Week 15 - Rinder

Before beginning this class, I heard that it was challenging, yet a fun and creative class. I would have to completely agree. It was challenging in the respect that I had never used any Adobe design program before. However I did find this a very enjoyable class. As a journalism major, the most creative I usually get is with sentence structure or story ideas. I really liked the design aspect of this class, it was something a little different for me.

I also feel that this class taught me a lot about reading, interpreting, and designing graphics, advertisements, and logos. I found the gestalt principles and color information especially interesting. Although I may not have a future in advertising or graphic design, I think this class gives important background for anyone person going into print or web media.

Website Design - Rinder

Subject Choice:

I chose to use the same nonprofit event that I used for my poster design project. I also used a similar color pallet to the one used in my poster: shades of pink.

Layout and Design:

I used the 16-collumn grid to create my design. For my layout, I used the pages: Home, Sponsors, About, Class Info, Contact us, and Class Schedule. I put these in a navigation bar across the top of the page for easy visibility. The title of the event, Pilates for Pink, is across the top of the navigation bar.

I kept the overall design of my website very clean. On most of the pages, I used a rounded, white box to hold the text. I included one picture on each of the pages (besides the Sponsors page, and the Class Schedule page). I used a smaller rounded-edge box to hold the title of the pages. On some of the pages, I overlapped the text box and the picture to give it a sense of layering and dimensionality.

I added the Facebook and Twitter logo since most websites today have some form of social media access on their websites. I also added Privacy Policy, Copyright Information, and Help across the bottom of the website.

Typefaces:

For the title of the web page, I kept the letters lowercase to make it seem approachable and low-key. The event is Pilates, which as a form of relaxation and strength training, should be relaxed, and so should the type. I put a gradient on the text to give it a more 3-dimensional look.

I used the same font, Myriad Pro, in different sizes and weights to give the website visual continuity. I thought the font, a sans serif, would work well on the web. It is easy to read and had a large family to work with.

The color of the navigation bar text is white in its original state, and the same color (R252, G195, B234) as the webpage’s background in the mouse-over state. The text in the white text boxes are is the same color as the background of the navigation bar (R237, G115, B119). This also gave the website visual continuity.

Web Hierarchy - Rinder

New York Magazine's website, I think, has a great hierarchy. Across the top is a navigation bar leading the user to potential pages they can visit. When the mouse scrolls over a page, a drop-down bar appears giving the user even more specific options within that subject page. Then, in the fashion page, for example, there is a sidebar navigation with more subheads. This is in a different container than the main text on the page so the user knows it's a navigation box.

The light blue text shows the user that these will open a new article or link.

Rinder - Magazine Project

Story and Layout:

The story I chose was something that I wrote. I chose it because I felt it was an article that lent itself to good visuals. I called my magazine ‘Adore,’ because I felt that it represented what the article was about. My cover design has the word love in several different languages. The headline of the article is in red, a different typeface and size to make it stand out.

The first spread uses the same font from the cover in the headline. I chose the red, brick color for the stripes from a picture on the second page. I carried the color onto the second page for continuity. I also used the font from the headline for my pull-quote, and drop-caps.

On the second page, my sidebar is a collection of three stories from abroad that were not included in the article.

Choice of Typefaces:

I wanted the flag of my magazine to have a typeface that was classic and strong. I chose Americana Std Bold. I chose to put the translations of ‘love’ on the cover in the same typeface, but use different weights and postures to give variety. I liked the script front for the headline and first spread. It reminded me of the handwriting on post-cards and letters, which would be written abroad. I used the Caflisch Script Pro throughout the article to keep visual continuity.

I chose New Century Schoolbook Roman for the body text. I felt that it was very readable. To add contrast to the body text, I used Avenir (a sans serif) for the text in my sidebar.

Images:

I chose not to use a photo for my cover and instead used a collection of words. I think it looks more creative than a simple picture of a couple on a date. The picture of Audrey Hepburn on my first spread was large enough, and had movement and character. Her face had an energetic expression and her eyes lead the reader to the text on the opposite page.

On my second page, I liked the photo of the couple by the Eiffel Tower. I positioned the tower so that it was sticking up into the text. For the sidebar, I used a picture of a couple eating ice cream. I felt it went a long with the idea of ‘love stories’ from abroad.

Rinder - Week Eleven

I like the layout of the Web site Daily Candy. I love the color pallette and the hand drawn images of candy, beauty supplies , etc (depending on what page you're on). I think this site is a good example of usability. On the home page of the site a large red arrow directs you to the option of 'select your city.' The user however, can also browse through content for all cities by using the tabs to the right of the Web site's flag. When mousing over the different tabs, the text changes from black to the color of the pages background (pink, blue, green, etc). After clicking on a page's tab, the user can then choose to find an article by 'product,' 'city,' or 'feature.' I think the Web site is clearly understood, not to mention appealing to the eye.

Rinder-Week 10

I think this is a good example of a grid layout. The entire layout is simple, yet readable. The grid breaks up the space of the phone into small units for a simpler way to arrange the content.

Each number/letter button is located in its own space. The buttons are equally spaced apart and follow a clear 3 by 4 grid format.

The viewer is guided by the grid, unlike if the numbers were scattered randomly.

Project 3: Logo Design - Rinder

Design Strategy:

I came up with several possible ideas for my logo design. I decided to include a flower because heather is a type of flower. I think the flower also gives it a sense of optimism and cheerfulness. I am usually a very positive and happy person, so this represents my personality.

I included my middle initial in the design to give it more depth and add another aspect of myself. I chose to make the ‘L’ the same muted color as the flower petals to create gestalt.

I chose the color based on one of the colors that the heather flower comes in. The dark purple is rich and feminine but not too extreme (such as a bright pink). I also think the purple color I chose looks modern. I love this shade of purple; I think it works well to represent myself.

I liked the idea of using one color, in different opacities and transparencies throughout my stationary system. I think it keeps it cohesive, clean, and simple.

Choice of Typefaces:

I went with the same clean lines as on my resume project. I chose a sans serif font, Avenir LT Std, for my name and information on all aspects of the stationary system. For the logo I used Book weight. For my name and the information I used Roman weight. I kept my logo with all capital letters. I think it makes the logo strong, and bold, in contrast to the thin, delicate lines of the flower petals.

Visuals:

I took the first letter of each part of my name, and made it capital. Each letter is in it’s own text box to make it easier for moving. Then I made the letters closer together by moving the text boxes. I overlapped the ‘L’ with the ‘R’ to make it more interesting. Then I put a white rectangle over the connection between the counter and the stem of the ‘R’ to add a modern appearance, and a principle of gestalt.

For the flower, I drew one petal with the pencil tool and copy and pasted it several times. I overlapped the petals of the flower, and each overlap is not exactly the same. I think this gives it character and a sense of dimensionality.

I then made the flower and the ‘L’ the same color, and the ‘H’ and the ‘R’ the same color. I used only a few (9) petals to surround the corner of the ‘R’, but used a whole flower on the front of the business card, and on the back of the envelope.

I kept the flower on the back of the envelope, and on the business card, all very transparent.

Week Eight - Rinder

This Jeep logo uses several of the gestalt theories.

1. The two contrasting colors (green and white) are part of the figure/ground principle.

2. It also uses the idea of equilibrium with the two headlights as circles.

3. The vertical lines, white windshield, and circles creating the front of the jeep is the principle of similarity. Our eye groups the individual pieces together to form an image.

Week Seven- Rinder

These are part of a series of iPod ads with different colored backgrounds and silhouettes. They are great examples of use of color. The bold colored background gives a strong energy to the ad.

The colors in each ad are very vivid, trendy, and modern. The ad is extremely simple otherwise, with just a black silhouette and the white iPod and headphones.

I think these ads are awesome examples of well used color

Week Six - Rinder

Design Strategy:

The intended audience for my poster is anyone 18 or older, but mainly just women. I wanted the poster to express the meaning of the event with a simple, clear headline, that tied to the visual. I wanted it to follow the color scheme of other events and organizations that are attached to breast cancer research. This allows the reader to understand what the poster represents without reading all of the text.

Visuals:

I used the ‘pen tool’ to create both the outline of the girl doing Pilates, and the breast cancer ribbon in the word ‘Focus’. I traced an image of a girl in a Pilates move, and the breast cancer ribbon.

I used a pink background to stay with the idea of breast cancer research. I also added an outline of the pink breast cancer ribbon as the ‘O’ to give an even clearer idea of what the event was about.

I used a darker pink strip across the bottom of the poster to highlight the information about the event. The strip also reminded me of the rubber stretch bands that are used in Pilates.

Choice of Typefaces

I wanted the type to agree with the overall concept of the poster. I wanted it to have a sense of calmness, and informality to it to go along with the idea of doing Pilates. For this I chose a sans serif font, Briem Script Standard Regular. I found this particular script font to seem more relaxed than other fonts, as well as easily readable.

I also wanted the type to have a hint of femininity since the event benefits breast cancer research. The Briem Script font also worked well for this since, although a sans serif, it had a little more movement and curve to the ends of the letters. I felt that this added the feminine feel I was looking for. I chose to use the same font for both the heading and the information

Week Five - Rinder

I think the IBM logo is a great example of gestalt principles. Instead of viewing this image as a series of distinct lines, our mind puts the lines together. We see the blue lines collectively. Essentially, our mind fills in the empty spaces between the lines. We end up seeing the image as 3 blue and white striped letters.

It is a very simple design, but one that clearly expresses gestalt principles.

Week Four- Rinder

Design Strategy:

As a Magazine Major, my intended audience for my resume is editors or HR departments of women’s fashion, health, and/or lifestyle magazines. I wanted my resume to not only represent myself, but also to be appealing to such prospective employers. I wanted it to appear feminine, and stylish, but also clean and modern. I feel that I achieved this with my design and typeface choices.

Choice of Typefaces:

I like the modern, clean lines of the sans serif typeface, especially for a resume. I chose Thonburi to be the typeface of my body-text. It is very readable and works well as a small body-text.

For my word-mark and headers, I wanted it to have a little more flair than my body-text. I chose another sans serif typeface, Antique Olive. When enlarged in my word-mark, the ends of the letters (especially on the ‘a,’ ‘e’, and ‘r’) are slightly angled. I think it looks a bit sharper, and with more character, than if it was just completely straight.

I also kept my word-mark and headers in all lowercase letters to add something a little different to my name. I decided not to put a space between my first and last name, and to kern them closer together, because I like the appearance of the two lowercase ‘r’s lined up.

I made my first name bold, and blue to separate it from my last name, since they are both lowercase and kerned close together. I chose blue because, not only is it my favorite color and therefore represents an aspect of myself, but also because I feel blue evokes feelings of calmness, confidence, and truthfulness, all things that I hope I convey to future employers.

Week Three - Rinder

In Lupton's 'Text' chapter, she says that, with word exercise, you can express the meaning of a word or idea through the placement of letters on the page.

This design is really creative. Even though there is not a picture of the actual product, the words, and design express the idea and appearance of a running shoe. The text is put in the shape of a shoe, and although not all of the words are readable, the most important words, 'I Am' and 'Runner," are clear.

The rest of the words in the shoe are formatted in multiple directions, with different baselines. The small font size and odd layout of the text creates problems with the readability, but in this case, the text is more about creating the appearance of the shoe, than what it actually says.

Week One - Rinder

This advertisement in a newspaper is terrible. It's advertising a sale at a Fabric store, but it takes a lot more than a glance to even figure out what any of this says.

The text is extremely crowded with fonts of different sizes, styles and baselines. There are serifs, san serifs, and huge futuristic fonts.

The advertisers could have easily avoided the clutter and difficult reading ability by using fewer font-families and text sizes. Also, it would have helped to only have the headings in capital letters, and not every word.

Micro-assignment - Rinder

Cheesecake with sliced, crispy almonds on top, and fresh raspberries on the side.