I give my students subversive assignments. Projects have clearly defined goals, but the path to the finished product is sticky and ambiguous. Assignments like these are more difficult to teach but they build problem-solving skills and grow buckets of creativity.
One of my favorite assignments to give at the end of the semester is the Hideous Project. The Hideous assignment truly evaluates students’ understanding of the Elements and Principles of Design. Instead of asking students to make something interesting or to use the elements properly, I force them to misuse the elements of texture, line, and color, while using effective space and shape.
It’s always the students who think this is an easy assignment who get stumped once they try to execute it. The entire semester they have attempted to use the elements “properly”, but they have never considered that there is a way to misuse them. It’s a total brain f**k!
Students either submit something truly hideous, or they turn in the best work of the semester.
Assignment Details
hid·e·ous: ˈhidēəs/ 1.ugly or disgusting to look at.
For your final project you will use your knowledge of design to create a project that is hideous (see definition).
Below are a list of elements or principles that you should use poorly AND a list of elements and principles that you should use effectively. It should not be “so bad it’s good”. It should just be “bad”. You will be graded on your skill to manipulate the elements as instructed to create a work of art that is visually unpleasant to look at.
Materials: You can use any of the materials in your toolkit or any that we have studied this year. You may also buy special, hideous, supplies if you choose.
Elements to use effectively:
Space
Shape
Elements to use ineffectively:
Texture
Line
Color