Principles for Design

Brett Vanderkist
INSTRUCTOR
 Principles for Design

Staging Appeal Solid drawing

A design that holds the Crafting poses that are
Presenting ideas with attention of the living forms with strong
great clarity audience design
Staging
Staging
“It is the presentation of any idea so that it is completely
and unmistakably clear.”

(The Illusion of Life, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston)

 Staging

An action so that it is An expression so it can be

understood seen

A personality so that it is A mood so it will affect an

recognizable audience
 Staging

Wide shot good for Upshot adds drama Medium shot

broad body actions Facial expressions are Facial expressions are
Facial expressions are more clear more clear
harder to read Performance cannot be Performance cannot be
very broad very broad
Appeal
Appeal
“To us, it meant anything that a person likes to see, a
quality of charm, pleasing design, simplicity,
communication, and magnetism.”

(The Illusion of Life, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston)

 What lacks appeal?

A drawing with poor design

A weak drawing
and clumsy shapes

A drawing that is too

Awkward movements
complicated or hard to read
Appeal
“Only simple and direct attitudes make good drawings,
and without good drawings we have little appeal.”

(The Illusion of Life, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston)

Solid Drawing
“Our main search was for an ‘animatable’ shape, one that
had volume but was still flexible, possessed strength
without rigidity, and gave us opportunities for the
movements that put over our ideas. We needed a shape
that was a living form, ready to move...”

(The Illusion of Life, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston)

Solid Drawing
Solid Drawing
Solid Drawing
Solid Drawing
 Animation is a medium within the graphic
arts, so we must use Principles of Design
Summary to strengthen our work
Staging our work to communicate clearly
Designing our work so that it is
captivating to watch
Sculpting forms that feel alive and have
solidity, weight and depth