Monday, May 5, 2014

Final Project Beginning Evaluation


Before beginning the design process, take time to write a 1-2 page (single-spaced) paper detailing your evaluation of why the old brochure needs to be redesigned, and what changes you plan to make. The paper should reflect what you have learned about type via class discussions and your readings. 

Looking at the original camp brochure, it is obvious that there are many elements all over the page. There doesn't seem to be a constant layout throughout either. The hierarchy is all over the place when looking at this brochure, I am not really sure where to look first which causes a huge distraction. With all of the different colors that are used throughout the design, it is difficult to keep track of what is what and how every thing relates to each element on the page. The grid that is used seems to be in thirds, but then there is a box that separates and create a 4 column grid and it throws everything off. Having body text in different colors reduces the readability throughout the brochure. The headlines and sub-headlines are easily readable given the colors, but the body text should not follow in the same color. All of the different boxes throughout the page cut things up throughout the whole design, it gives off a feeling that nothing relates within the page, just as all of the colors on the page do. 
The first large clump of body text is the only part that enlarges the first letters of each paragraph. Having this element as part of the design throws everything else off. If it is done in one paragraph, then it should be constant throughout, or in this case, not at all. 
All of the different colors incorporated throughout cause a distraction because they aren't really colors that work well together. One main aspect of the brochure that doesn't work because of the colors is the fourth page where there is red writing on a yellow background, and black writing on an orange background. To begin, all of these backgrounds have been made into their own boxes and it really doesn't allow for the text to feel like it is all talking about the same thing. The second problem is that the colors are a reminder of other aspects of life rather than the summer camp that is being talked about. Red on yellow is like McDonalds or ketchup and mustard and it doesn't seem very welcoming for the camp, just as the orange and black is like halloween which is in the fall. 
After looking further into the brochure, it is recognizable that the cover is covered in text. Having so much text on the front is too much and doesn't really draw the viewers eye. It allows for someone to want to skip right over it because of the excessive amounts of text. 
Looking at all of the issues within this first brochure, it is clear that many changes need to be made. The text needs to be constant throughout the brochure allowing for all headlines to be the same, along with all sub-headlines and all body text. Grids are going to be a huge part of this project and it is really important to make sure that all elements of the page are placed properly and spaced evenly. The grids that are used on one page should be used throughout all of the pages. Another major issue that needs to be reworked for this brochure is making sure that the text is placed in such a fashion that it doesn't lose the viewers attention or interest in the summer camp that is being presented. Hierarchy is also a huge element to look at, and having consistent headlines, sub-headlines, and body text, along with a proper grid system will allow for the hierarchy to work in a positive fashion. The colors that are chosen for the remake of this brochure should be kept to a minimal amount so that every color isn't present. The colors need to all work together and work with the mood that is trying to be portrayed through the information. The body text should be kept simple and the font should be chosen so that it is legible to all ages. There should also be no borders around different text elements, there is no need for the text to be broken apart, so boxes are one thing that really needs to be eliminated from the original brochure. With all of the changes, it is hopeful that the brochure will allow all information to relate along with the colors and pictures chosen. All elements within this brochure should be simple and something that makes the viewer want to keep looking through it and something that allows them to know that they could potentially be signing their children up for a fun, safe, summer camp. 

Monday, April 21, 2014

Improving Past Work

Throughout this course I have grown in many ways and having critiques in class has allowed for me to learn even more and be more open with my ideas. Working with a parter, as well, allows for me to have more ideas of how to make my designs the strongest that they can be. This course has really taught me that designs are never finalized and always open for improvement, which I think is one of the most important aspects to realize about design and the future that it is leading someone to.

MP1 -
Looking back at my own work with my partner, it was easy to talk through what could have been differently and some of the major areas to work on. A huge area that needs to be looked further at and changed is to create a strong visual hierarchy that includes contrast with text and images. It was also important to realize that if the images aren't working, then to create something that works really well with the text alone. The paragraphs within this design should be kept shorter and shouldn't include hyphenations. With these paragraphs, it is also important to watch for widows. Another huge aspect to watch for in this design was to make sure that all justification is consistent and that nothing is justified or centered, and with the text, watching the sizing and spacing is also really important to watch for along with kerning, especially with larger text.


MP2 -
When looking at project two together it was possible to see that with my comps that were first created, I needed to include more forms of the font family that I was given. The comp that included all different symbols in the background, I need to fade them a little more and change them from one color to multiple colors that are included in the railway system. By doing this and adding contrast I was incorporating parts of the fonts history into the poster in such a subtle way. It was also easy to see that along with MP1, within this project I had to and still have to focus on alignment of all text throughout the poster and that it remains consistent, and to really work with hierarchy and contrast so that the poster makes the most sense.


MP3 -
By MP3, I felt much stronger with my design skills, but my partner and I were still able to find different aspects of my poster that could be worked on further. Throughout one of my designs, it was important to watch for the tension between the photo of the artist and the picture of his artwork that I used. This poster design, along with my other two designs, it was still really important for me to watch the text justification throughout the whole design and to make sure that it remained consistent. There was a part of the poster that didn't make sense when looking at hierarchy and the format of the text, so it was important to realize that and to make those changes so that the order of the information made the most sense. Looking at my original third comp, it was important to create something that tied both halves of the poster design together.