DESIGN LEARNINGS

CI : project 2 : for Feb 27 W

rebeccateg — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:42:52 +0000

From your refined sketches choose 2 options to advance. These are precise drawings/renderings/comps intended for a first “client” presentation. Consider this step as the last phase before execution of the final design. The idea, (semantic), should be clear as well as the formal (syntactic) aspects.

On Wednesday Feb. 29th each group will be responsible for presenting your “initiative” to the entire class. Share with us your mission, goals, design concept and objectives as well as any visuals from your mood boards. This must be in a presentation format, please take consideration for the design of your presentation. In addition to telling us about your initiative, each member of the group is responsible for showing 2 identity directions. Plan your time accordingly each group has 15 min. MAX to present.

IW : project 3 : for Feb 28 T

rebeccateg — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:00:52 +0000

read “Don’t Make Me Think” Chapter 6, “Street Signs and Breadcrumbs” Designing Navigation by Steve Krug
I will be emailing a PDF of this chapter to the class. You must read it as it will assist you in making design decisions.

begin to structure and categorize what information is needed
Refer to your task exercise and documentation as well as your persona to determine WHAT INFORMATION IS NEEDED and WHEN IS IT NEEDED? Start to visualize this information into a sequence. Focus on the information only at this point.

low-content wireframe
After you decide what information is needed and when, begin to structure this information into an organized layout. Make decisions based on what would make it the most clear and easiest for your persona to use. This is the process of organizing information spatially and determining how the information delivered (via what type of medium, map, video, charts, infographic, etc.). Is it a good decision to have the user connect to other people via a video that they engage with as a passive viewer or perhaps they have the option to schedule a video chat or tour with someone. Maybe your persona type would prefer to have several options or maybe a more directed approach is the solution.

Work within dimensions appropriate for a variety of browsers 1024 x 768 px, your solution is for a web-based application (not for iPad or iPhone). Use Illustrator in the design of your wireframes. Remember a “low-content” wireframe functions as the “barebones”, “blueprint”, “stucture” BEFORE the design phase (high-content). You are showing the structure, sequence, and hierarchy of information along with the navigation. In addition to considering how to categorize information and functions.

You will be reviewing your low-content wireframes in progress with small groups on Tuesday 2/28
You will be reviewing your completed low-content wireframes with me on Thursday 3/1

CI : project 2 : for Feb 22 W

rebeccateg — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:12:37 +0000

Continue to refine identity sketches and mood boards:
After meeting in small groups, determine 5-10 different visual directions for your identity. Work these ideas up on the computer for a “computer sketch”. If there is an idea that you are unsure of how to execute it on the computer, have an analog sketch that is detailed enough to describe your idea to me. Work at a larger size, paying attention to detail and nuances. In this phase, computer sketches are more accurate. Keep an orderly process and organize the sketches on your blog.

Have your 5-10 computer sketches and mood board ready to share with ME on Wednesday!

The Ideal Candidate

rebeccateg — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:26:34 +0000

Great advice and insight given on a daily basis…studios sharing what they look for in a person when hiring.

http://idealcandidate.represent.uk.com/04

Idea Awards

rebeccateg — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:21:05 +0000

IDEA AWARDS: “Students with the most powerful and provocative concepts will be given financial awards to recognize and honor their great ideas. The winning projects will also be highlighted on the Design Ignites Change website and in PR efforts.”

IW : project 3 : for Feb 21 T

rebeccateg — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:33:42 +0000

Perform an online task through Craigslist:
Each of you have randomly selected a task and goal to be carried out through the use of Craigslist. If you want to make slight modifications to your task you can, but it must remain within the main category of search (listed at the top of your sheet).

Carry out the task through Craigslist, go through all the steps online to initiate and achieve your assigned goal (and task), this includes sending email inquiries if needed to complete your task. Take SCREEN CAPTURES of every step, page, and click you go through to reach your goal and complete the task. Arrange your screen captures into a storyboard-type of layout/sequence add notes about your experience, these can be details about your thought-process, decisions you were making, moments of confusion, dates and times (as some tasks may span a few days) etc.

You may not end up completing your goal by Tuesday, you should have at least made many efforts to try to complete this task.

Post your annotated storyboards of your experience to your blog before class on Tuesday Feb. 21

Identity System

rebeccateg — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:43:40 +0000

TOONZETTERS Campaign Identity

by COOEE. Graphic Design

CI : project 2 : for Feb 20 M

rebeccateg — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:31:55 +0000

begin a mood board, post to your blog before class on Monday Feb. 20:
This is an individual exercise, please do not consult with your “creative brief” group, this is YOUR vision for the the look and feeling of your initiative’s brand. Consider type, color, pattern, texture, icons, illustrations, images etc. Work with key words from your creative brief. This mood board is to show the direction that you will take with the style of the elements. To begin your future studies you will have to have an element collection ready to pull from, this process will get your started with sourcing or shooting your own images and/or illustrations. I encourage you to shoot and create your own photos and illustrations whenever possible.

You are working towards ONE mood board, feel free to explore a few options at the beginning if you feel you have a couple of directions!

produce several thumbnail sketches 30-50 of your identity:
The goal with this part of the process is quantity over quality, explore ALL IDEAS through quick sketching. Consider incorporating a mark, type, tagline into your identity. Think in metaphors and abstraction as well as the literal and expected, ALL IDEAS are a go at this stage. Start this now and practice sketching everyday until we meet on Monday. This isn’t something you can do in an hour, so don’t try it. Bring several ideas for discussion to class on Monday.

Read for Reference: 2011 Trends by Bill Gardner on Logo Lounge

IW : project 2 : for Feb 16 TH

rebeccateg — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:11:51 +0000

plan a scenario of use:
With your group plan a creative and entertaining story that will enable you to show your prototype in use. Have an actor be the “user”, consider the environment and the device(s). The user’s goal and motivation for using the tool and the task to complete with the tool must be evident in the scenario. Don’t use text or a voiceover, be creative in how you SHOW the information.

build a paper prototype:
Using various analog materials (pen, paper, post-its, markers, whiteboard, cork board, buttons, pipe cleaners, foam pieces, colored paper, transparencies, index cards, highlighter, glue, scissors, etc.) build out the interface for your tool. Take into consideration the device through which the interface is accessed, navigation (will the user know where they are in the system?), other options of functionality to include (for example if your tool also orders coffee make sure this function is implied even if it is not shown in the scenario). Begin to build your protoype around how your scenario plays out…in response to a specific task.

make a stop motion narrative  of the paper prototype in use:
Your group will show your scenario and paper prototype in use through a stop motion piece. No voice over or text will be included so you need to pay attention to the details in your narrative. Consider first and third person points of view to show interaction with your tool. Create a rough storyboard to determine the sequence of information and actions. How will you tell the story? It will be helpful to have a “blueprint” to follow as you create your prototype and stop motion narrative. For those of you that have done a stop motion piece before you understand the importance of planning what to shoot…winging it doesn’t work for successful stop motion pieces. Details are important, take into consideration your background, focus and cropping while shooting your images.

The final stop motion piece is due on Thursday Feb. 16th. It must be uploaded to vimeo and posted to your blog before class. As you are working be sure to document the process in someway and post to your blog as well (to give the final piece some context).

For class the stop motion piece needs to be posted to at least one person’s blog in the class, the others can post it later!

For Reference:

Paper Prototyping by Carolyn Snyder
A List Apart: Paper Prototyping by Shawn Medero
Example of paper prototyping shown in lecture: Get Walking

Prototyping Interaction with Video Scenarios by frog, design mind

IW : project 2 : for Feb 7 T

rebeccateg — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:32:05 +0000

Meet in your small groups to plan  for your interactive tool:
As a group review your process diagrams to determine moments where an interactive tool could provide aid to your process. Work out the following:
—who are the potential users of this tool?
—what are the users motivated by speed, money, coffee, praise, social engagement?
—what task will the tool aid with?
—when will the tool be used?
—what other functions will the tool perform?
—and finally how will the tool be used? iphone/smartphone, ipad, computer, kiosk, all?

Begin to sketch several ideas for how the interface might work, the interface is how the user will interact with the tool. Determine the ease-of-use in interface design decisions. You will be sketching for the duration of the class as a group. Be prepared to share you ideas at the end of class.

Bring your full-size (large enough to read the tiny type) printed, color creative process map/diagram. Have your experiential and reflective moments labeled in someway on your map/diagram.

Read pages 22-28 from “Things That Make Us Smart” by Donald Norman