FIELD & EVENT FIELD & EVENT THEORY THEORY

a different way to think about basic designa different way to think about basic design

adapted by Jody Dubeadapted by Jody Dube

from from ART AND DESIGNART AND DESIGN

by Philip Carlo Paratoreby Philip Carlo Paratore

Prentice - Hall, Inc., 1985Prentice - Hall, Inc., 1985

Design Design is a statement of order and organization. Its goal is a statement of order and organization. Its goal is unity. It reflects our most very basic human quest for order is unity. It reflects our most very basic human quest for order over chaos. Organization comes from an almost infinite over chaos. Organization comes from an almost infinite number and variety of forms. Birds flying south in formation, number and variety of forms. Birds flying south in formation, systematic erosion of a lake shore, the brushwork in a systematic erosion of a lake shore, the brushwork in a Cezanne still life painting, and the floor plan of a local Cezanne still life painting, and the floor plan of a local supermarket are all expressions of order and organization.supermarket are all expressions of order and organization.

UnityUnity is an expression of organization is an expression of organization

and order – the central goal of design.and order – the central goal of design.

Field-event theoryField-event theory holds that there are two holds that there are two general ways in which information is organized to achieve general ways in which information is organized to achieve unity:unity:

1. 1. FieldsFields andand 2. 2. Field-Event Field-Event RelationshipsRelationships

DominanceDominance is defined in dictionaries as is defined in dictionaries as authority, the power to rule and control. Field-authority, the power to rule and control. Field-event relationships are hierarchical systems of event relationships are hierarchical systems of organization. In hierarchies, there is always a organization. In hierarchies, there is always a ranking order in which some elements or ranking order in which some elements or individuals are more important than others and, as individuals are more important than others and, as a result, get more attention. a result, get more attention.

Dominance hierarchiesDominance hierarchies are established for are established for the same reason in design and nature. They provide the same reason in design and nature. They provide a ranking order among various elements or events a ranking order among various elements or events and, at the same time, help to determine their and, at the same time, help to determine their relative value and meaning.relative value and meaning.

Dominance occurs in many forms and is not simply Dominance occurs in many forms and is not simply a matter of brute force or overwhelming strength. In a matter of brute force or overwhelming strength. In both animal and human societies, a less powerful both animal and human societies, a less powerful but highly charismatic individual often becomes but highly charismatic individual often becomes dominant as a result of his or herdominant as a result of his or her capacity to capacity to attract and hold attention.attract and hold attention.

Field-event Field-event relationships are a relationships are a fairly simple fairly simple matter when matter when there is one event there is one event in a field, but in a field, but when there is when there is more than one, more than one, the problem the problem becomes much becomes much more complex. In more complex. In such cases, a such cases, a ranking-order is ranking-order is established in established in which one top-which one top-ranking event is ranking event is deemed deemed dominant. dominant.

As the number of events increasesAs the number of events increases, dominance , dominance becomes more difficult to establish and hierarchies more becomes more difficult to establish and hierarchies more cumbersome, resulting in a less efficient system of cumbersome, resulting in a less efficient system of organization. However, masterworks like Picasso’s organization. However, masterworks like Picasso’s GuernicaGuernica show us that complex, hierarchical configurations of field-event show us that complex, hierarchical configurations of field-event relationships are not impossible. relationships are not impossible.

Dominance in animalsDominance in animals is purely functional. It is an is purely functional. It is an organizational system which establishes order among organizational system which establishes order among individuals and within groups. Wolves, baboons, geese, and individuals and within groups. Wolves, baboons, geese, and gorillas live in societies with a hierarchical structure based on gorillas live in societies with a hierarchical structure based on dominance. It is an unhappy and abused animal that does not dominance. It is an unhappy and abused animal that does not know its place in this hierarchy. Its very survival is at stake. know its place in this hierarchy. Its very survival is at stake.

Dominance in Design:Dominance in Design: A field-event relationship is a hierarchical system of A field-event relationship is a hierarchical system of organization. It consists of a dominant and a subordinate set of organization. It consists of a dominant and a subordinate set of characteristics, providing a natural model for dominance in characteristics, providing a natural model for dominance in design.design.

In design there may be one, several, or In design there may be one, several, or many field-event relationships.many field-event relationships.They are divided into three general classes:They are divided into three general classes:

1. Primary Relationships1. Primary Relationships

2. Secondary Relationships2. Secondary Relationships

3. Peripheral Relationships3. Peripheral Relationships

Primary relationshipsPrimary relationships impact upon us impact upon us immediately from a distance or at a glance and are most likely immediately from a distance or at a glance and are most likely to stay in our memory. Primary relationships are dominant; to stay in our memory. Primary relationships are dominant; they always get the most attention. They have a tendency they always get the most attention. They have a tendency toward high contrast and their role in the organizational toward high contrast and their role in the organizational hierarchy is one of leadership. hierarchy is one of leadership.

The Rolling Stones is a The Rolling Stones is a band with five band with five members. Mick Jagger, members. Mick Jagger, because he is the lead because he is the lead singer, is the primary singer, is the primary focal point in the band. focal point in the band.

As he attracts the most As he attracts the most attention, his role in this attention, his role in this particular organizational particular organizational hierarchy is one of hierarchy is one of leadership. leadership.

Secondary relationshipsSecondary relationships are subordinate in are subordinate in the hierarchy of design. They are important without being the hierarchy of design. They are important without being central. In visual art we don’t see them first and in music we central. In visual art we don’t see them first and in music we don’t hear them first, for they tend to be overshadowed by don’t hear them first, for they tend to be overshadowed by primary relationships. Although they are subordinate, their primary relationships. Although they are subordinate, their structural value in design is readily ascertained. structural value in design is readily ascertained.

While still using the While still using the example of The Rolling example of The Rolling Stones, it can be said Stones, it can be said that Keith Richards and that Keith Richards and Charlie Watts may be Charlie Watts may be considered secondary to considered secondary to some extent to the lead some extent to the lead singer, Mick Jagger singer, Mick Jagger

Even though they are Even though they are not the dominant focal not the dominant focal point in the band, the point in the band, the roles they play are roles they play are important and vital to important and vital to the band’s identity. the band’s identity.

Peripheral relationshipsPeripheral relationships are subordinate to are subordinate to both primary and secondary relationships. As the lowest both primary and secondary relationships. As the lowest ranking relationships in the design hierarchy, they tend to be ranking relationships in the design hierarchy, they tend to be subdued and exhibit low contrast. One notices them least, subdued and exhibit low contrast. One notices them least, counts them last and forgets them first. Like peripheral animals counts them last and forgets them first. Like peripheral animals in a herd, peripheral relationships are the most expendable; in a herd, peripheral relationships are the most expendable; they may be easily shifted, changed or substituted without they may be easily shifted, changed or substituted without substantial effect on the main idea of the design or substantial effect on the main idea of the design or appreciation of the whole. appreciation of the whole. Again, using the example of Again, using the example of

The Rolling Stones, it can be The Rolling Stones, it can be said that beyond the said that beyond the previously mentioned previously mentioned members, there are still two members, there are still two more who have come and more who have come and gone, being replaced over the gone, being replaced over the years without seriously years without seriously affecting the overall affecting the overall chemistry of the band or its chemistry of the band or its sound. These members can sound. These members can be considered peripherally be considered peripherally important to the makeup of important to the makeup of band. band.

Ironically, it was a young man named Brian Jones who was the Ironically, it was a young man named Brian Jones who was the originator, founder and initial leader of The Rolling Stones. His originator, founder and initial leader of The Rolling Stones. His role as the “primary focal point” was challenged because Mick role as the “primary focal point” was challenged because Mick Jagger did the singing and co-wrote their songs with Keith Jagger did the singing and co-wrote their songs with Keith Richards. Dejected, Brian Jones grew restless and left the band Richards. Dejected, Brian Jones grew restless and left the band shortly before his unfortunate death in 1969. Many younger fans shortly before his unfortunate death in 1969. Many younger fans don’t even know his name today. His role declined from that of don’t even know his name today. His role declined from that of primary to peripheral as the band became famous. primary to peripheral as the band became famous.

Primary Relationships: Primary Relationships:

Field …………………….……..………EventField …………………….……..………EventDark……...................……………..LightDark……...................……………..LightHarmony……….………….……..ContrastHarmony……….………….……..ContrastNegative……………….…….…….PositiveNegative……………….…….…….PositiveMotion………………….…….…….PositionMotion………………….…….…….PositionSimple………….……….………...ComplexSimple………….……….………...ComplexOrganic………………….………GeometricOrganic………………….………GeometricLow-Definition………...High-DefinitionLow-Definition………...High-DefinitionSubjective………………...…….ObjectiveSubjective………………...…….ObjectiveInformal…………………..…………FormalInformal…………………..…………FormalRomantic…………………….…...ClassicalRomantic…………………….…...Classical