Round 3 Images
The Idea Enhancement images in the third round were pursued so intently and exclusively that the public review and comment process was never properly implemented. Therefore, instead of presenting the images alone, I would like to add my own thoughts and conclusions to the images for your review and comment.
As with the other Idea Enhancement images, all these images can be downloaded for free.
Please submit comments to dougabaird@earthlink.net
Image 3-A uses an array of shapes and lines pinned to familiar landscape perspectives to emotionally ground the visual experience and promote a contemplative journey.
However, the recognition of “landscape” qualities detracts from the curiosity of the viewer and the usefulness of the shapes to be used for building any other visually based construction.
Overall effectiveness: POOR
Image 3-B [Tangled Landscape] utilizes “tangles” of lines to slow the visual progression across the image and produce eddies for the eye to rest in. This method explores the usefulness of creating nodes that can be filled with building materials - such as the structured notations used in scientific and technical fields. [Images with discipline specific visual material may be included in this round of images.]
Using this pattern of distribution for a qualitative solution poses problems in complexity that require pre-planning — Round 4 images will further explore this area.
Overall effectiveness: POOR
Image 3-C is a first attempt at producing an image employing structured scientific notations — combining molecular themed units in a qualitatively solved design. This image allows for visual movement both across the design page and “drilling down” into a specific area of interest, while providing discipline-specific materials for building contemplative chains.
See image 3-D for comments.
Image 3-D takes the scientific notations of 3-C and presents them in a more sophisticated visual form that is intended to more deeply engage the need for inquiry. This image asks more of the viewer but is more enticing to the scientific mind and provides material that is more useful in creative thinking.
In spite of the efforts to utilize scientific notation – ultimately, neither are very successful.
Overall effectiveness for 3-C and 3-D: POOR
Image 3-E [Idea 16] is a refined/reworked version of Round 2’s image 2-E [Idea 9]. 3-E fills an even greater percentage of the image area with high density of qualitative solutions in an attempt to maximize the information available to the viewer for creative contemplation.
The image’s weak point is its mediocre effectiveness in capturing the viewer’s attention and drawing them in past a superficial examination. Its greatest usefulness would be in static venues like waiting rooms, where it could be displayed in the direct vision of people in a receptive state of boredom and introspection.
Overall effectiveness: FAIR
Image 3-F is pleasant, but too diffuse — this aquatic grounded image needs to have better defined elements “floating” — they currently merge too easily with the background and present a less involving picture for the viewer.
Overall effectiveness: POOR
Image 3-G reminds me of old paintings, frescoes and engravings that show the effects of time. The horizontal “staging” breaks off the lower third of the image and creates an antique perspective with a well populated figurative middle band and an almost theatrical backdrop of land and sky. The image relies a little heavily on the viewer’s exposure to earlier artworks. It would be better in every respect if it was in color —achieving that would be an order of magnitude more difficult, but possible.
Overall effectiveness: GOOD
Image 3-H is organic with a figurative flavor to the larger shapes and their placement in a non-disclosing background. Not a great deal of material for the viewer to build creative or contemplative constructions with.
Figures are powerful images, but evoke established associations and can be dangerous in an emotionally charged way — that may lead to introspection and negativity, rather than contemplation and creation.
Overall effectiveness: POOR
Image 3-I is an attempt to use the scientific notations of previous images in an image that is intended to be perceived as a landscape. On reflection, the colors used portray a more ominous and stormy picture than the playful one originally intended. Reworking the colors would improve the image’s effectiveness in promoting a contemplative state.
Overall effectiveness: FAIR
Image 3-J uses the concept of “nodes” [described in 3-B] to hold the viewer’s attention in this moderately successful piece.
Overall effectiveness: FAIR
Image 3-K takes elements from 3-J and presents a more intriguing landscape for contemplative exploration.
Overall effectiveness: GOOD
Image 3-L [titled Contemplation 1] from early on had a soothing, contemplative aura and effect.
Although this image is weak in providing materials for creative thinking, it does an excellent job of involving the viewer and creating a contemplative mood — accomplishing one half of the Project’s original goals. Can its strengths be combined with the materials needed to sustain qualitative and innovative thinking?
Overall effectiveness: VERY GOOD
Conclusions:
The greatest success of this third round of images was in learning what works and does not work in a practical sense, and how this will help decide future areas of exploration:
• The recognition of “landscape” qualities detracts from the curiosity of the viewer and the usefulness of the shapes in building any other visually based construction.
• The use of “nodes” or related groupings of qualitative solution poses problems in complexity of design that require additional pre-planning.
•The employment of structured scientific notations has, so far, not been successfully implemented.
• Diffuse visual backgrounds and shapes have proven ineffective for the purposes of this project — Qualitative elements need to be defined.
• Fewer large quantitatively solved shapes are less effective than a greater number of similar small shapes.
• Poor color selection can significantly detract from the effectiveness of the image [this also includes poor color rendition in printing or the display device used for viewing.]
• Note that the size and resolution of the print or display is crucial in the usefulness of these Idea Enhancement images — the viewer must be able to fully explore the whole image at a detailed level to gain the greatest benefit.
• There is evidence that the Project’s goals are reachable — some Round 3 images markedly involve the viewer and created a contemplative mood, and others work well in providing the materials needed for creative thinking.
Round 4 will focus on creating images that combine these strengths.
