Concentration

C O N S I D E R:

Distribution

Quantitative Organization

Accentuation or tension through variation in movement or its direction

Contrast of more or less

Concentration refers to a way of distribution of unit forms which may be thickly gathered in certain areas or thinly scattered in other areas of a design. The distribution is usually uneven and informal, sometimes with one place of thickest gathering or thinnest scattering which becomes the center of interest.

In our environment, the city is a typical example of concentration. Buildings and people crowd around the heart of every city, while they are gradually thinned down towards the outskirts.

Essentially concentration is quantitative organization. Here the designer is concerned with the quantity of unit forms producing rhythmic accentuations or dramatic tensions by varying from one place to the next. Contrast is involved, but it is a contrast of less and more rather than a contrast of visual or relational elements.

[Wong, Wucius. Principals of Two-Dimensional Design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1972.]

Concentration - The Concentration Structure
When a formal structure is not used, unit forms can be freely organized to achieve the effect of concentration. This produces a concentration Structure which is entirely informal. Sometimes a formal structure may be used just to provide some guidelines for the distribution of unit forms. Concentration structures of this kind can be said to be semi-formal

The kinds of concentration structures are suggested as follows:

a) Concentration Towards a Point. This means that the unit forms crowd around a pre-established conceptual point in a design. The density reaches the maximum where the point lies and gradually thins down in surrounding areas. The effect is a sort of informal radiation, and more so if the directions of the unit forms are arranged radiatively. The number of pre-established points can range from one to many which may be guided by a formal structure. The degree of concentration towards each point can be uniformly similar, alternatively similar, vaguely gradational, or all different.

b) Concentration away from a point. This is the reverse of (a), with blankness or extreme scantiness in the immediate areas surrounding the conceptual point.

c) Concentration towards a line. This means that the unit forms crowd around a pre-established conceptual line in a design. Maximum density occurs along the line. The line can be straight or of any simple shape. When more than one pre-established line is used, they may be structural lines of a formal structure. Concentration towards a line approaches the effect of gradation.

d) Concentration away from a line. This is the reverse of (c), with blankness or extreme scantiness in the immediate area of the line.

e) Free Concentration. This means that the unit forms are grouped freely with varying density and scantiness in the design. Organization is completely informal here, very much as in a contrast structure. Contrast of less and more prevails, but it should be carefully handled to create visual subtlety and/or drama.

f) Over-concentration. This means that the unit forms are grouped densely over the entire design, or over a rather wide area of the design, with or without gradual transition at the edges. If the unit forms are of similar size and grouped quite evenly, the result of overconcentration can become a similarity structure wherein each unit form occupies a similar amount of space.

g) Deconcentration. This is the reverse of (f). Here the unit forms never get concentrated in any place, but are thinly scattered over the entire design, or over a rather wide area. The scattering can be even, uneven, subtly rhythmical, or vaguely gradational. A similar structure can result if the unit forms, of similar size, are scattered quite evenly.

[Wong, Wucius. Principals of Two-Dimensional Design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1972.]

R  E  F  E  R  E  N  C  E  S 

1 Concentrate vb [com- + L centrum center] vt [1646] 1a: to bring or direct toward a common center or objective: Focus b: to gather into one body, mass, or force [power was concentrated in a few able hands] c: to accumulate [a toxic substance] in bodily tissues [fish--mercury] 2A: to make less dilute [__ syrup] b: to express or exhibit in condensed form -vi 1: to draw toward or meet in a common center 2: Gather, Collect 3: to concentrate one's powers, efforts, or attention [__ on a problem]

2 Concentrate n [1883] 1: something concentrated: as a: a mineral-rich product obtained after an initial processing of ore b: a food reduced in bulk by elimination of fluid [orange juice __] 2: a feed-stuff [as grains] relatively rich in digestible nutrients -compare FIBER