Teaching Suggestions:
Never allow students to make "just a design."
Help students to think about the "why" of each possible change in their formal designs. This will help them become accustomed to determining their own path to better design.
Rely upon and trust the "internal teacher" within each individual; do not accept verbal rationalizations or evasive references contrary to visual evidence.
Make students answer their own questions.
Defer judgment on whether a student is following the right path to develop a design. Wait until visual evidence is available.
Be gentle, playful and DISCOVERY ORIENTED in getting students to explore individual principles of shaping. Do this on a concrete and visual basis.
Qualify each principle by at least one other principle. Thought processes of visual logic should be not either/or but both/all.
Do not expect rigid compliance with all the principles of shaping for any one design. Stress thinking for oneself, not obedience to authority.
Ambiguity and Meaning Principle
Control of Direction Principle
Teaching Suggestions