Project: Color

Design a strong figure/ground 50% Off ad and run a series of color tests exploring the possibilities of a single primary or secondary color both in isolation (1-color design) and in combination (2- and 3-color designs) using a variety of complementary, analogous and neutral colors. Challenge your own perceptions and experiment with varied hues, values, intensities and proportions.

Felita/Red

(1) Soft & Creamy; (2) Energetic and Dark Army; (3) Telephone Box, Vespa and Egg Tart

Tommy/Green

(1) Forest; (2) Lime and Clementine; (3) Leaf, Shiraz and Brick

John/Orange

(1) Simply Cider; (2) Brisk and Frigid; (3) Blazing, Mustard Seed and Gilded Gold

Observation: Figure/Ground

Three observations of figure/ground at work: a graphic print, a book cover and a memorial. All leverage the power of positive/negative relationship to capture our attention and convey a much deeper message.

Alex Steinweiss via The Daily Heller

A crack draws the passive black background into the action of the image while a blue heart punches a window through the darkness. The mirrored hearts create a sharp and symmetrical surrounding space where a 2-word headline can prevail.

The Second Plane by Martin Amis

Two identical forms nearly meet, a hint of cloud identifies the blue void as sky and, suddenly, we understand: we are looking up between the Twin Towers. Again, a mirrored composition creates a stable and focused space where relatively small typography can speak loud and clear.

9/11 Memorial by Michael Arad and Peter Walker

Where two towers once rose into the sky, now two waterfalls cascade into the abyss - a poetic positive/negative relationship to encourage remembrance and reflection. This is figure/ground on a conceptual scale.

"The form of an object is not more important than the form of the space surrounding it. All things exist in interaction with other things. In music, are the separations between notes less important than the notes themselves?" Malcolm Grear