PageKit Oct 07

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Project 01 Nature

Procedure: Create a design in hues based upon the tonal composition found in nature. First select a color scheme. For example, choose a color scheme (ANALOGOUS, COMPLIMENTARY, SPLIT) and its variations of tints and shades, as well as variations of grayed hues (tones).

Week 1       -select a natural phenomena and analyze the color aspect (ex. forest)
-collect the support (color samples) using various sources- photography, scanning, sketchbook drawings
Week 2       -bring the evidence in the class for review
-use your palette to generate a design (related to the source)
Week 3       -present the process, research and design proposal

RESEARCH Natural resources, processes, bio-mimicry, indigenous art, camouflage, pigments Research coloration and patterning of insects, tropical birds, snakes, and/or tropical fishes, beach, skies, forest, etc

Some useful links on nature as inspiration
Leonardo’s water studies http://witcombe.sbc.edu/water/artleonardo.html
LINKS Navajo carpets   http://canyonart.com/rugs.htm
African textiles http://www.adire.clara.net
Biomimicry Institute http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/
Nature inspired websites http://www.studio7designs.com/blog/
Masters and nature http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/06/20/color-inspiration-from-the-masters-of-painting/
Butterflies color schemes http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/06/01/colorful-beauty-in-nature-butterflies/

SKETCHBOOK- Photograph or draw examples of color palette from your environment. Pay attention to micro and macro environments; natural and man-made. Collect samples of materials and colors in nature and put them together in a form of the color collage. Bring in examples (or photos) of natural color palettes, i.e.: plants, stones, earth tones, etc. Do color sketches analyzing the form and color relationship.

Procedure: Create a personally significant design based on romantic (Dionysian) compositional design strategy using color and pattern based upon the patterning and coloration found in nature. You may combine patterns from different species or phenomena, and exaggerate coloration to create striking color harmony. Use mixed media to produce the final proposal (you may include painting, collaged papers, drawing, etc.)

Project guidelines
INNOVATION- in this self-guided study, you will use nature as inspiration to crate an innovative design, which best reflects your lifestyle and relationship to nature. Please focus on the aspect in the environment you find most intriguing. Make in-depth study of the resource and bring several proposals (brainstorm, thumbnails, collage). You design proposal should reflect the source (for example butterfly may be used to design a cell phone).

Test -Using the drawings, photo collages, and color studies, investigate the different color phenomena. Explore how color and form can be used to communicate what you learn from nature. How diverse uses of colors can offer multiple interpretations?
Test your proposal in B&W (no chromatic value) and using all colors (expanded palette)

TERMS OF CRITICISM
• Study of the color resources in the environment
• What generated the palette?
• Relationships between natural and chosen palette
• Sensations, rhythms, and spatial structures formed through design process
• What emotions are evoked? Innovations?
• How do the colors impact the balance and unity of the piece?

Project 02 Signage

Process
Week 1
Find and document 5+ examples of icons and symbols in graphic communication. Note location found and context of use (try to determine if audience is a factor in whether the form is iconic/sign or symbolic.) Include at least one indexical sign. Please read PDF “sign, index & symbol”
Exercise: Translate objects into icons and/or symbols that share a common design language and work as a series/system. Reﬁne your design and bring the icons/symbols
Research assignment (2 students)
Next week: bring examples of signs for review in next class

Week 2
Construct a series of drawings and collages that analyze, interpret, and abstract the given form into its essential components. Create Black & White examples, and then explore your analysis through color. Explore the notion of figure-ground relationship within the image. Consider contour line drawings as a means of grouping areas within the image.
Draw a space, or use the photo in which inhabitation and human scale combine with abstract composition to achieve an objective purpose and present the visualization concept.

Week 3
Present the project as a response to the needs of human inhabitation, and the needs of the observer/visitor for experiencing the space.

Issues to focus on / study:
• Consider how you will develop a relationship between the space and signage
• How do the information graphics relate to the usage of the space
• How do the materials used in the project/proposal establish specific relationships between
the built architectural forms and space

PRESENTATION FORMAT
Signage: please make two (identical) signs in two versions: one in B&W and one in color; be free to choose materials of your choice (transparency, plastic, print, paint, collage, etc)

Concept draft: make a rough rendering of the space with a focus on information graphics (color coded space) or use a photograph (digital mockup) to present signage

Research: information graphics, signage, symbol, pictograms, data visualization
Information graphics http://colorusage.arc.nasa.gov/
Information aesthetics http://infosthetics.com/

TERMS OF CRITICISM
• Conceptual/compositional analysis of the pictogram/symbol
• Evidence of the qualities of space implied by the work
• Representation of important visual messages, composition or work, and definition of planes and volumes and their relationships to the original/source
Notions of ambiguity, complexity and contradiction are valid qualities. Some works are open to various interpretations. Are there alternate solutions to this project?

SKETCHBOOK Collect images of icons, signs & symbols – trace and analyze. Collect data visualization concepts of representation (mind maps, networks, brainstorm concepts)

Project 03 Branding

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Create a corporate ID package based on color studies (schemes); adapt design to a size, space and media:
• Consider how your design changes or evolves in response to particular requests/conditions
• Consider how the color reflects company’s strategy
• How does color affects legibility and readability (in color and B&W, using various media)
• How is design affected by the scale & size and location of graphics

Useful links
http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2008/08/18/design-and-branding-trends-olympic-games/
http://www.slideshare.net/locomotioncreative/branding-with-color-presentation

FINAL PRESENTATION
Your final project proposal will be made of several distinct products:
1.    Logo- examples in B&W and full color, 2D & 3D
2.    ID communication package- letterhead, business card and envelope, banner
3.    Building model- color scheme, logo, environment (preferably 3D model)
4.    Other- presentation space, web presence (conceptual renderings)

Final work will include both graphics and 3D model. All graphics must be executed in color, using materials that will best suggest design conception (transparent, reflective, etc)

Project 04 advertising

PROJECT SCENARIO (“real-life” situation)
You are a graphic designer working for an advertising agency. A corporation for which you designed the Identification Package (project 03) has approached your agency to design an ad campaign to promote their products/services. The client would like to see 2 uniquely different concepts based on a benefit to the consumer. The client will then sign off on one of the roughs for final production. Please use company’s logo and ID previously designed (project 03).

The client would like to use the following advertising formats:

1) Black and white newspaper ad (measuring 54 column inches) learn about newspaper ads
http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/tech/column_inches/col_inches.htm

2) Full color magazine ad (measuring 7.75" x 10.5")  

INSPIRATION
http://www.frederiksamuel.com/blog/2006/08/lego-3.html
http://abduzeedo.com/35-creative-advertising-campaigns
http://www.adcracker.com/creativeideas/Advertising_Techniques.htm

You will collaborate-work with your teammates on research, idea exploration, and concept development. Each student will individually submit thumbnails/ideas/sketches to the class review, and choose 2 concepts to develop into 2 tight roughs. Once the “art director” has approved the roughs, the “client” will select one for the final comp.

A tight comprehensive that simulates the final black and white newspaper ad and full color magazine ad will need to be developed for the “client”. The “client” has asked that it be presented via the Internet.

You have to make sure that the job is scheduled appropriately, prints correctly and all electronic files are configured correctly. The final comprehensive designs will need to simulate the final printed pieces as closely as possible.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT- phases
Complete project research
Define the target audience
Define the client need
Develop thumbnails
Develop rough layouts
Produce the digital comp.
Create all native files (raster and vector images) using Illustrator and Photoshop
Assemble text and images using a page layout program
Make appropriate revisions
Create a PDF version of the final design
*Final presentation will include the binder with notes/clippings/research from the course

EMD: color concept

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