CITY
ABSTRACTION
ACTIVITY PROMPT
Now that you’ve explored a spot in Riyadh and collected observations, it’s time to take what you saw and transform it into something new. Your goal: Create a mood board that captures the essence of the place you visited.
You will choose your medium:
- Canva
- Google Slides
- Your phone's photo editor (many let you create collages directly)
- Figma
ACTIVITY EXAMPLE
Site: Al-Masmak Fortress
Inspiration: Earthy tones, thick walls, repeating geometric patterns, calm atmosphere.
Description: "I wanted to show the feeling of strength and calm at Al-Masmak. I focused on the repeating triangle patterns I saw in the architecture and used brown tones to match the earthy walls. The thick lines and solid shapes give a feeling of protection, like being inside a fortress. I added a soft circle in the middle to represent the quiet center of the space."
30 min
1st
Reflect
Look back at your notes, sketches, and photos from the City Hunt. In your own words, write a short reflection: What shapes, patterns, and textures stood out to you? What colors dominated the space? What mood or story did this place give you? What surprised you or caught your attention? Write 5–6 sentences and save this as part of your submission.
5 min
2nd
Choose your medium
- Canva
- Google Slides
- Your phone's photo editor (many let you create collages directly)
- Figma
45 min
3rd
Artwork Design
Start with Shapes
- Add large geometric shapes that represent the structure of your site (rectangles for buildings, arches for doors, circles for open areas).
Choose a Color Palette
- Use colors inspired by the place—are they sandy and warm? Metallic and shiny? Natural and soft?
- You can eyedrop colors from a photo you took
45 min
3rd
Artwork Design
Add Patterns
- Use simple shapes (lines, dots, zigzags) or import pattern images (if digital).
- Try to repeat patterns where you saw them in the site (walls, gates, ground, etc.).
Layer in Textures
- Use cross-hatching, scribbles, or smudging to suggest surfaces like stone, fabric, glass, etc.
- You can use photos of textures
- Add transparency to blend textures into your shapes.
45 min
3rd
Artwork Design
Adjust Composition
- Move things around to create balance.
- Try overlapping or rotating shapes to add movement.
Add a Title or Small Caption (Optional)
- You can include a short word or phrase that reflects the mood or meaning of your piece.
5 min
4th
Export your artwork and submit!
City Abstraction
Use your site observations—shapes, colors, textures, and mood—and transform them into an abstract mood board that captures the feeling and essence of the place. This isn’t about copying what you saw—it's about expressing it visually in a creative way.