GDes 1312 Foundations:

Color and Design in Two and Three Dimensions

Spring Semester, 2021

FINAL PROJECT
Due Date On time submission: Feedback for Final Project DiscussionFeedback
Thursday, May 6, 11:59pm Design Forum starting Monday, April 26
Late submission: 8pm and closing Sunday, May 2
Friday, May 7, 11:59pm 8pm.

Brief In the Final Project, you will
Summary of choose a palette to work with and
Project use what you have learned this
semester about designing using
color gradation to unify a
triptych.
Digital Size 1. Each design of the triptych
Limitations should be no smaller than
7” x 9” if rectangular, or
9” x 9” if square. You may go
larger in size if desired.
2. Palette – 7” x 9”
3. Problem description 8.5”x11”

Students often display their Final Project from this class in the body of work they share for Portfolio Review (the
requisite presentation of work from pre-program courses to be able to move on to upper-level design classes).

For your final project you will be designing a triptych using a palette that has not yet been used in a design from
class. A triptych is a series of three designs that unify in some manner.

VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF ASSIGNMENT

+ a problem description

Triptych Scale

SPECIFICATIONS/LIMITATIONS

Triptych Dimensions:
If rectangular, each design must be a minimum size of 7” x 9”. They can be in portrait or landscape orientation.
If you would like to create a set of designs that are square instead of rectangular, the minimum size is 9” x 9” each.

Portrait orientation Landscape orientation Square

GDes 1312 Foundations:
Color and Design in Two and Three Dimensions
Spring Semester, 2021

Module choice
Choose one module to use from below. You have the option of using any of the 4 one-inch modules used throughout
the semester, or one of 2 new options. Alternatively, you may use a ¼” square as your module.

Choosing a Color Palette

For the final project, you have the following options:

-Choose 3+ analogous hues and create a palette of -Create an extended chroma bridge palette using a
tints, shades, tones or some combination (for example, different pair of perceptual opposites than you used for
tints and shades, tones, tints and tones, etc.) the Chroma Bridge assignment.

-Choose a split complementary (or near -Use multiple chroma bridge palettes
complementary) combination of hues and create a
palette of tints, shades, tones or a combination as listed
above.

There are examples of each of these palette options and an explanation of how they are created in Adobe
Illustrator in the “Final Project Palette” video and in the Week 14 “Handouts & Readings” section in Canvas.
Following that video, you can see some of these palettes and modules used in triptychs and other past student
submitted work in the “Past Final Projects” video.

Refer to Chapter 4, Combining Colors for information mentioned in videos/supporting material.

Design Objectives
Unify a triptych:
Use gradating elements (for example multiple radial gradations, linear gradating elements, some combination of
both, or other gradating shapes) to create unity among the three designs while also applying the design principles of
balance, dynamic movement, figure ground ambiguity, and to create visual interest. Keep in mind that each design
should be successful (balanced, unified, etc.) as a stand-alone design in addition to all three designs being
GDes 1312 Foundations:
Color and Design in Two and Three Dimensions
Spring Semester, 2021

successful as a series. Unifying a triptych is often but not always done through the use of continuation.

FINAL PROJECT INFO and SUPPORTING MATERIALS

The Final Project is worth 10% of your final course grade.

In addition to the Final Project itself, you are required to have two items:
1. A written problem description
 The problem description should have the main heading of Final Project, with two
subheadings Explanation of Palette and Visual Analysis of Design.
i. Explanation of palette-Write in complete sentences and use the third person
voice. Identify which color model you are selecting hues from (Munsell hue
circle, printer’s or painter’s hue triangle, or subtractive/additive model/color
wheel). Say what the relationship of the hues are (analogous, complements, etc.)
and if the palette has tints, shades, and/or tones included.
ii. Visual Analysis of Design- Write in complete sentences and use the third person
voice. Address the whole triptych rather than each individual design. Explain
how the design principles of balance, unity (through the use of Gestalt grouping
principles), figure ground ambiguity, and dynamic movement can be observed in
the triptych.
Don’t just state that design principles are present in the design—explain why
and how.

2. Your palette displayed on a 7” x 9” artboard.

FINAL PROJECT SUBMISSION DATES and POLICIES

 DUE DATE:
The Final Project due for submission by Thursday, 5/6, by 11:59pm (this is our University scheduled final
exam date).
 LATE DUE DATE:
The late due date for submitting the Final Project is Friday, 5/7, by 11:59pm and will not be accepted after
this time. If you submit any part of the Final Project late, you will lose 10% of the possible points.

FINAL PROJECT GRADING:

The grading rubric for the Final Project can be found under Assignments>Final Project.