Graphic Design lecture notes

Modernism seminar notes

OUD401: Critical Analysis, work from studio session

Critical Analysis

In the first session we were asked to bring in two pieces of graphic design we liked and two we disliked:

Dislike:

Like:

First of all we were split into groups and asked to write L and D on the back of each of our images, L for the likes D for the dislikes, we then had to place the images in the centre of the table. We were asked to swap tables and had to arrange another groups images into piles of Likes and Dislikes. It was interesting to see when we swapped back that everyone had placed almost all the likes and all the dislikes into the correct pile apart from the odd one or two!

We then gathered in studio three to discuss the way in which we analysed which images were good and which were bad. As a group we came up with a list of criterea which helped us all put them into their groups:

colour, layout, communication, visual content, non-visual content, function, quality of execution, legibility, audience, context, concept, message, media/method of production.

For the second part of the task we got into pairs and had to use the format DIET to analyse one of our own images. 

D- Describe

I- Interpret

E- Evaluate

T- Theories

 This was the image i chose. First of all we were asked to individually describe, and interpret our own image.

 

Describe -

A picturesque image, supported by a bad combination of type, colour and design. The type is placed unevenly which distorts the whole design 

Interpret - 

 The image is the first slide of a sales presentation. Has a theme of 'energy' illustrated by the power cables, the word 'power' and the power symbol within the word.

After completing this section of the task we had to both evaluate and theories each others images.

Evaluate - 

The image lacks a feeling of professionalism I dont think the image is particularly enjoyable to look at. Very little thought put into and a lack of skill

Interpret-

Change of font, improved skills, different layout and colour. The image needs re thinking.

OUGD401: Study Task 3: 500 word comparison

Compare and contrast the two images in relation to the following;

a) The choice and orginisation of font and style of illustration

b) The purpose and meaning of the image

c) The target/ potential audience of the image

d) The social and historical contexts relevant to the production of the image

The first image is 'The Uncle Sam Range (1876) advertising image by Schumacher & Ettlinger, New York'. The image is advertising a range of oven aimed at wealthy American men. The second image is a world war one propaganda poster by Savile Lumley (1915) aimed at all British men.

Looking at the choice and organisation of font, and style of illustration, both images have a similar style, which is reflective of the date in which each image was produced. Take the 'Uncle Sam image', a hand drawn illustrative style which reflects the date of the image and the printing methods available at the time, but adds to the (un)realistic representation which the advert is trying to convey across. The bold type style is that of a Wild West saloon, coloured gold, set at the bottom of the image, it symbolizes going forth and civilizing into the west, finding gold, flaunting their wealth and their power. The British poster, again a hand drawn style, much more simple but less detail. There isn’t a massive change in style 40 years on, but it’s clear to see the whole design and concept is much simpler. The image relies more on the text to portray the message, and the rest you have to work out for yourself. The font is a lot more formal than the American advertisement, it contrasts brilliantly with the high expectations in which the poster is putting forth to the audience, and fits with the wealthy representation of the British gentleman and his children.

The British poster shows a well-dressed upper class British male, sitting with his kids. The text along the bottom reads ‘Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War?’. The poster was published during the war, which gives the poster a future tense. The idea behind it would be to guilt trip the viewer, asking you directly and personally what you did in the Great War (The poster putting emphasis on the ‘you’), almost saying, if you are a part of this ‘Great War’ then you to could live this idyllic lifestyle of the upper class British citizen, with his proud kids. The propaganda poster displays a sense of pride and prestigious endeavour, which you can compare and contrast to the American advertisement which is littered with hints of their own pride and arrogance. This is evidenced through the detailed over-the-top imagery of the poster. The colours of the American flag are plastered all of the carpets and the walls. The clock displays the dates ‘1776’ and ‘1876’ showing their 100 years of independence. There is a black slave serving the cooked food for the American family, who has been portrayed very inferior to the American people. On top of Uncle Sam’s shoulder sits a golden eagle which symbolizes America. These examples and the others included In the advertisement are a way of America showing off their pride and their power and ability to advance industrially.

OUGD401: Richards session on the Russian Revolution

Postmodernism lecture notes

OUGD401: Context of Pratice: Study Task 1

I believe this image to be a piece of Graphic Design which is pretty bad. The choice of colour is quite horrible and doesnt contrast well at all! It's been constructed really pourly, with stock images not being professionally cut out, giving it a sense that it was thrown togther without any thought. The font isnt that nice and the text which informs you about this 'Blowout Sale' is really hard to read!

I consider this to be a good piece of graphic design! Its easy to connote its function, which is to advertise! The simple colours mix so well and the brilliant illustrative style is brilliant for the audience, which i believe to be young kids and teenagers! Its all centred  neatly and the overall graphic and type is really professional.

OUGD401: Study Task 2: Prospectus Analysis

We were given a supposed Leeds College of Art prospectus which we had to analyse, we had a small debate on why we thought the booklet had been poorly designed. Here were my opinions on the Prospectus.

First of all I thought it was too bland, there wasn't enough colour to get the audience interested. If i was to pick it up and read it i would relate it more to a prospectus for a business school, or even an instruction manual.

Seen as its promoting an art school the main focus seemed to be on how much information they could provide the reader with, where as really it should be focused on the quality of art work. You had to haul through atleast five pages of block text before actually coming to an image, and even the image was about a third of the size of text on the page.

The front cover has been poorly designed. It read, 'We Are The State Of The Art' in big block red font on a royal blue background. The colours didn't contrast and the choice and positioning of the font gave a feeling that it had been rushed.

I guess one strength which the prospectus did provied was the amount of important and useful information. Although it almost suffocated the rest off the images it was helpful and told you everything you needed to know about the college.

The images themselves were another downfall which i thought really could of been improved. The photography was very unprofessional, and seen as the college are going to want to show off their students to the potential students applying, i dont think the images did the college any justice.

Alphabet Soup; Typeface: Research

I was picked to partner up with Joe Harrison.

Joe is originally from Sheffield but has been living in Leeds the past year. He's really into his graffiti and that whole kind of underground urban culture.

I really like the idea of adding a graffiti style into my typeface, i think it's a brilliant start. Graffiti can be so broad so i could easily incorporate different styles and different line qualities.

He's a fan of hip hop which he's always listened to from an early age and is also very into Dub Reggae.

Dub Reggae is quite a distinct sub genre of music, on one hand it can be very chilled out, but then it can range to being quite alive and energetic. I believe i could mix fonts to represent this, maybe using quite a standard formal font to represent the chilled out side, then use an informal font for the energetic range.

 Joe also made clear that although he can be very unorganized he also likes to be very tidy. These two opposites could also play apart with the mixing of the two fonts, similar to the music.

 

Alphabet Soup; Visual Thinking: Research

I've been looking at how things melt and the forms in which an object can take whilst its melting or after its melted. During the process of melting the way in which a material can change from solid to a liquid can create some interesting shapes which i could incorporate into my letter design. Whether it be melting food or melting a material, such as plastic or even metal.

Here's a few examples of melting food and melted food:

When anything melts it changes into its liquid form, creating some interesting patterns which i could use in my designs. I think it's also interesting how when a material melts and then sets the shape is completely different to how it started. The way it sets can create an interesting form which could be interesting to use as a design!

As you can see some of the patterns which have been created by these materials when melting or set can be really diverse and interest, i like the random blobs and the over lapping, I'm going to incorporate this into my letter design.