What Is A Line?: Representation of Constellations.

This morning, I spent a few hours experimenting with different representations of my quick, illustrative constellation designs.

I tried different symbols to represent the stars; crosses, circles, asteriks, triangles...

...I also tried designing different connections to the feature stars within the constellations- creating the "line" of the brief descriptor- the line that is created mentally as a visual "dot-to-dot" of astronomy.

Drawing these designs, I felt quite inspired by the numerous possibilities and design developments- though kept the drawings numbers fairly limited so as not to loose track for my design intentions. Through my design context (http://s-wilson1013-dc.blogpsot.com) I researched embrioded constellations by a designer named minature rhino- I really liked the way she used running stitch to represent the "invisible line" between them- implying the line that is mentally, and not visually represented in the constellations. I decided to maintain this visual effect with the crosses (representing the stars) in the designs below...the first three constellations, andromeda, apus and atila...

...However, when I drew them connected by the dotted lines, I felt it looked a little child-like, and worried that if I persued my design ideas to create a constellation map (featuring all 88 constellations) it may get rather busy and cluttered... and returned back to a more subtle and simplistic approach I had used in my original design drawings...

...I much prefer this style- looking far more design-forward, crisp and clean- wouldn't look too fussy with several on a page, and an interesting balance between the thicknesses of line- maintains interest without being OTT.

...A quick experiment with the same constellations, but no lines connecting them. I really like the aesthetic outcome- but it completely defies my brief. As I'm supposed to be informing people about constellations- I wouldn't expect them to be familiar with the formations beforehand (or not to a precise level). Interesting patterns could be made, but not entirely appropriate this time.

I wanted to see how this design style would appear in a series, where it would suit all of the constellations, or whether it was a rare coicidence for the few I selected. 

I quickly sketched up the 12 zodiac constellations (capriconus, aquarius, pisces, aries, taurus, cancer, leo, gemini, virgo, libra, scorpius and sagittarius) to gauge a visual outcome and was pleased with the results...