Key principles of design - Elements and Principles of Design - page 60

Realism - Abstraction
In visual imagery, art and design, this principle may be considered in terms of a continuum
with realistic representation at one end, followed by abstracted or shattered realism, through
to pure abstraction at the opposing end of the continuum, with many variations in between.
Images that feature a high degree of abstraction can attract interest because of their unique
character; however, the level of abstraction visual imagery, art and design depends entirely
on the communication objectives of the project and whether abstraction is appropriate.
Abstraction techniques include the following:
• Superimposing images, text or photographs onto existing images;
• Simplifying or embellishing elements such as lines, shapes and colours;
• Using digital filters via Photoshop, Instagram software;
• Applying the technique of 'shatter' to images and designs.
Superimposed images
The technique of superimposing elements, images or text is common in graphic design as well
as art and installation art; for example, Marcel Duchamp's LHOOQ (1919), Barbara Kruger's
works and her use of text superimposed over images; and installation works such as Adrienne
Doig's The Other Woman (1999) wherein a video was superimposed onto a built set.
In the following film posters, images have been superimposed onto the poster imagery, res-
ulting in composite images that are visually interesting and which provide insight into film
narrative and character development: Midnight in Paris (2011) and Aatma (2013).