Implied Motion in Design

Motion is made up of three Dondis Visual language elements; direction, dimension and movement. This picture shows implied movement, meaning that this image shows two fighters in action, however it is really just a still sculpture. Because this movement implied, one gets the illusion of actual motion. This type of implied movement is universal, meaning everyone who looks at it sees the same thing: A Centaur and a Man in battle. Based on what we see in real life, the viewer is lead to believe that what they are seeing is actually moving before them.

This image is another great example of implied movement. These two men appear to be knee deep, chopping through water. In reality, these are two stone sculptures that aren't moving at all. They don't even HAVE feet. Where do they think they're going? Nowhere, they're made of stone. To the viewer, it appears as though actual movement is taking place, however it is only implied. ("Implied: suggested, but not actually shown" ). It can be related back to the Gestalt Law of Continuation, Dondis Guidline (balance/imbalance), and the Dondis Element of Movement. What all of these ideas have in common is the idea of what we perceive is actually not a reality.