Week 2: Top-Down Visual Processing

(via www.studiotoogood.com | Tom Dixon)

The low-level features of this image includes the red-orange colors dispersed around the frame. The shiny texture of the upholstery leads the eye directly to the square piece in the lower left corner, and the red accents of the sticks become the signal indicators. The top-down attention favors the red signals leading the eye to move across the frame, vertically and diagonally. Following the red signals creates a sequence of eye movements along the frame, denoting dynamic patterns beginning from the fixation on the red square. After the eye has followed all the red signals, the eye is then lead to the juxtaposing presence of the circular mirror above the red square. This presents another low-level feature of basic geometric shapes as an intrusion of the initial focus on color. The circle and square act as an equilibrium in the midst of a predominantly linear frame.