwork. On the right ear, the character is wearing a gold accessory or an earring. The character’s wings are covering half of the bottom part of the canvas and it has the colour palette of a peacock. The background is based on a peacock’s tail which adds more detail with the fact that the character is based on a peacock. The main colours are off white, green, orange, yellow, gold, and blue with low saturation. Overall, this artwork is very dark/dull with so many details but at the same time, it has a very messy rendering style. (134 words)

Analysis - This artwork is balanced due to the character being placed in the middle and all the other elements are equally placed around the character which is visible using the rule of thirds (Fig 1.1). Repetition is also present in this artwork with the feathers both on the character and also in the background. The similar colour palette (hue, value, and saturation) in the artwork makes it overall harmonious because it complements one another. The peacock feathers show a great example of the principle of similarity due to how close and similar the feathers are in the background, which makes the eye see it as one. Overall, all the elements in the artwork creates one unity in the canvas due to the way the feathers are composed and positioned in the canvas. (132 words)

Fig 1.2 Balance - Rule of Thirds (20/02/2026)

Interpretation - This artwork was posted on X (Twitter) and was inspired by a song titled “Elf” by a Japanese singer Ado. The song Elf was a theme song for the TBS drama “Kujaku no Dance, Dare ga Mita?” The song is about love, loss, and longing, the lyrics describe a journey through sorrow and struggle, the singer reflects on the pain of separation and a sense of bittersweetness. The illustration fits the overall vibe the song gives out especially with the serious expression of the character and the low saturated colour palette used for the whole artwork. The artist also uses colours very well to describe the mood and the emotion of the drawing. The whole messy rendering and gloomy colours are really interesting for me, hence why I chose the artwork. (131 words)

Reference : Link 1 ; Link 2

Ideation / Sketches :

After analyzing the chosen artwork, I started thinking of the 3 sketches. First, I made an A4 canvas (2480 px x 3508 px) on IbisPaintX. Here are the 3 sketches: 

Sketch 1 : The first sketch idea is inspired by a pigeon species called victoria crowned pigeon. I chose this bird due to its unique colours and the crown-like feathers. I tried implementing the crown feathers on the artwork and I gave the character a serious expression due to the species' aggressive nature. 

Design Principles : 

• Symmetrical balance : the character placement and how the elements on the background are equally placed 
• Harmony : blue-purple colour palette throughout the artwork and elements that fit the theme
• Contrast : bright red eye colour based on the actual species
• Repetition : multiple elements are the same (feathers on the crown & background and the feathers on the character)

I decided to add those principles because I want to make the sketch a little similar to the chosen artwork. I added contrast because it is based on the actual species' bright red eyes and I wanted to make it the first nitocable element. I used symmetrical balance because of how the wings are placed on the drawing.

Fig 2.1.1 Reference 1 (26/02/2026)

Fig 2.1.2 Sketch 1 (26/02/2026)

Sketch 2 : The second sketch is based on a species called secretary bird. The pose of the character shows that she is "free" and reaching out to freedom. The expression also shows how happy the character is. The feathers on the back also show how the character fluttered their wings. 

Design Principles : 

• Asymmetrical balance : how the wings take over half of the canvas and makes it a little unbalanced
• Emphasis : the saturated colours on the eye (based on the real bird) and the focus on the characters face/expression
• Repetition : the feathers on the background
• Continuation : feathers on the background 

I decided to add 3 new principles because I want to do something different from the chosen artwork. Since the first sketch uses symmetrical balance, I decided to do asymmetrical for this one. I did emphasis on this design because it is based on the real bird. I also decided to do a different type of background and did continuation instead of repetition. 

Fig 2.2.1 Reference 2 (26/02/2026)

Fig 2.2.2 Sketch 2 (26/02/2026)

Sketch 3 : This sketch is based on a species called palawan peacock pheasant. I made the character a male because usually the ones with bright colours and the beautiful tail are the males. I decided to play with the character's pose but keep it quite similar to the reference (Fig 1.1). 

Design Principles : 

• Principle of closure : the way viewers can still fill up the background even though it is covered by the character
• Principle of similarity : the wings are viewed as one element instead of individual elements, same as the tail background
• Unity : how the feathers are positioned on the wing and the repetition of elements creating a united design

For the final sketch, I decided to do similar principles with the chosen artwork but I decided to add principle of closure to the background. I made the tail as the background and cover it by the character. I decided to play with the characters positioning as well.

Fig 2.3.1 Reference 3 (26/02/2026)

Fig 2.3.2 Sketch 3 (26/02/2026)

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FEEDBACK

Week 6 : Mr Sylvain said he likes the directions and the rationale, would love to see the palettes for each sketch, since it is based on existing photos. Overall, great work! 

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REFLECTION

In task 2, I learned how to do a proper visual analysis of an illustration that I chose. Also, I learned how to use/implement some design principles in my 3 sketches. I also leaned quite a few things about birds and their nature due to the overall theme of my artwork. Overall, I really enjoyed doing this task and I finished it a bit too soon. 

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