The most conspicuous object in my room is undeniably the giant, bright yellow mug that sits next to my computer. I see it every day, drink from it every day, and set it aside whenever it is not in use. I saw it as a functional mug and not an object that was industrially designed, until now.
This mass-produced object of industrial design is monochromatic with different intensity in the color of yellow. The rhythmic pattern of circular yellow dots that encircles the mug and the handle conveys a sense of repetition. The dot patterns also slightly use gradation with the smaller circles at the bottom of the mug, and larger circles closer to the rim of the mug. Each dot conveys a theme of nature that includes the sun, which explains the incorporation of the dominant yellow color. The suns are depicted in a rather cartoon-like image with wavy lines representing the rays emanating from the sun, conveying a sense of movement. Each sun has an individualized face that displays a particular emotion such as sadness, happiness, or uncertainty. These faces, however, are very simply drawn, so it allows us to project ourselves into the image of the sun, making the mug more personable and relatable. Through the rhythmic repetition from the circles, the mug was able to bring unity with the variety of sun images. Although the mug has a formal balance due to its symmetry in form, the designs on the mug has an informal visual balance due to the differences in the images in each circle. The form of the mug, similar to an upside-down cone where the rim is wider than its base, determines the function and content of this mug. The size of the mug, its form, convinced me to bring it to college because it influences how much water I can pour into the mug, which is its content.
It is remarkable to note that humans are able to make so much judgments and analysis from a single insignificant object.
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