Kyle Kopta DTC 336 @kylekopta-blog - Tumblr Blog

Graphic Design: The New Basics Pages 232-260 Response

Much like the constraints previously mentioned in another section, our work must also be limited to the scientific rules of time and motion. However, an abstraction or intentional use of these constraints can make for some very interesting results. Even the constraint of using an automated or random process can result in innovative design.

It’s easy to think of time and motion being principles exclusive to film, but I think a strong designer thinks about these things in design as well. An example from this section I really liked was the animated letters. The text mentions them being GIFs, but I thought they showed a strong sense of motion as static images as well. In a world where we are constantly exposed to information presented in a very sterile way, a design that guides the viewer’s eye and keeps their attention makes all the difference.

Graphic Design: The New Basics Pages 200-231 Response

I found this section of the reading interesting because pattern is something I haven’t thought about trying that much. I feel like if they are not done properly, they can look very kitschy or dated. However, learning about how pattern can be influenced by things like scientific discourse and seeing some of the examples in the book made me want to give it a go (I especially enjoyed Yong Seuk Lee’s work).

I’m also really glad that this section talked about diagrams, since they have been on my mind from doing many of them this semester. Data visualization requires such a delicate balance between aesthetic and readability, and some of the examples here did this in a way I hadn’t thought about before.

Graphic Design: The New Basics Pages 166-199 Response

I truly believe that some of the most memorable work I have seen is born out of some form of limitation. In tying the ideas of modularity and the grid together, I couldn’t help but think about old video games and their pixel art as I read. Because these designers had to work with pixels in a small grid, their interpretation of simple objects became an entity of their own. Had these designers been able to work however they wanted with the technology they had, we probably wouldn’t have seen as many innovative designs. Constraints provide us with a good starting point, but they also challenge our perception of visual information in general.

Graphic Design: The New Basics Pages 140-165 Response

As a lot of us grew up with some form of digital editing software, it’s always interesting to look back at the origins of the tools we take for granted. Layers and transparency are certainly some of these tools, and I think exploring their physical application can inform many of the decisions we make as digital creators. If you were to describe the idea of Photoshop layers to someone who had never used a computer before, how would you do it? Would you describe it in terms of stacked acetate, or an overhead projector and plastic film? Thinking about these questions might result in more interesting applications of the tools in the digital space as well.

Graphic Design: The New Basics Pages 116-139 Response

“Frames create the conditions for understanding an image or object.”

This quote from the text stood out to me because its fascinating to think about the idea of frame outside of the conventional canvas or print. If frames create the conditions for understanding a piece, the idea of what a frame is can be stretched to mean a lot of things that give context or milieu to a work. What is the frame of a public performance? It might mean the stage, the lights, the ambiance, etc. I think the challenge comes in treading the line between your frame being visible and invisible at the same time; you don’t want the frame to take away from the subject, but you also want your frame to supplement the work.

Graphic Design: The New Basics Pages 108-115 Response

I often tell myself that I want to sketch more, so this section really reinforced that idea with the exploration of concept sketching. I find a lot of value in writing about design, so it would only make sense that an increase in low-risk visualization would be valuable as well (if not more). I’m always scared of filling a sketchbook with bad ideas or sloppy work, but I have to remember that the sketchbook’s purpose is just that. I really enjoyed the “Search and Find” process of visualizing a symbol in different iterations as well. I think it’s easy to get stuck in doing something safe or predictable, and I think that tip is a good remedy to that.

Graphic Design: The New Basics Pages 90-107 Response

I really resonated with what this section had to say about color choice as a form of communication. I currently do some graphic design work for WSU, and I have a set of branding guidelines (including color) that I must follow for the sake of consistency. As an institution, WSU has a specific message it wants to send through marketing, and the colors that were chosen reflect that message. Likewise, WSU has branding guidelines that relate to many of the gestalt principles introduced in this chapter including grouping and typography. While it can be frustrating at times to not be able to experiment more with these principles, the end result is a consistent and effective marketing campaign that caters to human perception and solid design choices.