1. Design Fundamentals de
Beaufort
Gestalt, Proximity, Continuation, and Closure
Directions:
1. Gather together old magazines you no longer use and rip out pages with vibrant colors. Using
a sharp x-acto blade cut out and organize small scraps of color from 1-3 cm in length. It would be
a good idea to collect at least enough to cover half of the illustration board.
2. Formulate a design. You may use symbols, initials, letters, etc. It might be a good idea to print
out and enlarge your design if it is possible. Think about how you might utilize negative space,
continuation, closure, and gestalt in your final piece.
3. With a pencil lightly sketch the image on your illustration board. Feel free to use rulers, T-
squares, compass, etc. After you have successfully drafted an image, erase your pencil marks so
that they are barely visible.
4. Decide whether you will be filling in the positive space or the negative space in your piece.
Organize a color progression and begin to paste down your magazine sc raps filling in the area
you have decided on. Make sure that the pieces are close, but do not touch. Try to stay within the
pencil boundaries and rely on continuation and closure to make your design visible.
Student Learning Objectives:
1. Color: Students will utilize color as a method to create unity. The magazine scraps will follow a
pre-determined organization, and this intentional use of color will add to the overall effect.
2. Design: Students demonstrate a knowledge of positive/negative space, proximity,
continuation, closure, and gestalt. Unity is achieved through careful planning and execution of
ideas with regards to the psychology of perception. The finished piece will be comprised of many
pieces, but will be much more than the mere sum of it's parts.
Grading Rubric:
CONCEPT/ DESIGN (45 pts) : The project makes use of proximity, continuation, and
closure to create a readable symbol or letter out of several magazine scraps. The image is clear
and sharp, the lines implied through continuation are apparent, and the pieces are placed in
sufficient proximity. Color is used with intent and as an organizing principle. Negative/positive
space is utilized in an interesting way. Closure and gestalt are evoked to create a unified whole.
CRAFT/PROFESSIONALISM (45pts): The project is neat and precise, there are no
blemishes, scratches or scuffs that distract the viewer. All the elements are glued securely and
there are none missing. There are no glue spills.
CREATIVITY/ORIGINALITY (10pts) Is your design innovative and original, or simply rote
copies of the examples given? Have you chosen an interesting concept, and is your composition
unique?
100 points total