Design Principles GCD60804/Final Compilation
GeXianjing / 0377636
Bachelor of Interactive Spatial Design (Honours)
Final Blog Reflection
Blog Links
Task 1 – Design Principles
https://gexianjing.blogspot.com/2026/02/design-principles-gcd60804task-1.html
Task 2 – Visual Analysis
https://gexianjing.blogspot.com/2026/02/design-principles-gcd60804task-2-visual.html
Task 3 – Final Design
https://gexianjing.blogspot.com/2026/02/design-principles-gcd60804task-3.html
Final Design
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Title: Hard-earned peace Medium: Hand-drawn sketch with digital colouring Dimensions: A4 size (210 × 297 mm) |
Design Concept
My final design explores the relationship between peace and violence through symbolic imagery and strong visual contrast. The word PEACE is placed at the center of the composition as the main visual focus. Behind the words, there is a pair of strong hands making a peaceful gesture, which is widely recognized as a symbol of unity and hope. At the same time, bullet holes and cracks surrounding the composition suggest that peace can be fragile and easily threatened by violence.
The lower part of the design presents two contrasting environments. On the left side, destroyed buildings and barren trees represent the destruction caused by conflict and war. On the right side, a peaceful modern city skyline symbolizes development, stability and the possibility of a better future. The lone figure walking along the road represents humanity moving forward and searching for peace.
This design connects with real-world situations where conflicts and wars still occur in different parts of the world. Through visual contrast and symbolic elements, the design reminds viewers that peace is valuable and something that society should continue striving for.
Final Reflection
During this module, I gradually learned how design principles can guide visual communication. At the beginning of the course, especially in Task 1, I mainly focused on understanding different design principles such as contrast, balance, emphasis and movement. At that stage, my understanding was mostly theoretical. However, the exercise helped me start noticing how these principles appear in different visual designs.
In Task 2, I began analyzing visual works more deeply. This task helped me understand how designers intentionally arrange elements in order to communicate meaning. By studying composition, hierarchy and symbolism, I started to realize that every visual decision in a design can influence how the audience interprets the message.
By the time I reached Task 3, I was able to apply these principles more consciously in my own design process. I experimented with different sketches and gradually refined the composition. Through feedback from the instructor, I also adjusted the visual balance and colour treatment. The instructor appreciated the contrast between the black-and-white elements and the subtle colours, mentioning that the light colouring creates a feeling similar to a pencil-coloured drawing. This feedback helped me feel more confident about keeping the soft colour palette instead of changing the background.
What I enjoyed most in this module was the process of developing an idea from early sketches into a final visual concept. It was interesting to see how small changes in composition, colour and symbols could make the design message clearer. The process also taught me to think more carefully before finalizing design decisions.
One challenge I experienced was learning how to balance visual complexity with clarity. At times I added too many visual elements, which made the design feel crowded. Through feedback and revision, I learned to simplify certain areas and allow the main focal point to stand out more clearly.
Another important realization from this module is that design can reflect real social issues and emotions. My final design about peace and violence is connected to real-world conflicts that still affect many societies today. Creating this design made me reflect on how visual art can communicate messages about humanity, conflict and hope.
In terms of my personal development, one change in my learning process is that I now think more critically about the meaning behind design elements. I pay more attention to how symbols, colours and composition contribute to the overall message. However, something that has remained the same is my interest in illustrative and expressive styles, which I continue to enjoy exploring in my creative work.
Looking forward, my goal is to continue improving my visual storytelling and conceptual thinking skills. I hope to create designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also meaningful and able to communicate deeper ideas. This module provided a strong foundation in design principles, and it will influence how I approach future design projects.
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