Design Principles / Task 3
0.7.03.24 - 21.03.24 / Week 5 - Week 7
Name: ALYSSA AISYAH BINTI 'ARIEF NASRAN (0364017)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Design Principles (GCD60804) / Section 1
Name: ALYSSA AISYAH BINTI 'ARIEF NASRAN (0364017)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Design Principles (GCD60804) / Section 1
INSTRUCTIONS
TASK 3
Design
For Task 3 of Design Principles, after we have analysed the design of out choice in Task 2, we are to produce a work of design, inspired/influenced by the one we had analysed, or as a reaction to it. We should also apply our knowledge of design principles in our creation and may use any medium and/or
materials that are suitable to convey our visual message. We should also include some cited visual references that inspire our own ideas and a rationale, in about 150-200 words, explaining/defending the
decisions made in our design, the meaning/purpose of the design and the design principles that are found in the design.
Brainstorming
First off, I went back on my Task 2 to look at the design I analysed in order to get inspiration and gauge how I should approach this task. When reading back on them, one particular design principle; an arbitrary symbol I had analysed stood out to me- which was the eye. It was the most seemingly "out of place" element in the design, yet also the most obvious element to beg a symbolical explanation, and I wondered if that was on purpose, as when I recounted how I had analysed this, I went into several potential meanings it could have, such as how the testing of new artillery and blitzkrieg tactics resonates linguistically; there is similarity between the Spanish word for bulb (bombilla) and the Spanish word for bomb (bomba), and the dual nature of progress; while the electric bulb symbolized modern technology and progress, its harsh light served as a stark contrast to the softer glow of the oil lamp, and that contrast highlighted the darker aspects of advancement, suggesting that alongside its benefits, as it grows to become more powerful, it also brings about death and destruction as it can be exploited for malevolent purposes.
Fig 1.0 Guernica Eye Symbol
When combining these two meanings together, it paints a picture of how the new technology has been exploited for use of war, to build new weapons and mechanized infantries of destruction, it brought about more pain and suffering rather than the positive advancements one envisions when thinking of new advancements in technology, and my wonderment came to a conclusion; perhaps it may have been on purpose for the eye to stand out in the way it does- it serves as the 'epicenter' of the war; without all the new advancements in technology, destruction could've not taken place, and foremost, Guernica served as a testing grounds for this new technology, an excuse to test new artillery and blitzkrieg tactics, not caring of the mass destruction and suffering it would bring about. It was a vital reason, the eye was what birthed it all, a symbol of culmination of innovation and devastation, symbolizing both the potential and the destructive power of advancements in technology.
Reflecting on that newfound epiphany, I was inspired to create an artwork around this idea of technological advancement being the death of humanity. A modern day reflection or depiction of 'Guernica' as when I was reflecting, it somewhat mirrored the present day- just in a different manner, yet at the same time, nothing seems to have changed- the latest fad these days centers around AI (Artificial Intelligence), the development of this technology is ever-growing and has become increasingly advanced with every update, making tasks more efficient, making the once thought 'impossible'- possible. It is with this new technology that we are now able to take more of a 'hands off approach', as AI does the work, or a majority of the work for us, yet with this, the sense of 'humanity' is lost in creation. As it takes over, one questions, what is left for humanity to do? As tasks get done with the same precision, creativity, with even faster turn-around times, what will the skilled labourers do? is there a point to learn these skills in the future, if they will inevitably be taken over by AI? These are the questions many are starting to ask. At what point does AI become dangerous? As it is with this same technology that brings about just as much exploitation the further it advances, from deepfakes, to privacy violations, the history with the bombing of Guernica has proven what technology is capable of, in the wrong hands. Perhaps history will repeat itself.
Yet with such advancement, especially at the current pace of the world, what if that sentiment was twisted? instead of it being solely in the hands of humanity, perhaps this advancement will come to a point of sentience. An AI with free-will. This concept of an AI takeover is nothing new, it is a popular story and subject throughout science-fiction, but it is one that has always fascinated me, and with the current relevance and progression of AI, that kind of future seems more and more likely as a possibility- thus I decided to create an artwork based on these ideas and ruminations: An AI robot uprising against humanity, the irony of being destroyed by the very thing you have created. A modern take on 'Guernica'.
Design Process
To aid with the initial drafting process and in accordance to the theme, I also generated some pictures of my idea in AI to help with inspiration, and to also see how AI would create such a piece as it was relevant to my design ideas.
I have also referenced some pictures of robots/robot takeovers online, for my visual references.
Fig 1.1 AI Generated Image 1
Fig 1.2 AI Generated Image 2
Fig 1.3 AI Generated Image 3
Fig 1.4 AI Generated Image 4
Fig 1.5 'Machinarium' - Game by Amanita Design
I first started off with a rough sketch referencing the art-style used in the original design, making sure the stylistic choices I was making matched as I also wanted the impact to be just as profound, and the unusual eerie dysmorphic and contorted nature of the art-style could capture the range of emotions I wanted to portray. It was quite challenging to do so, as Picasso has a natural ability to break down the objects and figures in his paintings into their basic shapes and forms, and then reassemble them in unexpected ways, and this was a new type of art style I had to learn along the way. It is much less proportionate and anatomically correct, less structured, more nuanced, and forms are manipulated for exaggeration, yet it somehow still comes together, the beauty lied in its imperfect nature, and that is something I struggled with for a bit while sketching this draft as though it may seem 'simple' there was more complexity to it, and to add on to that, my art style is the opposite. Nonetheless, I eventually was able to come up with a satisfactory sketch which is pictured below.
Please note that the explanation of each element in my design will be expanded upon near the end of this blog post in my rationale.
I have tried to include a variety of different kinds of robots, taking inspiration from what I had referenced in order to generate visual interest in my design. For some reason, when I had generated a robot takeover- multiple generated images included a spider-like robot, along with robots that had sharp looking teeth, and since this is what AI had envisioned as a robot takeover, I decided to include these elements in my design as well.
Once I had finished my sketch, I then moved on to the line art of my design. I have chosen to make the line art neat in my design as opposed to the more messier style Picasso uses as to not 'congest' the design and also in order to convey the message of the type of perfectionism technology is able to achieve, rather than the human errors one is more pre-disposed to making when creating something (such as a painting). In Guernica, this is demonstrated through the rougher and sketchier or messier outlines, showing repetition and a re-tracing or re-doing of lines, in the bull it is even more present as it seems that the initial sketch seems to be erased, and he has re-painted the final outline we see, yet the previous one is still somewhat visible.
Fig 1.8 Human Error Found in 'Guernica' Bull
Fig 1.9 Design Outline
Next, I moved onto creating the rays of light the eye will emit, almost treating it like a shining sun which shines upon its surroundings and below. I have used guidelines for this step in order to ensure symmetry and precision, and have tried to space them out (as evenly as possible) to leave space for the mosaic lines I plan to draw in accordance to the Cubism art style Picasso uses that I am also mimicking as well.
Fig 2.1 Eye Light Rays Line Art
Additionally, I have also added in a pair of broken glasses in this step, the pair of glasses that the bottom left figure was implied to be wearing, but fell as a result of the chaos when taken literally and at face value- though there is a more symbolic meaning here that will be later explained in the rationale.
Fig 2.2 Adding Broken Glasses
In this step, I added in the mosaic lines, ensuring that each 'tile' was disjointed to the next, and looked visually coherent, with smaller tiles from the starting point of the eye, to more bigger ones as it moves further out.
Fig 2.3 Adding Mosaic Tiles
Once my outlines were done, I then started to colour my design. I coloured the rays as a gradient, though a fractured gradient in order to keep with the cubism style, this is then repeated with other elements such as the humanoid figures and robots in my design, following the mosaic tiles, I have coloured each one with a different shade, ensuring no two shades which are the same colour reside next to each other.
I first coloured the background, as it is the largest portion of the design, and would decide the rest of the shades I use for the other elements in my design as I wanted each element to be clear, stand out, and not blur or get confused with the background by use of a shade that is too similar or not differentiated enough. They needed to be clear as the foreground to the viewer- so once I had the background coloured, I moved on to colouring the humanoid figures and robots, using lighter shades, being very particular and thoughtful about how they would look in contrast with the surrounding shades and the background, and ensuring they could be separable from the background and recognisable as the foreground, while also following a logically consistent way of colouring such figures and objects in comparison to real world examples (such as the tie being a darker shade of grey for the bottom left figure as ties are generally darker in colour).
I have also chosen to use a monochromatic palette in my design as well like the original since it not only serves as a link to the original, but like how Picasso has used B&W, I have stripped colour out of the design in my attempt to replace sensual pleasure with intellectual design as sometimes, one can get lost in the colours of a design, they pull your eyes in different directions, evoke different emotions and moods, I wanted those to be evoked by the content of the design itself- rather than the colours, where the colours in my design would rather play a different role, one I have explained before in the previous task 'In the absence of color, there is nowhere to hide or distract from, and as such, no relief from the intensity of what is depicted'.
Fig 2.4 Colouring Background
Fig 2.5 Colouring Humanoid Figures
Fig 2.6 Colouring AI Robots
At first, I had the idea to add metallic parts and human-looking remains into the ground/floor to signify a "build up" of this war in how much it has taken (the devastating effects of AI and what it has taken from humans, such as jobs) and how long it has been going on for (it being a historically repeated pattern, of technological advancement bringing about destruction), having the subjects sit atop the remains of each other, though when experimenting with this, I found that it looked too messy and congested visually, thus I have excluded it from my design.
Fig 2.7 Colouring Floor/Rubble
Then, I moved onto colouring the epicenter of the piece- the eye. I have coloured it in a way that stands out more and given it more detail than the rest of the elements present in the design as it is the focal point of the design and serves as the 'driving point' or motif of the entire design.
Fig 2.8 Colouring the Eye
Moving on, I then added in more minor details such as the eyes and blood to the humanoid figures. These details are minute, but contribute to the overall depiction and weight of the design as without them, the message may not be delivered as severely or jarring as I intended. It helps deliver a sense of 'life' to these figures as they are meant to represent humans and humanity, by capturing these little 'signs of life' to the viewer, they can be recognised as such, and at the same time, empathised with as their suffering is clear by the physical proof of their wounds.
Fig 2.9 Adding in Human Details
Next, I went on to add the blue "A" into the eye, and coloured the eyes of each robot with that same blue. It is the only pop of colour I wanted to be present in the image for contrasting and emphasis purposes, and to serve a link between the eye in the sky, and the AI robots below, conveying the connection between them to the viewer.
I have used the colour blue as it has become synonymous with technology and commonly used to represent it- it is a colour one rarely finds in nature as well, and thus one that cannot be reproduce naturally often times, as a result, most 'blue' dyes are not truly blue, but rather a synthetic version of it, which matches the 'artificial' part of AI well.
Once I had everything coloured, I then coloured in the mosaic lines that crossed over into the foreground subjects/objects to make them stand out better, for neater effect, and to show off that cubism-style colouring present within them.
Additionally, I also revisited the detailing of the eye in the sky and decided to alter its design to better emphasize and showcase the "A" inside the eye as the colour used was quite light, and it was important for me to put such detailing into the eye since it serves as the epicenter and focal point of the design. I have altered both the blue colour to be more striking and applied it to the rest of the robots, as well the inside colour of the eye to be much darker in order to properly put emphasis through this contrast of light and dark, and colour vs no colour.
Fig 3.1 Colouring in Mosaic Lines
Fig 3.2 Detailing Eye
After looking at the design overall, I still thought something was missing. It didn't quite come together yet, and the subjects/objects were still not too distinguishable from the background, so I added in shadows to the design. This really seemed to pull everything together and highlight each figure/object better.
Fig 3.3 Adding Shadows
Following this, I then duplicated the layer that contained all the blue eyes, and applied a gaussian blur to that layer in order to add a 'glowing' effect to make each eye seem 'alive' as light is commonly used in technology to signal the entity being 'on' and because the design is depicting a hypothetical scene where AI robots have gained sentience and consciousness, yet this 'alive'-ness still resonating more with a technological depiction, as it is glowing with an unnatural synthetic colour, a colour used to represent technology, the light that shines is not one that is organic.
Fig 3.4 Adding Glow
Finally, I added in my final touch, which was the texture of binary code in a few areas of the darkest parts of the design as well as the sclera of the eye. I have chosen binary as it is the most basic form of computer code since it only consists of two numbers: 0 and 1, so visually, it would not be too distracting, and serve as a good repetitive pattern and texture to use- but also because these numbers form the basic layer of all computing systems and are the primary language of digital technologies.
It is meant to mimic the textured element of Guernica. The texture in 'Guernica' is thought to resemble the lines of newsprint, which shows how Picasso originally had learned of the bombing that happened in Guernica (the town). Similarly, in this design, the texture also reveals a hidden motif and meaning which encapsulates the entire scene and message of the design.
Binary Code:
01000010 01110010 01101111 01110101 01100111 01101000 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01110010 01110101 01101001 01101110 00100000 01100010 01111001 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01110111 01101000 01101001 01100011 01101000 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100111 01110110 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100001 01100100 01100101
When put into a binary converter, it translates into the text 'Brought to ruin by that which you've made'
Fig 3.5 'Guernica' Texture
Fig 3.6 Adding Binary Code Texture
Final Outcome
I have titled the piece 'Eyerony' as I believe it captures the overall dichotomy of the design of man being destroyed by its very own creations. It is a play on the word 'Irony' with the word 'Eye' replacing the letter 'I' as the eye in the design already represents AI itself- a reversal of the visual depiction of the eye representing the letter 'I'.
Fig 3.7 Alyssa_Eyerony_Task 3
Rationale:
Starting off with the focal point of the design- the eye in the sky is meant to represent AI itself, the 'new technology, just like the eye in Guernica. It uses a play on words: "A" eye (which sounds like the letter I). "A" standing for 'Artificial' and just like how the eye in Guernica symbolized the birth of new technology with the depiction of an electric bulb as the iris showing that particular time period's advancement, for the present times today, that is AI. The eye in the design acts as a focal point as it serves as the 'epicenter' and sole vital reason of the entire scene and message; similarly to Guernica, without all the new advancements in technology, or specifically in todays time, AI, destruction could've not taken place. Overall, it is a symbol of culmination of innovation and devastation, symbolizing both the potential and the destructive power of advancements in technology. To further illustrate the meaning of the eye in this design, we must recall the original painting again. In Guernica, a juxtaposition was created between two elements: the electric bulb and the handheld oil lamp, both emitted light, but with different intensities. Although the light that shone from the electric bulb was brighter, its harsh light served as a stark contrast to the softer glow of the oil lamp, and that contrast highlighted the darker aspects of advancement, suggesting that alongside its benefits, as it grows to become more powerful, it also brings about troubles as it can be exploited for malevolent purposes- just like how it was in the bombing of Guernica where it had brought about death and destruction- and this design shows that same fate. It is why the blue glow is so intense in the design. As mentioned before, the glow is meant to make each entity seem 'alive' as light is commonly used in technology to signal something being 'on' and because the design is depicting a hypothetical scene where AI robots have gained sentience and consciousness, yet this 'alive'-ness still resonating more with a technological depiction, as it is glowing with an unnatural synthetic colour. It is the only pop of colour present in the design to emphasise importance and generate interest to the viewer since it naturally pulls attention being the only colour present in the design. I have used the colour blue as it has become synonymous with technology and is commonly used to represent it- it is a colour one rarely finds in nature as well, and thus one that cannot be reproduced naturally, as a result, most 'blue' dyes are not truly blue, but rather a synthetic version of it, which matches the 'artificial' part of AI well. That contrast between the vibrant blue and monochromatic palette helps to highlight the significance of the eye in this composition- furthermore it is intentional that I have only coloured the eyes specifically and with the same blue, by doing so, it serves a visual link between the eye in the sky, and the AI robots below, conveying the connection between them to the viewer. It is meant to show how these AI robots all came from a single origin point (the eye), thus why the rays from the eye emit down below onto them- although in this design, they have advanced to the point of conscious sentience, rebellion, and destruction, they all birthed from the same technology, one which humanity created, and their actions are simply a consequence of the advancements. Expanding onto this point, we may move to the figure on the bottom left, which is meant to be an engineer, illustrated by the formal attire of a collared shirt and tie, wrench, and a pair of glasses. The engineer is seen holding up the wrench as his stomach and eye is impaled by one of the AI robots while he screams out, it shows the irony of one being destroyed by one's own creation, a creation initially intended to bring about positive advancement, which leads to the purpose of the broken pair of glasses. It represents how the engineer wasn't able to 'see' the outcome of his creation, it ties into the central theme of the eyes in this design. It again epitomizes the irony as glasses are supposed to help one see things more clearly, yet in this case, the engineer is more 'blinded' than anything. It shows how people are quick or easily bypass further inspection or thought into things in the name of progress and excitement of the new- the only time the engineer is truly faced with reality, he gets blinded in the eye from being stabbed by the AI robot, so by the time the realisation is there, it is already too late, as he has 'lost sight' from his creations again- but this time, literally. Moving onto the AI robot on the bottom right, it can be seen holding up a torso and decapitated head via impalement despite its seemingly thin and nimble arms which shows strength and capability while also furthering the message of destruction. It is meant to represent progress in technology, albeit the negative use, and how far humanity has come with it, as logically, something so frail looking shouldn't be able to do such a thing, and yet it does. Lastly, the final subject on the top right can be observed outstretching their arm to reach the eye, the subject recognises it as the root of all this destruction, and they are reaching out desperately in attempt of destroying it to stop the chaos, and put an end to it all despite the wounds they have suffered from the AI robot, yet they are being held back by it due to the robot devouring them whole, the robot has its teeth closing in on the subject, which represents the relentless grip that technology has on us. Although it is to our detriment, we cannot function without technology, we have become reliant on it, it 'consumes' both physically and in a metaphorical sense. Finally, the binary code present within the design serves as texture, repetition(and visual repetition) of the hidden message that encapsulates the entire scene and meaning of the design. When translated, it reveals the text 'Brought to ruin by that which you've made'- a simple phrase which sums up the entire design.
(1058 words)
Shortened Rationale:
The eye in the sky serves as a symbolic representation of artificial intelligence (AI), akin to the technological advancements depicted in Guernica's electric bulb. It embodies the dual nature of innovation and destruction, highlighting the potential and peril of technology. The intense blue glow signifies the AI's synthetic essence and its pivotal role in the design. Each entity, colored with the same vibrant blue, establishes a visual link between the AI and the central eye, illustrating their interconnectedness and origin. The engineer, impaled by an AI robot, symbolizes the irony of creation leading to destruction, while broken glasses signify the blindness to consequences. The bottom right AI robot's seemingly frail form contrasts with its destructive capabilities, representing the mass progress made in advancements. The subject reaching for the eye represents humanity's struggle to control its own creations, thwarted by the relentless grip of technology. Binary code textures reinforce the theme of destruction, echoing the hidden message "Brought to ruin by that which you've made."
(164 words)
References
Guernica - bombing of Guernica. (2019). Pbs.org. https://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/guernica/glevel_1/1_bombing.html
Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, October 7). AI takeover. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_takeover
Jones, J. (2018, February 22). Picasso’s love affair with monochrome. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2012/oct/16/picasso-love-affair-monochrome
MLA, H. G. S. of D. (n.d.). Why is Picasso’s Guernica Painting So Famous? ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/picassos-guernica-painting-2578250
FEEDBACK
Week 5
Specific Feedback: Its a good design, everything is purposeful and works, carry on with the work.
Week 6
Specific Feedback: None as I was absent due to sickness
Week 7
Specific Feedback: Overall everything seems to be good, the pupil of the eye however could be looking down to the subjects in order to foster a better sense of connection there.
REFLECTION
Task 3 of Design Principles was the hardest one yet, as it challenged me to draw in a completely new art-style I had never tried before. It was interesting as much as it was tough, although the nature of Cubism is to break down complex shapes into simpler forms- there is still complexity in that. It is hard to rearrange, distort, and colour elements in a way that is still cohesive to the human mind. I don't dabble much in abstract art in general, so it was an insightful learning experience for me to be able to create something like this. I also had to keep in mind the design principles while creating the design, so many of the elements in the design were conscious and intentional, but what I found most interesting was how I uncovered even more meaning or expanded explanations to certain elements I had added into my design as I was writing the rationale. It is as if I had come to those conclusions unconsciously while designing, unaware of it, until later on when prompted to explain it.
This task was definitely an arduous one, as it required the most attention to detail for me in order to properly convey the message and design I was aiming for. Overall however, I am pleased with the final outcome, and I'm grateful to have gotten this experience as it taught me new things.
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