P1:E-Portfolio of Spatial Design 1

 Welcome to My PROJECT 1 E-Portfolio on Interactive Spatial Design!

Hello everyone! I’m excited to share my journey as I delve into the world of spatial design for the first time. Over the next 14 weeks, I’ll be documenting my learning experiences, reflections, and the projects I create. I look forward to enhancing my understanding of space and honing my design skills throughout this process. Join me as I explore and grow in this fascinating field!

Catalog 

• Week 1-Introduction to Spatial Design

•  Week 2- Spatial Design and Conceptual elements of Design

• Week 3- Decoding Spatial Perception: Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

• Week 4-Decoding Spatial Perception: Compositional Principles

• Week 5-Form Defining Space: Horizontal

WEEK 1-Introduction to Spatial Design

Learn:

In  first class, the teacher not only introduced the course content but also facilitated an engaging introduction among classmates. This was my first opportunity to truly connect with my peers in a classroom setting, creating a welcoming environment. The interactive session allowed us to share our backgrounds and aspirations, helping me clarify my motivation for studying design: a strong desire to explore new areas within this field. This foundation made the class particularly captivating and set a positive tone for the weeks to come.

During the course overview, the teacher posed thought-provoking questions, emphasizing the essential role of design in our daily lives. For instance, we discussed everyday items—from smartphones to furniture—that result from thoughtful design, enhancing our convenience and enjoyment. This realization highlighted how deeply embedded design is in our routines, often going unnoticed.

The discussion also delved into how design shapes the future through innovation, enhancing experiences, and solving problems. I found this perspective especially enlightening, as it connected the theoretical aspects of design to real-world applications. Furthermore, the teacher introduced concepts related to interactive spaces, showcasing how immersive experiences can blend the virtual and real worlds. This integration not only enriches our experiences but also strengthens our emotional connection to our environments, making us more aware of the spaces we inhabit.

In addition, I also learned some knowledge from the teacher's post on the basic principles of space design:

The importance of special design in architecture, design, and user experience. Special design emphasizes the technical expertise of architects and the creative insight of designers to create spaces that focus on users. Examples include educational institutions, retail environments, public spaces, and residential designs that not only have a beautiful appearance, but also provide people with a good experience during use. Special design focuses on shaping and organizing space to create meaningful, fully functional, and engaging environments, involving the size, shape, and boundaries of the space, as well as how users perceive and interact with it. One of the key concepts of special design is to distinguish between space and place, and another key concept is interactivity, integrating technology and design elements into it, allowing users to participate and making the space more dynamic. The article also introduces two special design projects, the High Line Park in New York and the Red Dot Cinema in KL, demonstrating the positive impact of special design on urban renewal and development.

Reflection:

Firstly, in terms of communication: during our introductions, I recognized that design is a powerful tool for conveying ideas. It’s crucial not only to express ourselves verbally but also to ensure that our designs effectively communicate our intentions and support users. This understanding deepened my appreciation for the responsibility that comes with being a designer—our work can influence how people interact with the world around them.

Secondly, when the teacher remarked that "design shapes the future," it struck me that everyone plays a role in shaping the future, regardless of their profession or status. Our lives are deeply intertwined with design, prompting me to pay closer attention to both the major and subtle elements in my surroundings. This newfound awareness revealed the meticulousness and creativity of many designers, inspiring me to observe how design impacts various aspects of life—from public spaces to product interfaces.

As I embark on this journey into spatial design, I am eager to explore how I can contribute to creating meaningful experiences through thoughtful and innovative design.

Third, what is my future goal and how should I achieve it?

WEEK 2-Spatial Design and Conceptual elements of Design

Learn:

Special design overview

1. Definition and scope

• Special design is a relatively new conceptual design that transcends the boundaries of traditional design professions and covers aspects such as architecture, landscape, interior design, urban design, service design, and public art.

2. Design direction

• Focus on the arrangement and flow of people inside and outside the environment, aiming to create value and understanding of private and public spaces, emphasizing cooperation between people and space, and exploring the concept of place, including place identity and local spirit.

Key skills for special designers

1. Design Thinking: Ability to come up with innovative solutions to enhance the user experience within a space.

2. Human Behavior: A deeper understanding of how people interact with their surroundings.

3. Environmental Psychology: Creating spaces that evoke specific feelings and support desired activities.

4. Space planning: Consider furniture placement, circulation, routing and zoning.

5. Software proficiency: Proficient in using design software to create drawings and models.

6. Visualization: Understand color psychology and the impact of different colors on emotions.

7. Material Selection: Choose materials based on aesthetics, durability, and functionality.

8. Communication skills: Communicate ideas effectively and work with others.

9. Research skills: Understand design trends, sustainable practices and emerging technologies.

10. Project Management: Manage the project’s timeline, resources, and budget.

Concept elements of design

1. point

2. Line

3. Noodles

Reflection:

After studying this course on special design, I have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the field of special design. At the same time, I also reflected on my performance and gains in the learning process.

Many excellent design cases and design methods were introduced in the course, but I realized that I was still deficient in converting this knowledge into actual design capabilities. When faced with an actual design task, you may feel at a loss as to where to start and how to comprehensively apply the knowledge you have learned to design. This reflects that I lack enough practical exercises in my usual learning process and need to strengthen my design practice and improve my hands-on ability by participating in actual projects or conducting simulated designs.

Homework content requirements P-A

 Design theme related

We need to conduct space design assignments, select appropriate designers (such as architects, interior designers), and introduce them, including background, place of birth, design price and other information, as well as pictures of the design works and an introduction to the design background. .

When displaying, it is necessary to analyze the design work, for example, explain what factors influence it. Designs in different regions may be affected by local environment, culture and other factors.

For design elements, information can be found through the Internet, but plagiarism is not allowed. If you can't find the concept, drawings, and other information about a building, don't choose that building and to understand design concepts.

WEEK 3-Decoding Spatial Perception: Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Learn:

The teacher talked about the basic content of space design today. I would like to briefly summarize it in two points. 

The first one is the principle of visual perception. It introduces the importance of understanding the principle of visual perception in space design, explains the grouping principles of the Gestalt principle, and explains it through image examples. Relevant principles are embodied. 

The second is to explain each principle including the principles of proximity, closure, symmetry, continuity, similarity, and simplicity, and introduce the application through examples such as definition and architecture.

Reflection:

For most visual perception principles, I can quickly understand the core concepts and quickly grasp their application in design when the teacher explains examples. This enabled me to express my opinions more accurately during class discussions and analysis assignments, and also laid a good foundation for me to further study design knowledge.

I feel like I’m not actively exploring enough. Although I can better understand the content explained in class, I am not motivated enough to take the initiative to explore more relevant knowledge and cases after class. I realized that design is a field that requires continuous accumulation and expansion of horizons. If you are just satisfied with what you learn in the classroom, it will be difficult to improve your design capabilities. For example, after learning various principles of visual perception, I did not take the initiative to look for more different types of architecture and design works to further deepen my understanding and application of these principles.

WEEK 4-Decoding Spatial Perception: Compositional Principles

Learn:

NO.1-Decoding Spatial Perception:                                                                      

The presentation explores how our brains interpret and organize visual elements. Spatial perception is crucial in understanding and designing spaces.
NO.2-Principles of Composition:

1.Contrast: 

Focus on differences in size, texture, color, and position to create visual interest and direct attention. Examples include high contrast for drama and the use of different sizes to establish visual hierarchy.

2.Repetition:

Repeated elements (color, shapes) provide unity and rhythm, creating flow within a design. Types of repetition include radiation and gradation.

3.Balance: 

Arranging elements for stability and equilibrium, ensuring that the design feels visually harmonious. Visual balance can be achieved despite physical weight differences.

4.Hierarchy: 

Guiding viewers’ attention by organizing elements in order of importance. This helps in ensuring the viewer processes the information in a structured manner.

5.Scale and Proportion: 

The unexpected use of scale can draw attention and create focal points, adding drama to a composition.

NO.3-Examples of Spatial Design: 

Numerous architectural examples such as Florence Cathedral, KLCC Twin Towers, and modern vs. historical architecture in London emphasize how spatial principles are applied in real-world designs.

Reflection:

• Before, I only had some vague concepts about space design principles. Through the systematic study of this course, I have a clear understanding of the definition, function and application of each principle. These theoretical knowledge will provide me with a strong basis for appreciating and analyzing space design works in the future, and will also help me better apply these principles in my own design practice.

• During the learning process, by observing a large number of example pictures, I gradually learned to analyze the spatial design elements and principles in the work from multiple angles. Not only does this improve my visual sensitivity, it also allows me to gain a deeper understanding of the designer’s intent and the message of the work. This improvement in observation will have a positive impact on my future study and life, allowing me to better appreciate and understand the surrounding spatial environment.

• Various cases discussed in the course demonstrate how different designers cleverly apply spatial design principles to solve practical problems and create unique visual effects. These cases have inspired my design thinking and prompted me to consider how to innovatively apply these principles in my own designs to achieve better outcomes. At the same time, I have come to realize that design is not only about aesthetics, but also about guiding the audience's attention and emotions, ensuring that the design effectively conveys information.

PROJECT B:

Beige Scrapbook Art and History Museum Presentation，作者 tian dong

Feedback:

When I gave a speech on projects A and B, I felt that my ability to explain needs to be further improved. Because my English ability is poor, I have not fully memorized and understood some proper nouns. Sometimes when doing homework, I After translating it and reading it back, I don’t know what it means, so I will improve my English speaking skills and knowledge about space design in the future.

WEEK 5 Form Defining Space: Horizontal 

LEARN:

In the fifth week, we conducted ppt explanations of projects A and B.

 In this course, the teacher discussed the relationship between space and form in detail, focusing on the definition and functional impact of horizontal elements and vertical elements on space. The following are some specific contents and important cases:

1. The basic relationship between space and form

• The course begins by introducing the concepts of “space” and “form”, emphasizing their interdependence in design. Space refers to the “empty space” or volume that exists in a design, while form is the specific physical structures that define the boundaries of a city or building by circumscribing space. Empty or negative spaces, such as streets and squares in cities, promote circulation and interaction and are an important part of the urban fabric.

• Analyzed the urban design of Paris with examples, showing how white spaces (streets and squares) facilitate the flow of people in the city, while buildings (black areas) form the specific structure of the city.

2. Horizontal elements

• Base Plane: Usually a plane at the same level as the ground, which can form visual separation through color, material, etc. For example, use wooden floors or flagstone pathways to differentiate indoor and garden areas.

• Elevated Base Plane: A plane established above the ground that creates visual isolation and importance through elevation. Examples include the raised plane of the Forbidden City in China, which is used to emphasize the important status of royal buildings; in traditional stilt houses, the raised plane not only has a moisture-proof function, but also symbolizes status and rank.

• Depressed Base Plane: refers to a space excavated downward, using the lower plane to create a sense of privacy and comfort. For example, the Sunken Plaza in New York's Rockefeller Center and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial both use this design, creating an open and calm atmosphere respectively.

• Overhead Plane: A planar structure located overhead that defines the volume of space below, similar to the role of a tree's shade. Designs such as the umbrella structure for the German Federal Horticultural Exhibition and the bamboo roof of the Green School in Bali, Indonesia, provide shelter while ensuring the openness and ventilation of the space.

3. Vertical elements

• Vertical elements are used to define the boundaries and directions of a space, affecting how people visually flow and move. The course explains through examples how modern minimalist design uses clean lines and open spaces to enhance the visual appeal of a space.

Self Reflection

Through the study of this class, I deepened my understanding of space and form, not only limited to visual effects, but also focused on their impact on users' emotions and interactions. I realized that in future design, we need to combine practicality with sensory experience, and use horizontal and vertical elements wisely to create a specific atmosphere. For example, important spaces can be highlighted by raising planes, and intimacy can be created by sinking planes. When designing, it is necessary to pay attention to the user's emotional experience and interactive needs, so that the design is not only functional, but also conveys specific emotions and values.