Rowena Charm

Charm of rectilinear volumes Rowena Reed Kostellow, a pioneering design educator, spent half a century developing a methodology centered on the "structure of visual relationships" in art and design. Her work shaped a foundational curriculum that became the universal first-year framework for art and design students, emphasizing the exploration of three-dimensional abstraction. She was deeply committed to fostering visual literacy, aiming to sharpen artists' and designers' ability to perceive and create beauty with sincerity and purpose.  This philosophy is reflected in the exercise "Problem One: Rectilinear Volumes," where students group three distinct rectangular volumes—linear, planar, and volumetric—into a harmonious composition. The dominant volume is the focal point, complemented by a subdominant volume, while the smallest, subordinate volume introduces a third axis, enhancing the composition's three-dimensionality and balance.