Gabriella Grace Christyanti / 0371915
Design Principles / Creative Media / School of design
Task 2: Visual Analysis & Ideation
1. Module Information Brief (MIB)
2. Lectures
3. Visual Analysis & Ideation
4. Sketches
5. Feedbacks
6. Reflection
What is Visual Analysis?
Visual analysis is a way of understanding a design or artwork by closely looking at its visual elements, such as color, shape, lines, texture, space, and composition. It helps us describe and explain how these elements work together to create meaning, communicate ideas, or influence how we see things. This skill is useful in many areas, including museums, social media, entertainment, advertising, and news. In today's digital world, where we mostly interact with visuals online, visual analysis can help us think critically and seek information rather than accepting everything at face value.
The Three Stages of Visual Analysis
1. Observation
First, look at the design carefully and describe what you see in your own words without reading about it beforehand. Focus on the visual elements and details.
2. Analysis
Next, think about how the visual elements are arranged. How do they guide the viewer’s eye? How do they work together to create balance, contrast, or emphasis?
3. Interpretation
Finally, combine your observations with facts and context to understand the deeper meaning of the design. What message, emotion, or idea does it convey?
3. VISUAL ANALYSIS & IDEATION
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| Figure 1.1 Coraline Poster |
Artist: Laika Studios
Size: 27" x 40"
Medium of the Artwork: Digital illustration
The Coraline movie poster captures attention with its contrast between light and dark, hinting at the film’s eerie tone. The left side is dominated by deep purple hues, while the right side is covered in cool blue tones, creating a visual division. Coraline, the central figure, stands in the middle, illuminated by a distinct glow that separates her from the background. A silhouetted, twisted branch reaches toward her head, adding a sense of unease. In the lower right, a cat is present, subtly hinting at its role in the story. The title, "Coraline," is written in a whimsical, slightly irregular font, reinforcing the film’s dark fairytale aesthetic. The texture of the poster has a smooth, digital quality, with a soft atmospheric gradient blending the two sides.
Visual Analysis
The poster utilizes strong contrast in both color and lighting. The left side features deep purples, evoking mystery and enchantment, while the right side's blue tones create a sense of detachment and unease. This color contrast subtly reinforces the themes of deception and duality present in the movie. The lighting also plays a role in emphasis—Coraline is brighter than the background, making her the focal point. The principle of balance is applied through the Rule of Thirds, with Coraline positioned at a key intersection and the cat acting as a secondary point of interest in the lower right. The silhouetted branch introduces a sense of movement, appearing to creep toward Coraline, while the title's handwritten-style font enhances the whimsical yet unsettling tone of the film.
Interpretation
The Coraline poster visually conveys the film’s central theme of escapism and the dangers of being lured into an illusion. The division between the two sides of the poster represents the contrast between Coraline’s dull, real life and the seemingly perfect yet deceptive Other World. The twisted branch, reaching toward her, symbolizes the sinister force pulling her into danger. While the film emphasizes how easy it is to be tempted by an idealized escape, it also warns that such illusions come at a cost—represented by the movie’s signature button motif. The use of contrast and lighting in the poster effectively creates a sense of unease, hinting at the dark turn the story will take while maintaining a sense of childlike wonder.
The Coraline movie poster employs a sophisticated use of analogous color contrast, primarily utilizing shades of purple and blue to establish a sense of both cohesion and tension. The deep purple hues on the left is for a vibe of mystery and enchantment, subtly alluding to the deceptive allure of the Other World. In contrast, the cool blue tones on the right evoke detachment and unease, reinforcing the somber reality Coraline seeks to escape. Though these colors are adjacent on the color wheel, their juxtaposition within the composition generates a visual and thematic contrast.
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| Figure 3.4 Coraline Poster |
Lighting:
The Coraline movie poster employs contrasting lighting to emphasize the film’s central themes of duality. The left side is covered in a dim, moody glow, casting deep shadows that enhance the sense of mystery and unease associated with the Other World. In contrast, the right side features a cooler, subdued illumination, reflecting the bleakness and isolation of Coraline’s real life.The controlled use of light and shadow accentuates Coraline’s position at the center, visually isolating her as a character caught between two opposing forces.
- Balance
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| Figure 3.5 Coraline Poster |
Rule of Thirds:
The Coraline movie poster demonstrates a well-balanced composition through the application of the Rule of Thirds, strategically positioning key visual elements to guide the viewer’s eye. Coraline is placed at the center intersection, drawing immediate attention as the focal point. The contrasting halves, the dark purple aura on the left and the blue aura on the right, create a visual equilibrium, ensuring that neither side dominates the composition. Additionally, the creepy cat positioned in the lower right third serves as a secondary point of interest, subtly leading the viewer’s gaze downward and hinting at its significance in the story.- Emphasis
- Word and Image
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The title Coraline uses a handwritten or whimsical font, with irregular, slightly curved letters that give it a storybook-like quality. This choice mirrors the film’s dark fairytale essence. The organic, free-flowing nature of the lettering contrasts with the structured, more rigid fonts often used in traditional movie posters, emphasizing Coraline's uniqueness as a stop-motion fantasy film. Additionally, the tagline is placed subtly under the title, ensuring it complements rather than overpowers the main visual elements.
- Movement
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| Figure 3.7 Coraline Poster |
The position and curvature of the branch create a sense of movement, making it feel as though it is slowly creeping toward Coraline, rather than remaining static. Its twisted, claw-like form subtly mimics the motion of fingers closing in. This effect is further enhanced by the contrast between the dark silhouette of the branch and the lighter background, making the grasping motion more pronounced. The placement of the branch near Coraline’s head also plays into the psychological impact of looming threats, as viewers instinctively associate such positioning with a sense of vulnerability.
- Symbol
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| Figure 3.8 Coraline Poster |
The button moon eye is a symbol of the Other Mother’s influence, representing both her world and the sinister control she exerts over Coraline, hence why the branch arm is also closely placed near the button moon. Just as the Other Mother sews buttons over the eyes of her victims, the moon itself takes on the unsettling shape of a button, subtly hinting at the fate she has planned for Coraline. Additionally, the button moon also symbolizes how the Other Mother watches Coraline’s real life through the doll’s button eyes, keeping a constant, unseen surveillance on her. The large, looming placement of the moon in the background further intensifies this feeling, as if the Other Mother’s gaze is always present, observing, waiting, and planning her next move.
For my first poster, I used the golden ratio composition to create a visually balanced design. I incorporated a strong orange and blue color scheme to highlight this divide. On the right side, bathed in blue, Coraline’s real mother appears, and the side of Coraline’s face in blue is actually her doll—symbolizing how the Other Mother perceives Coraline’s real life through her "button doll eyes." This unsettling perspective hints at the Other Mother’s obsession and the way she watches Coraline from afar. In contrast, the left side is washed in orange, with Coraline looking visibly worried while the Other Mother opens the door to her world. The bright light spilling from inside the house makes the Other World seem inviting at first glance, but the orange hue is intentionally dull and lifeless rather than warm, hinting at the false sense of security that Coraline begins to sense.
At the bottom right, the cat is walking from the blue side to the orange side, subtly reinforcing its role as a bridge between the two worlds. Just as Coraline moves between them, so does the cat, acting as a guide and observer, aware of the dangers Coraline has yet to fully grasp.
Following Mr. Charles' advice, I also incorporated a gradient blend between the contrasting blue and orange, allowing the transition between the two worlds to feel more seamless yet still distinct. Additionally, I made Coraline maintain eye contact with the viewer, drawing them into her fear and uncertainty. This direct gaze makes her emotions more tangible and make the poster itself look more interesting.
Sketch 2
For my second sketch, I continued using the strong contrast between blue and orange but drew inspiration from the live-action Aladdin movie poster for my composition. This approach allowed me to create a more cinematic feel. Taking Mr. Charles' advice, I ensured that Coraline’s eyes directly engaged with the viewer. I also refined the composition so that her eye aligns with the lines of the rule of thirds, making her the undeniable focal point of the piece. To further emphasize her presence, I desaturated the colors of the supporting characters, ensuring they remain visible but do not compete for attention. This subtle fading effect helps maintain a clear visual hierarchy, keeping Coraline as the strongest element while still preserving the eerie presence of the other characters in the background.
Sketch 3
For my third sketch, I applied the rule of thirds once again but decided to incorporate the blue portal seen in some Coraline posters. This addition reinforces the idea of crossing between worlds, visually separating the eerie Other World from Coraline’s real life. To keep the composition more focused, I only included the Other Mother and Coraline’s real mother in the background, making the design feel less crowded compared to my previous sketches. This simplification allowed for a much clearer focal point, which is why Sir Charles preferred this version the most. He pointed out that the strong central focus made the poster more visually effective and advised me to proceed with this design. Following his feedback, I plan to enhance the piece further by adding more texture, ensuring that the details feel more immersive and refined while maintaining the unsettling tone of the story.
4. FEEDBACKS
Week 4
Feedback :
In graphic design, placement is crucial, especially compared to traditional artwork. While art can be more flexible in composition, graphic design is often used for commercial purposes, meaning every element—such as text, images, and layout—needs to be arranged carefully to highlight the most important parts. Poor placement can make a design feel cluttered or confusing, which can weaken its overall impact.
When working on a design that focuses on Coraline, it’s important to be mindful of how many character faces are included. Adding too many faces around her can create unnecessary visual tension and make the composition feel overcrowded. This can be distracting and take attention away from Coraline, which should be the main focus. By keeping the surrounding elements minimal and well-balanced, we can ensure that she stands out effectively.
Another key aspect to consider is eye contact. In graphic design, when a character’s face is looking directly at the viewer, it naturally draws attention and encourages engagement. This effect can be useful in making the audience feel more connected to the design. Keeping this in mind when arranging elements will help create a stronger visual impact and guide the viewer’s focus in the right direction.
Week 5
Feedback :
The button from the first sketch should be incorporated into the third sketch, as the third sketch appears to be the most refined and polished compared to the previous versions. Adding the button will bring more character and uniqueness to the design, making it stand out in a more visually interesting way.
Experience
Throughout the process of creating my Coraline poster designs, I explored various composition techniques and color schemes to convey the vibe of the film. Each sketch helped me refine my approach, incorporating design principles such as the golden ratio, the rule of thirds, and strong color contrasts. By applying these techniques, I was able to create good compositions that helps reflect the unsettling atmosphere of Coraline’s world. Additionally, receiving feedback from Mr. Charles helped me understand the importance of balancing elements in graphic design, particularly in ensuring that the focal point, Coraline, remained the strongest visual element in my work.
Observations
One key takeaway from this experience was the significance of placement in graphic design. Unlike traditional artwork, where composition can be more expressive, graphic design requires a careful arrangement of elements to enhance clarity and storytelling. In my first two sketches, I experimented with different compositions, but overcrowding the design with too many characters made it difficult to maintain a clear focus on Coraline. By simplifying the layout in my third sketch, I was able to create a stronger, more refined visual impact. Additionally, incorporating eye contact into the design proved to be an effective tool in engaging the viewer, as it naturally draws attention and makes the character’s emotions feel more tangible.
Findings
Through this process, I gained a deeper understanding of how graphic design principles shape effective visual storytelling. The use of the golden ratio and the rule of thirds helped me create well-balanced compositions, while feedback on reducing visual clutter reinforced the importance of maintaining a clear focal point. The decision to incorporate the button from the first sketch into the third sketch was also an important realization—small details can add significant character and meaning to a design, making it more unique.
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