Howdy all. So, we got to chuggin’ along on your in class exercise dealing with type, and then I interrupted you and made you stop. How terribly unfair. Just go ahead and finish it up before you come to class next time and I’ll give you the credit you deserve.

Follow-up:
Identity and/or branding issues?
Umbrella Branding?
Other webby-type stuff?

Theory:
Bleeds
Basics of Type

In Class Assignment:
Elements of type

One on one:
Assignment 5

Midterm:
Hand back and review

Next Week:
Spring Break. Boo.

Since I have received the same question from a few of you, I think it bears repeating here. In general, the question has to do with how do I want the creative process documentation presented to me.

As we discussed in class, I want the research, applicable brainstorming, and refinement process (documenting how you gave the process time and what feedback you got from who, etc.) printed and presented in hard copy. I also want all the related digital files (drafts and revisions, the final product, etc.). These files should be referred to in your printed document. The idea here is to present me with something in hand that makes it easy to see the entire creative process as you moved through it. You all work in different ways; therefore, there’s no cookie cutter template I can give you to follow. It’s up to you to determine the best way to do this.

So, to summarize: I’ll need one printed document, and at least two Illustrator documents (the final product and the working/refinement file).

Any why am I only seeing this question the day the assignment is due (he asks knowingly)?

Proof that randomly and liberally tossing buzz words at a project isn’t always the best idea:

C|net photos

Other potentially overused buzzwords?

Continuing the tread on our conversation on branding issues, James Duncan Davidson provides some thoughts on Adobe’s plans to continue to stretch their venerable Photoshop brand. Adobe’s first foray into extending this brand was with a stripped down version of Photoshop called Photoshop Elements. Lightroom, Adobe’s new software for the management of photo shoots, has come out of beta as Photoshop Lightroom. And now Adobe has announced they have a free online version of Photoshop in the works.

James presents some doubts that this is a smart move:

It’s the soft-drink and beer branding approach applied to software. Except that it’s a lot easier to understand that Diet Coke is the sugar-free version of Coke. They’re both soft drinks (or “soda” or “pop” depending where you’re from). Placing the Photoshop brand onto Lightroom is like calling lemon cookies something like “Coke Crunchies”. And putting the Photoshop brand onto a web-based too [sic] like like calling a pizza something like “Coke Cheesy”.

Give the whole article (it’s short) a look and determine your own opinion on whether this is a good or bad move for Adobe.

The whole interweb seems to be buzzing with this Art vs. Design stuff lately. But Joshua Porter’s article ads some new context to the conversation.

Bad design is obvious because it hurts to use. It is awkward, difficult, and complex. In a great irony of the world, bad design is much easier to see than good design. It raps us on the head like a bully. Because of its success, great design is often invisible.

This is a great read because it puts the end into perspective. The user, or viewer of your designs, is the focus here. Give the article a read and tell me what you think of Porter’s observations. Do you agree (you sycophants) or disagree?

As always, I’m not telling you what to think here. I’m just pointing out some of the current conversation to be found in the wild. Read it and form your own opinions. Just be prepared to defend your position.

(via)

Howdy all. Good news - I finished grading your midterms. Overall, I’d have to say great job everybody. Bad news - because I’ve been grading I’ve missed my window for a nap. So now I’m grumpy. But I guess that’s not your problem. Anyho, before you ask me if I’ve posted your grade to the grading system, let me tell you this: I will not post your grades until after class on Wednesday. Why? Well, the tests will be handed back for us to review. After that, you can call me out on any math errors I might have made, argue for points (tastefully, of course), and all that fun stuff. Then I’ll post your grade. Fair enough? If you want a chance at salvaging anymore points with your killer debate/persuasion skills, be at class. On time.

In other news, please be working on Assignment 6 and doing the other things I’ve asked. And be reading. And looking for design in the wild. And stuff.

Sheesh, I’m tough.

As we touched on in only the briefest of fashions a few weeks back, different cultures have different sensitives. Verbal or visual messages that are fine for the United States can and will offend an entire other continent. Using blue for a corporate website here is fine; using blue in certain parts of Asia for the same need will lose you customers.

The Wall Street Journal has a story dealing with Apple’s ongoing Mac/PC ads and the changes Apple has had to make to be effective and be culturally sensitive.

But in Japanese culture, where direct-comparison ads have long been frowned upon, it’s rude to brag about one’s strengths. So for Japanese versions of the ads that rolled out last fall, two local comedians from a troupe called the Rahmens made subtle changes to emphasize that Macs and PCs are not that different. Instead of clothes that cast PC clearly as a nerd and Mac as a hipster, PC wears plain office attire and Mac weekend fashion, highlighting the work/home divide between the devices more than personality differences.

Please read the entire article and make note of the various cultural differences. We will discuss your observations in class.

Kevin Cornell of bearskinrug.co.uk fame has a very interesting article dealing with the definitions of art and design that reach all the way back to week one’s conversation on the matter. Some initial snippets:

I eventually came to the conclusion, after many Art History classes, Graphic Design classes, discussions, and observations, that the basic difference between Fine Art and Illustration was their goal. I came to feel that Illustration sought to answer questions; whereas Fine Art intended to ask them.

This rang true to me, and what’s more, it fell in line with my sensibilities as a designer. Design and Illustration walk hand-in-hand because both look to solve a problem.

As he has developed and matured in his field, however, Kevin’s own definitions have evolved:

The subjective use of the title “Art” also led me to believe my philosophy was errant. My neighbors would call something Art that I would not. My dentist definitely has a different definition of Art than I. There are eminent scholars who have devoted their life to the study of Art, who I’m sure would roll their eyes derisively at the work I’d clutch lovingly to my breast. Would I be doomed to never call something Art until I had reached a similar echelon of study? Of course not. What I thought was Art, was at least Art to me.

So, after much mulling, I’ve arrived at a definition of Art that seems to resolve these inconsistencies.

Oh, the suspense, right? Go ahead and give the whole article a read. I’d be interested in your interpretations of his definitions. Do you agree? Disagree? What definitions are you willing to work with (at least for the rest of the semester)?

Consider your comments to this post (on this site) your answer to the quiz; as such, I’ll drop some points in your bucket. We’ll consider this quiz closed before the beginning of class on 3/7/07.

Please don’t forget that tomorrow night is our midterm. As I mentioned in class, it is an essay exam (CADBACADBA will get you nowhere with this test). Please bring a writing device, your best penmanship, and perhaps some extra paper.

While it’d be silly for me to give away the farm, here is an incomplete list of things you might want to brush up on:

• Terms from Assignment 2
• Our working definition of design
• Color spaces and the mysteries thereof
• The technologies behind the imaging software we use (and will use)
• What are some limitations of any project?

Of course, all this and more is already listed on this site; just go back and look at the weekly outline and you’ll have a really good idea of what is coming your way.

Happy studying!