Design Principles: Final Compilation

9/2/26 - 25/3/26 (Week 2 - Week 7)

Choong Yee Leng || 0381980

Design Principles || Bachelor Degree in Creative Media || Taylor’s University 

Final Compilation

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Quick links

2. Final Outcome

3. Rationale

4. Reflection

QUICK LINKS

• Task 1: Exploration
• Task 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation
• Task 3: Development & Design

FINAL OUTCOME

Paprika _Choong Yee Leng _Task 3

RATIONALE

Design Decision

I rearranged the composition of Paprika, Dr. Atsuko, and the side characters from the original artwork. In this design, Dr. Atsuko is placed between two Paprika silhouettes, inspired by a movie scene where she appears as Paprika is torn apart. The side characters and movie elements are moved to the background instead of being inside the silhouette in the original artwork, as I see them as part of the dream world surrounding them, not within Paprika or Dr. Atsuko. Paprika is shown as a simple red silhouette without details, as her shape and the iconic red colour are already easily recognizable. Presenting her this way helps deliver the message clearly without unnecessary distraction. In contrast, Dr. Atsuko is shown with more detail to make her identity clearer, as she has less identity. Dr. Atsuko that only shows her side profile also suggests that she tends to hide her emotions, unlike Paprika, who is more expressive and outward facing. This idea is inspired by the original artwork, where Paprika looks outward while Dr. Atsuko looks inward. I made this contrast more obvious by turning their entire figures rather than just their gaze.

Meaning / Purpose

This artwork is based on the 2006 animated film 'Paprika'. The story follows Dr. Atsuko, who enters her patients’ dreams through her dream persona, Paprika, in order to treat mental illness. Through this composition, the artwork serves a narrative purpose by attracting the viewer’s attention and creating curiosity about the film’s story. The placement of Dr. Atsuko between Paprika’s silhouette creates a sense of suspense, which then encourage viewers to wonder about the relationship between the two figures and what happens in the movie. For viewers who are already familiar with the story, this composition highlights the idea that Paprika is actually an extension of Dr. Atsuko herself. The repeated use of the film’s iconic red tone helps evoke strong emotion and build a distinctive atmosphere that reflects the surreal quality of the movie. Finally, the title 'Paprika' acts as a clear link between the artwork and the film, completing the overall meaning of the design.

Design Principles

Gestalt Theory

• Gestalt theory is applied through the principle of closure, where Paprika is presented as a simple red silhouette without additional details. This allows viewers to mentally complete the figure even with minimal visual information. While the original artwork also uses this principle, it is only applied to certain parts of the figure. In my design, I chose to emphasize it more strongly by using the silhouette as a dominant element.

Contrast

• Since red is used as the dominant colour across most elements, including Paprika’s silhouette and the background, I created contrast by darkening the background and the inner layer of the silhouette to better separate them. Contrast is also created when Dr. Atsuko’s face and the title' Paprika' stands out clearly while surrounding with red tones. 

Repetition

• Repetition is created when Paprika's silhouette is presented as 2 layers. Red tones are repeatedly used across the artwork as well.

Movement

• While placing the title 'Paprika' in parallel with Dr. Atsuko's eye, and darken the inner layer of Paprika's silhouette, it will create a flow to guide viewer's eyes to the title, then to Dr. Atsuko, lastly to the inner layer.

Word & Image

• The title “Paprika” is placed in white to maintain readability without distracting from the main subject. It also helps guide the viewer’s eye toward the focal point, while further strengthening the connection between the artwork and the movie.

REFLECTION

What have I learnt in this module?

This module introduced me to the concept of design principles and the different types that can be considered when creating a design. Through the artwork analysis section, I learned how multiple design principles can be applied together, rather than used separately. It also helped me understand how these principles are connected to function, for example, how contrast, emphasis, and movement work together to create and maintain a clear visual hierarchy.

What did I enjoy the most?

Throughout the module, I enjoyed analyzing artworks and applying the knowledge to my own work. The process of analysis encouraged me to think more deeply and critically, and I like the way that I can interpret the artwork based on my own understanding. As I became more familiar with the design principles, applying them felt more structured, which almost like answering a paper. The principles guided my design decisions instead of starting from scratch.

What did I not enjoy the most?

The long documentation process sometimes made the workflow feel dull and time-consuming, especially since writing is not my strongest skill. I often needed extra time to revise and refine my wording. However, I understand that this process is necessary because sometimes, working on the screen for too long can feel draining and affect my focus and this slow yet reflective process allows me to think twice.

What have I learnt about myself through this module?

I realized that when working on a design, I often rely on intuition rather than thinking things through first. While this may work in the beginning, over time the design may fail to communicate the intended message clearly. Through this module, I’ve learned to think more deliberately before starting. By applying design principles, I’m able to create designs that better align with my purpose, while reducing unnecessary trial and error.

What has changed and what has not in my learning journey?

What has changed is my design process is I am now more intentional in applying design principles when creating my work. What has not changed, however, is my working habit. I'm still tend to work when something came into my mind, instead of sitting for hours to generate ideas.

What are my aspirations?

I want to improve my illustration skills and create designs that communicate my message clearly and effectively. I have always been drawn to artworks with strong narrative elements, so I hope to create pieces that tell meaningful stories. I am also aimed to fully translate the ideas in my mind into visuals that can be clearly understood by others.