If you think back to the Bauhaus, and
the basic exercises to explore qualities like contrast and
scale and form, but which students used all kinds of materials and elements,
these are radically simplified versions of the same idea,
only with the control of black and white only and the most limited set
of geometric elements like a field with white circles.
Where by moving the circles around, you create different forms,
being able to read the positive form and the negative form.
Sometimes the addition
of elements like this problem that starts out with three simple circles,
but where different compositions are created by the addition of elements,
these are projects where the student is meant to learn how to see
devoid of any of the more expressive problems
that are contained in graphic designs communicative world.
So, there's no idea in these projects,
other than be able to see composition and to learn how to create
visual difference within, again a very limited means of production.
Like for instance, this exercise where variation in
a group of circles is created simply by changing the weight of the circles.
Then the student is allowed, at a certain point, to become free and
to compose with these simplified elements to create more and
more dynamic compositions. But the idea of being able to create
within an incredibly limited means has continued to fascinate graphic
designers even though this sort of design barely exists out in the world.
The economy of means though is incredibly seductive.