VISUAL TECHNIQUES

Visual Techniques

Figure 1. The Vitra Vegetal Chair by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec.

Asymmetry

Symmetry

Balance

Harmony

Unity

Activeness

Boldness

Variation

Repetition 

Figure 2. The Vitra Panton Chair designed by Verner Panton. 

Balance

Instability

Irregularity

Intricacy

Exaggeration

Spontaneity

Boldness

Subtlety

Depth

Sharpness

Compare & Contrast

While both the Vegetal Chair and the Panton Chair challenge the norm of what a seating unit should look like, their chosen visual techniques create a distinct reaction to viewers. The Vegetal Chair makes symmetry and asymmetry challenge each other; while the chair is symmetrical in the sense that all four legs are angled in the same manner, tha tree-branch like design creates enough asymmetry to establish some contrast. This contrast therefore acts as a harmonious element of unity that additionally establishes  a bold and active feel to the chair's back. The lines of the "branches" give the chair a feeling of being actively in motion due to their spontaneous repetitive nature.

One the other hand, the Panton Chair, while bold like the Vegetal Chair the Panton Chair is more subtle. While the sense of the instability created by the curvilinear structure it has gives it a bit of an ecaggerated and spontaneous edge, the simplicity and sharpness of the overall structure in addition to the depth of the curves make it simpler.