Unit 6 · Project 1
Notan Thumbnails (6)
Create 6 thumbnail sketches exploring Notan light-dark balance with different subjects.
Notan is about seeing light and dark as equal partners in a design — not figure and ground, but two shapes that define each other. In this project you'll create 6 thumbnail sketches (each about 3×3 inches) exploring Notan balance with different subjects: natural forms, geometric shapes, letters, animals, or abstract patterns. Each thumbnail should be pure black and white — no gray. The goal is to find a design where the dark shapes and the light shapes are equally interesting and balanced.
Objectives
- 1Create 6 thumbnail sketches, each approximately 3×3 inches
- 2All thumbnails must be pure black and white — no gray tones
- 3Explore at least 3 different subject types across your 6 thumbnails
- 4Identify your strongest thumbnail and explain why it works
Materials
- Black marker or ink
- White paper
- Ruler for thumbnail borders
- Visual journal
Tips
- Fill your shapes completely — no outlines, just solid black and white
- Flip your thumbnail upside down: if the dark shapes are still interesting, you have a strong Notan
- Avoid symmetry — asymmetrical Notans are usually more dynamic
- Think about the edges: where dark meets light is where the design lives