BLOCKING: STRUZAN GROUPING PART 2

For the next Struzan study, I wanted to focus on how and where to place characters within the lead character. Struzan has a few techniques for this, and I was able to articulate a few.

SUBSTITUTION

The first is substitution. This is a graphic design concept - replace a part and the whole still reads the same. For example, in the posters below, characters and vignettes replace the lead character’s shoulders, but because they follow his contours, it does not feel like the rest of the larger character is missing:

ALIGNMENT

The alignment concept follows the same structure as above, but you don’t have to replace parts of the larger character. You are placing smaller characters inside the larger character in ways where it’s directions and tangents align with the larger character:

INSIDE LEAD, NO EDGE BREAK

Along the same lines, sometimes literally, is the next concept: Inside Lead, No Edge Break. This is when all of the smaller characters and vignettes are placed inside the lead without breaking the edge of the larger character:

There is a small edge break with Chewbacca, but I decided it still applies:

INNER BOX

Continuing the theme of the previous concept is: Inner Box. The larger character contains an inner box where the smaller characters and vignettes reside: