Visual Thinking Research Original Puzzle

1st Puzzle

Original Puzzle

My task to this 1st puzzles is to find two of the above three bracelets that are identical. First of all, I started by observing the bracelet on the left top corner of the puzzle (the one I box with dotted line) see figure below. By looking at this bracelet, I noticed that there are two red triangle that are pointing to each other (circled with purple line) see (1). Then, I decided to scan at the other two bracelets to see whether they have the same feature. Yes, the other two got the same. 

After that, I go back to the original bracelet and found out the other red triangle (boxed with yellow line) see (2). Then again I checked with the other two bracelets and realized that they also obtain the same feature. 

I did the same procedure as above on and on (see details below) until I discovered a different characteristic on the top right bracelet when compared with the other two. By looking closely to the top right bracelet, I found out that the (3) and (4) red triangle on this bracelet are facing opposite directions (circled with black line) See explanation in the gray area below. On the other hands, the other two bracelets both have the same direction (> >) of red triangles on position (3) and (4), where each bracelet are circled with orange hexagon and green star unfilled shape.

In this specific puzzle game, I used one of the various visual thinking operations defined in the McKim reading, which is "matching". While I was working on this puzzle, I recognized and sought for the desired patterns as a whole and matching it.

*Note:  My father and I had a similar approach to this puzzle and exactly the same result as I did below; therefore, I think it's unnecessary to post his result doubly. Hope you can understand :)

2nd Puzzle

Original Puzzle

My task to this 2nd puzzles is to change the above illustration of rocking horse that made up of 5 shapes to become a fox by moving 2 of the shapes. First of all, I started by imagining what a fox look like. As I recalled, a fox's head should have an outstanding triangle ears. Therefore, I began to look for a shape that resembles fox's ears. I eventually found two triangle that seems like a pair of ears. Then, I moved on this direction. I decided to remove the shapes that are above the two triangle. After that, I rotated and moved around the two shapes and finally I created a face of a fox within 15 minutes. See details below

In this specific puzzle game, I used one of the various visual thinking operations defined in the McKim reading, which is "Closure". While I was working on this puzzle, my mind seems to complete the shape of a fox by itself. My brain unconsciously perceive the whole image by filling in the missing information.

*Note:  Even though my father needed to spend a bit longer time to figure out how to make the fox, we got the same result again.

Reference:
http://www.puzzles.com/PuzzlePlayground/Visual.htm

Visual Perception 2 / Feature Hierarchy

Picture taken from:
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20070819,00.html

The above "TIME - Style & Design" magazine is related to this week’s topics, for it utilizes feature channel hierarchies: 

• Shape / Size
• Color
• Spatial Layout

By viewing this "Time" magazine cover as a whole, we can see that the most eye-catching feature of the visual hierarchy with this magazine is the size. The title of the magazine: "TIME" has the largest font on this magazine, which makes the word visually pops-out the most on this cover. Therefore, viewers tend to draw their attention to it first.

Secondly, the red colored border of the magazine cover would definitely attract viewers' eye. The rectangle shape of the border works as a frame, which not only help holding and organizing information together on the cover, but it also helps to emphasize the photograph of the cover.

Thirdly, viewers will notice the black colored eyeglasses frame, for it has a high contrast with the skin-colored background. The black-colored glasses frame help lead reader's eye to focus on the center of the magazine. 

Last but not least, when the viewer is looking at the center of the magazine, they will be appealing to the deepness of the eye. Even though Color and shape tend to attract attention more readily, depth is also one of the most effective preattentive channels.

Eventually, viewer will scan down and read the small caption of the magazine to seek the detailed information about this magazine 

Visual Perception 1 / Top-Down Visual Processing

                                                                              Note: My goal-directed eye movements

"We Can Do It!" is an American wartime propaganda poster produced by J. Howard Miller in 1943.

"The poster was seen very little during World War II. It was rediscovered in the early 1980s and widely reproduced in many forms, often called "We Can Do It!" but also called "Rosie the Riveter" after the iconic figure of a strong female war production worker. The "We Can Do It!" image was used to promote feminism and other political issues beginning in the 1980s." (Taken from Wikipedia)

How it is related to this week’s topics?

This "We Can Do It!" poster is related to our topics, for it involves: 

• Top-down visual processing
• Goal-biased attentional looking 
• Goal-directed eye movements.

How top-down visual processing operates in its design?

When I started looking this poster, the bold yellow and blue background attracted me, which was my response to "yellowness and Blueness" according to “Visual Queries” chapter from Colin Ware’s “Visual Thinking for Design.” Then, my attention was drawn to the top headline "We Can Do It!”, which are largest fonts in the poster. It catches my attention because of its size. (Top-down visual processing) Next, I wondered what is about "We can do it!" and I started getting interested to find out what the poster is about (Goal-biased attentional looking ). I scanned down and looked for details. I saw a female's face with a confident facial gesture. I moved on looking at her left hands and noticed that she is holding her sleeve and showing her bicep with her right fist closed, which implies that she is a strong women. I looked into the small details and discovered that there is a badge with an image of a female face on it, which is attached to the women's collar. I realized that this could be a poster that promotes feminism or something about women right. Therefore, I scanned down to the bottom of the poster to see the publisher information. (Goal-directed eye movements.) By studying the poster top-down, I successful found out the information that I wondered.

Work Cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Can_Do_It!

Design Success and Failure / Syntactical Guidelines

A SUCCESSFUL DESIGN

“Scratch my back” by Pinkeye

“Scratch my back” is an interesting grater, which was designed by Pinkeye – a team of Belgian designers, composed of Arnaud De Vicq, Bram De Baere, Luc Heylen, Ruud Belmans and Thomas Vanden Abeele.

Balance as Functionality

The four feet are providing a stable stance that allows for a practical use. The physical balance here is the result of a functional balance so that this grater can be operated safely and properly without making a mess. For instance, the firm and solid feet will avoid the grater from bending or shifting, thus, there will be no carrot / cheese grating all over the place, but just on the plate. 

Leveling

This “Scratch my back” grater achieves balance, stability and lack of tension and stress. Therefore it is a leveled product design that utilizes "Leveling" as one of the syntactical guidelines.

Positive and negative space

There are some negative space around and between this grater. This dome-shaped animal (porcupine) creates an arched negative shape under its belly, which adds an aesthetic perception to the entire design.

A FAILURE DESIGN

Elevator button design by OTIS

Balance as Functionality
Even though this elevator button is a symmetrically balanced design, the design doesn't meet the functional requirements. It is true that visual balance could be desirable; However, it is a huge failure when a product design is "visually" well-designed, but it is "physically" failing in its functionality. A design of elevator button should be simple and user-friendly, but this OTIS elevator bottom seems to create confusion and inconvenience to the users instead. Therefore, it is a failure design in terms of it functionality.