Explain it to me: Composed vs. Designed

[Scrooge]

I've been reading comics for as long as I remember but I am still a major ignomarus when it comes to the techniques and methods of these artists I like so much.

 

Earlier this week, I was doing more research into the polarizing figure that Jesse Marsh is. Sadly little is known, but, both Toth and Manning are on the record standing on the side of Marsh. Both emphasize that Marsh's success hangs on his sense of design. In particular, Manning traces the evolution of Marsh's design efforts.

 

Manning states:

 

"[..], there are glimmers of yet another trait, one in which this artist [Marsh] fairly shines ... design. In what is perhaps an oversimplification, comic book / strip artwork can be divided into two basic divisions: composed, and designed. It would take too long to define the difference between the two, but basically, Hal Foster's panels are superbly composed, while Chester Gould's show fine (thought perhaps unconscious) design. Our artist [Marsh] has a very fine sense of design."

 

So, can anyone illuminate further this difference between composed and designed? And, yes, I am looking at you Flex & Cat

[Flex Mentallo]

I'll be interested what Cat thinks, but my first thought is that composition includes the disposition of objects in space, and design is more pattern-oriented. But that is an imperfect differentiation and I can think of lots of examples which contradict it.

 

However design can also relate more to a certain look or style that is characteristic of the designer. Whereas composition is more about the integration of distinct elements, planes and dimensions. There are implications for time, light, color and space. The two are not necessarily completely distinct. They are not opposites but qualities - like charm and spin.

 

A good example of an artist who designed and composed in equal measure is Matisse, who flattened space, and used color as a compositional element. Somehow, the eye is always behind the spectacle lens, the goldfish in the bowl, even though flattened and simplified.

 

Fernand Leger simplifies and renders into design, yet always manages to make a face that looks back at you.

 

Basil Wolverton has a powerful sense of design based on the use of line, while arguably his sense of composition is somewhat limited. (makes no difference to our admiration of him.)

 

Interested in whether Cat, Sartre or RyanH agree with that!

[Scrooge]

Thanks for getting the ball rolling. I see exactly what you mean about Wolverton, btw.

 

Kirby: composer or designer?

[Flex Mentallo]

Thanks for getting the ball rolling. I see exactly what you mean about Wolverton, btw.

 

Kirby: composer or designer?

 

Composer, but with a fairly strong sense of design. His anatomical distortions are always evident, yet invariably seem to work in conveying a sense of dynamism.

[Scrooge]

Thanks for getting the ball rolling. I see exactly what you mean about Wolverton, btw.

 

Kirby: composer or designer?

 

Composer, but with a fairly strong sense of design. His anatomical distortions are always evident, yet invariably seem to work in conveying a sense of dynamism.

 

See this is where I need elucidation in discerning the difference between the two concepts. In the Jack Kirby Collector, Kirby is more often than not refered to as a master designer in the sense that Kirby designs / composes the entire page rather than single panel. This is where the two terms are at times interchangeably used which creates confusion. You say: Kirby composes the entire page. Others say he designs it. After reading your statement, I fall on your side: Kirby composed them well. Am I making progress?

[Flex Mentallo]

Thanks for getting the ball rolling. I see exactly what you mean about Wolverton, btw.

 

Kirby: composer or designer?

 

Composer, but with a fairly strong sense of design. His anatomical distortions are always evident, yet invariably seem to work in conveying a sense of dynamism.

 

See this is where I need elucidation in discerning the difference between the two concepts. In the Jack Kirby Collector, Kirby is more often than not refered to as a master designer in the sense that Kirby designs / composes the entire page rather than single panel. This is where the two terms are at times interchangeably used which creates confusion. You say: Kirby composes the entire page. Others say he designs it. After reading your statement, I fall on your side: Kirby composed them well. Am I making progress?

 

Well, others may disagree, but I'd say he composed rather than designed, but yes, the two terms are readily interchangeable, and in a manner of speaking, two halves of a whole!

 

Perhaps another take on it would be to say that designers subordinate the individual elements to the overall design, where a composer arranges the elements so as to highlight a particular element, or move the viewers eye around the composition. It's more in and out, more push me pull you, if that makes any sense.

 

Design incorporates empty space into the design. Composition activates space. The difference between a professional artist and an amateur is that a professional never leaves space empty unless with a purpose. The image reaches out to all four corners.

 

Easy to get tied in knots with this, and one can overanalyse!

[Scrooge]

The difference between a professional artist and an amateur is that a professional never leaves space empty unless with a purpose.

 

Well, let's hear what others have to chime in ... but by that definition above, I've seen a lot of amateurship GA artwork in my time

 

Thank you :hail:

[Cat-Man_America]

Using the original author's application of the words composition and design, I would describe GA artists like Lou Fine, Reed Crandall, Charles Moldoff, LB Cole and Mac Raboy as exemplifying compositionalists while Charles Biro, Joe Shuster, Fred Kida and CC Beck are examples of design specialists. Then there are artists whose widely varying styles seem to fall into both categories, such as Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Basil Wolverton, Jack Cole and Alex Schomburg (all of whom produced work that, to a greater or lesser degree, contain elements of composition and design relative to the kind of art required and/or the evolving skills of the artist).

 

Interesting discussion. I'll give this a bit more thought and may return to it later.