Week #5: Lab Assignment 4-Example #2

So this image is representing "It's raining cats and dogs." I am pretty new to photoshop, and I have been struggling with trying to figure out how to use some of the components. So this image is kind of basic, but I still think it manages to deliver the metaphor effectively. I started with a background of real rain, and then found cartoonish like images of different types of cats and dogs. I rotated the cats and dogs to make it look more like they were actually falling down with the rain.

WEEK #5: Lab Assignment 4-Example #1

First I have to say that I really enjoyed this assignment. I thought it was really interested to try to interpret all the different metaphors into a design without actually being able to use any of the words. I am hoping that the next few examples I blog about over this week will be pretty easy to interpret.

This first example represents the metaphor "Time is Money". I found the background image through a google search of "time". When I saw this image, I just knew this was what I wanted to start with as the background. I thought this would easily be interpreted as representing time. Then I had to figure out how to incorporate money and how show the equivalency between both. The red equal sign contrasts with the white and black of the clock and is commonly understood as meaning "is". Then, I found an image of money, placed it close to the equal sign, and felt that this metaphor could be easily interpreted as "Time is Money".

WEEK #4: The Sleek Chair

So after my last post, I decided to search for a chair that, in my opinion, had an excellent design. I came across this chair and immediately fell in love. The sleek, modern industrial design draws me in, and I would purchase this chair if I saw it in a store. If you haven't noticed by now, I'm a huge fan of simplicity, minimalism, and modern architecture and design. This chair is right up my alley in my design taste and preferences. I guess the only thing that concerns me is how comfortable the chair is when you actually sit on it, but you know what they say: "Pain for beauty!"

WEEK #4: The Potato Chair

I'm not really sure what the idea was behind the design in this chair. Quite frankly, it is extremely ugly. It looks terribly uncomfortable, and I'm not sure who would even want to sit on it. It reminds me somewhat of disfigured, rotting potato with sprouts coming out the side. I'd definitely say the creator of this chair was most likely going for an abstract look, but I think he or she might of went a bit extreme from a design standpoint. However, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so others may interpret the design of this chair in a completely different light.

WEEK #4: The Cluttered Ad

I couldn't find a larger dimension of this image, but both sides are supposed to be advertising a supplement that is supposed to enhance an athlete's performance. I selected to talk about this image because I felt like this was a terrible example of advertising concepts as well as design principles. As a whole, this advertisement appears extremely cluttered and very distracting; I'm not really sure where to look first. There is entirely way too much information crammed into this advertisement. It would probably take the average person over 10 minutes to get through the entire ad. If I were to make some changes, I would go through the information, picking out the most crucial selling points of the product, and include only that information in the ad. This would take away some of the clutter, and allow the ad to be much more organized and to have a better flow for the audience.

WEEK #4: The speaker

I came across this image of a speaker on a website where I was looking up different audio engineering products. I wanted to share this image because I really liked the overall design of the speaker. The craftsmanship and design is very simple and modern, yet somewhat retro at the same time. I think this speaker would fit not only in a recording studio in the 70's or 80's, but also in a modern downtown loft or apartment of today. I find is fascinating when you can incorporate good, aesthetic design in something where the main purpose is not really what it looks like, but the functionality is provides as well.

WEEK #3: The World

I found this image and was immediately impressed--just the colors and layering are amazing in itself. I'm guessing this might be someone's interpretation of the world. You have many different images being represented here: clothes, a vacuum, a stroller, a dog, chairs, shoes, and other various types of furniture and items. I think this is interesting because these are things that are found all over the world, and in some ways, make the world go round. I think the artist of this image took a very interesting, yet complex approach with the layering and color scheme of the images. All in all, I have to say its a fascinating composition and another example of good design.

Week #3: Lab Assignment #3 Example 3

In slide 7, I began with just the idea of the phrase “cloud 9”, then I decided to add an actual cloud to the words. After brainstorming companies that could be named this, I first decided to go with an airline company. I thought the name would be catchy and would make sense. However, after viewing the final product, I still feel like the logo looks a bit “cartoonish” for an airline company. It probably needs to be a touch more modern and sleek; probably take out the cloud altogether.

So in slide 8, I tried to branch out a bit and decided to change the font and lettering to where this logo would brand a spa. I think the graphics and font style make much more sense when applied to a spa rather than an airline. Most people who are on “cloud 9” are relaxed, carefree, and on top of the world—similar feelings you would encounter at a spa.

WEEK #3: Lab Assignment #3 Example 2

In the fourth slide, I wanted to create a logo for a film company, so I started with the word “ENCORE” as the name of the production company. From there, I began adjusting the colors and styles of the lettering. I added a 3-D effect on the lettering in combination for a soft black glow around the edges. After that, I got the idea to replace the “O” with an actual reel of film. So I placed a graphic in the background with letters slightly overtop, creating a layered effect. Lastly, I added the lettering at the bottom of the graphic to brand the film production company.

In the fifth slide, again all I changed was the letting in the bottom portion of the graphic. Here, I decided to brand this logo as a banquet/catering company. My thoughts were banquets are events that are usually some type of “production”, like a wedding or a corporate event. So I thought the visual representation worked well when it was applied to this type of company.

I think out of both slides, the fourth slide works the best with the literal meaning of the graphics. “Encore” is a word commonly associated with the film industry and movies, so it is more appropriate for this graphic to brand the company. Also, placing the reel of film as the “O” is another creative aspect that drives the literal interpretation of this graphic.

WEEK #3: Lab Assignment #3 Example 1

In the first slide, I attempted to design a logo for a photography company. I wanted something edgy, modern, with a “hip” use of color; something that immediately draw you into the design of the logo. I used different shapes and angles to come up with the separate letting of the word “FLASH”, and used different color schemes throughout each letter to spice things up. I also added a lighting bolt in the background to assist as a visual aid to the word “FLASH”. If you can see, I also snuck in a second lighting bolt as the “L”. Lastly, I placed the word “PHOTOGRAPHY” within the logo to help brand it as well as give meaning to the overall design.

In the second slide, I changed the wording so that this logo would represent a completely different organization, in this case a professional soccer league. I thought this design could be applied to any kind of sports league because of the colors, and the modern edginess, color, and design in the logo.

In my opinion, I think the branding in the first slide works the best because most people associate a flash with a camera. So, the fact the a photography company would have this kind of logo would completely make sense. This logo works well for the soccer league, but the logistical ease of the association between logo and company/institution works much better with the photography concept.

Week #3: The Stove Disaster

This picture is hilarious! I guess most people are used to seeing a stove with four burners, and this one only has three. I would say this is an example of bad design because it doesn't maximize the total space on top of the stove. I guess if you were in a small apartment, this would make sense, but use the maximum amount of space available on top of the stove. The two front corners are just wasted space.

WEEK #3: Good Design

I really think this picture is great, not only because it is good design, but because of the message it sends. Good design should be felt by whoever experiences it; if not, it's not good design. Good design is something that should inspire, trigger passion, please, and satisfy. Good design is something that is felt within; when you experience good design, your emotions embody the design so you can feel it. If design doesn't make you feel anything, than it's just not design.

Week #2: The Mouse

Found this image online today. Thought it was a very interesting design for a mouse. Not very "typical" of what most people would expect a mouse to look like. I personally like this design; it's sleek, modern, and kind of futuristic. This mouse is very aesthetically pleasing to the eye--it has very smooth contours, and the illuminated stripe going down the center adds a very nice touch. I imagine the strip divides the mouse into right click and left click options. Only thing I would change is make it wireless!!

Week #2: Lab Assignment #2 Example 3

In original slide 11, I used 3 basic shapes to attempt to send a message to the viewer: “I love the sun.” In slide 12, I altered the color of the heart because most people associate the color red and the image of the heart. I though adding color would enhance the meaning of the symbolism. In slide 13, I repositioned all of the shapes for a different visual effect. Repositioning the shapes from top to bottom may help the viewer interpret the symbolism easier. In slide 14, I used color to place more emphasis on the symbolism and overall meaning of the message. These are universally accepted colors for each of these symbols, adding a greater understanding to the message the symbolism is attempting to convey to the viewer.

WEEK #2: Logos

I have to admit that I don't like the bottom design. I was doing some research on logos for another class, and I came across this logo for the Olympic Games. First of all, I don't really understand how this design has anything to do with sports, london, or the olympics in general. If it wasn't for the 5 rings, it would be impossible to actually tell what this logo is attempting to represent. Second, I don't like the color scheme--it's very plain and boring. I would probably use a white or black background, and then add some color to make the logo look much interesting. I would also represent the rings in their actual real colors. Third, the design of the logo needs to be altered in some way that relates to the Olympics or where it's being hosted.

Two great examples of good logo design I found are pictured just above the bad design. I like these logos because you get a sense of the culture of the host country. These two logos have excellent representation and help the viewer identify with the images and the information trying to be conveyed.

Week #2: Lab Assignment #2 Example 2

In original slide 6, I created a basic sign that is supposed to inform the viewer to shut the door. I included text and an image of a door I created using basic shapes. In slide 7, I placed more emphasis on the image of the door by creating a door frame on which the door would be closed. I also placed an arrow within the frame for additional visual guidance. In slide 8, a small changed was made with the sizing and placement of the arrow. I think this had minimal visual impact. In slide 9, I again changed the sizing and placement of the shape. I also placed the text within the door frame, and changed the color of both the arrow and text to red. I think this slide accomplishes the greatest visual impact using very few changes related to color, size, and placement. All of these aspects place the greatest emphasis on the message being sent to the viewer.

WEEK #2: Lab Assignment #2 Example 1

In original slide 1, I created squares with squares that regresses the eye towards the center of the slide,somewhat creating a dimensional affect on perspective. In slide 2, I placed a black gradient in the background to emphasize the center regression of the squares. In slide 3, I placed black squares within the blue squares instead of using a gradient to determine which effect placed more visual emphasis on the center regression. In slide 4, I used a slight visual effect combination from slides 2 and 3 to place the greatest visual emphasis on the center regression. In my opinion, I believe slide 4 has the greatest visual impact because it combines minimal visual changes to achieve the greatest visual emphasis.

WEEK #2: Architecture

I found this image online today and found it to be absolutely fascinating. I love to look at interesting architecture (I'd be an architect in a second life), and I think these stairs represent excellent design. The stairs are modern, simple, and the design is very minimal. I tend to lean towards being a minimalist, so I love the design of these stairs. The only thing I would add is a hand rail on the wall, just to have some guidance and security when going up the stairs. I do ponder how sturdy the stairs are, or how much weight they can actually support. I also love the design of the desk and the hardwood floors. I think this room has a very natural look and overall feeling of minimalism.

WEEK #1: Lab Assignment #1 Example 5

In my last example, I tried to again keep a lot of the main design concepts of the page intact, but just make some subtle changes to improve the appearance and navigation. I took the top half of the page, including the logo and graphics, and expanded it to take up more space, making it easier to read. I also switched the subcategories with the information about the company; I thought it would be more appropriate for that type of information to be displayed right below that logo because it helps the user identify with the branding of the page. Next, I added multiple spots to place images on the left hand side of the page because most customers will most likely want to view the product and also view images of the store. On the right hand side, I placed the "Men's" and "Ladies's" categories (with subcategories) right next to each other, making it easier for customers to locate and browse through the products.

WEEK #1: Lab Assignment #1 Example 4

Alright, example #4 was a doozey! When I first came across this page, I highly considered not attempting this because I thought it would be way too difficult. But after giving it some thought, I came up with a few good ideas that I thought would drastically improve the overall appearance and navigation of this page. The first thing I noticed was that on both sides of the page, there was a lot of repetition among graphics, links, and information. So I decided to reduce that down to just the left side of the page, allowing more room for the information in the center. I also noticed there were many links that could be categorized into groups, so at the top of the page, I placed these categories with the option to scroll over them, showing all the subcategories. Instead of having bulk, scrunched up information in the center, I expanded the center portion more to the right, allowing for more information and more pictures to be displayed, and also making it less visually straining on the user.

WEEK #1: Lab Assignment #1 Example 3

In example 3, I was really excited to get my hands on this, mainly because this is such a poorly designed website. The top image shows the "before", and clearly this page is lacking content, organization, and overall good design. It's hard to understand where the user is supposed to go in this page, the links are difficult to read, and at first, I couldn't even tell the purpose of the page. But after digging deeper, I realized it was a website for a college in another country, so I came up with a few ideas to make this page function better.

First, at the top of the page, I added 3 images that would constantly change. Most potential college students that are checking out college websites want to see images of students and campus facilities. To the left of that, I put the college logo and it's slogan, much larger and easier to read. The two rectangles on the left side of the page would display links to different categories throughout the website, showcasing the university's many features. And lastly, keeping with somewhat of an abstract design from the original website, I took the links surrounding the circle and scattered them in a slightly more visually organized fashion. I thought that each time the user would scroll over one of these links, it could change color, size, or display something visually interesting.

WEEK #1: Lab Assignment #1 Example 2

In example #2, I actually like some of the design concepts of this website. I thought the color scheme and some of graphics used were very modern, and they immediately attracted me into the website. However, that doesn't make up for the fact that 1/3 of the right side of the page is completely left blank. There are obvious spacing issues, as well as cluttered links at the top of the page. Also, the logo of the library is shoved into the top left hand corner, making it hard for the user to see the relation of this website.

In my changes, I rearranged a few shapes and added an info box that help reduce clutter and expanded the overall page. Instead of the search function being at the bottom, I added it to the top; I felt like this was necessary being that this is a library page. I moved the categories from the top to the left side of the page, making it easer for the user to navigate through the website. And lastly, I expanded the logo over the entire top of the page, allowing the user to identify with the library more quickly and much easier.

WEEK #1: Lab #1 Assignment Example 1

So this is my before and after of my first example of Lab #1. I chose to work with 5 poorly designed sites and try improve their overall appearance. In the "before" image, everything is very cluttered on the page; there is no organization, and it seems to be extremely confusing for the user. So in attempting to improve this site, I first tried to stick with the idea of the using the product as clickable links to display information. But instead, I organized them at the top of the page, and added and large rectangular information box. Each time the user clicks on a different link at the top of the page, the information will be displayed in the lower portion of the page on the rectangle. I tried to stick with the same color usage and use minimal shape changes, and I think the page looks much more organized and it a lot easier to use.