Understanding Comics Reflection

This was a very fun reading because it was in comic book form. Having the reading be in comic book form helped me better understand comics and the difference between icons, symbols and pictures. The comic first started off with the narrator saying that we often identify comic book drawings as “actual things”. When we see a picture of an apple, we often say that it is an apple, but really it’s a printed copy of a drawing of a painting of an apple. It sounds confusing at first, but the narrator is trying to communicate the differences between icons, symbols and drawings that we see in everyday life. 

Icon is defined by the narrator as, “any image used to represent a person, place, thing or idea.” It is a very broad definition, but there are categories of different icons. Symbols are one category. They represent concepts, ideas and philosophies. So if you see a drawing of an American flag, a peace sign, or a yin and yang sign, these are all examples of symbols.

Then there are icons of language, science and communication. These are the types of symbols we use the most in everyday life. They are letters, numbers, music notes, etc. Last but not least are pictures. Pictures are simply images that resemble their subjects. Even more simply put, they are drawings of people, places and things.

The narrator also makes another point to understanding comics and the way our brains process the information in it. Most of the time comics use cartoons, which are simplified drawings of realistic images. Some people may think that since cartoons are sometimes simple that the artist has eliminated details. But in actuality, the artist is focusing on speficic details in order to focus our attention on a specific idea.

Writer's Toolbox Summary

The Writers Toolbox thoroughly explains five different brainstorming techniques that can be useful in creating and refining new ideas for group projects. These four brainstorming techniques are: The Mind Map, The Concept Map, Freewriting, Brain Writing, and Word Lists. The Writer’s Toolbox emphasizes that writing and notetaking can lead to better understanding and clearer communication among group members in a large project. It can also help work through problems in the project and lead to better solutions.

The Mind Map is best used for large projects that need an organized, complex system of info  in order to complete the project. On a large piece of paper, group members should write one word in the middle of the page that describes the subject as a whole. Then six to seven words describing the subject should branch off of the central word. This technique can lead to new ideas about the central subject.

The Concept Map is different than a mind map because it allows more thorough investigation of conceptual relationships and meanings. To create a concept map, group members should write the concept they want to explore at the top of a piece of paper. Then below that write another concept and connect the two with prepositional phrases. (Ex: The concepts of “water” and “living things” can be connected by the phrase “needed by.”) A concept map is an initial way of analyzing complex info.

Freewriting is similar to journal writing and is a good way to work out questions that group members might have about their project. It can also help make initial thoughts about the project more concrete. Group members should take 10-15 minutes to continuously write about their project. Afterwards they should read over their freewrites, pick a sentence that seems the most interesting, and start another 10-15 min. freewrite with that sentence. This technique is also called Looping.

Brainwriting is where group members split the group in half and each half writes about three ideas for five minutes. After five minutes, members pass their paper to the other half of the group and write about those ideas for five minutes. After both writing sessions the group should discuss any similar ideas that arose among both halves of the group during the writing session.

Word Lists can be good in diverging the ideas of a project into distinct categories, and can distill a problem down to its essential elements. First, start with a general concept word, then list more descriptive, metaphoric, or oppositional words. After several lists group members should identify any words that stand out or repeat themselves.

IDEO Video: Deep Dive Summary

- Objects that bridge the gap between form and function

- Dental floss created by inventor, person who made box and floss = designer

- Build on and encourage ideas

- Hand ideas on wall and vote on best ideas with sticky notes

Good ideas come easier in a fun environment

- Try stuff and ask for forgiveness, not permission

Project 2: Make It Better

Project Brief

For this assignment my BDS 101 class was asked to choose three $5.00 or less objects that we considered to be poorly designed. I consider a poorly desiged object as something that is hard or a hassle to use, breaks or malfunctions easily, or creates a mess while using it. This is how I chose my three objects, which were an Elmer’s Glue bottle, a spatula, and a Dove body wash bottle. From these three objects our classmates were asked, “How can you design these objects better?” We were split into groups to talk and brainstorm which of our objects (among the whole group) we should choose to design better. After much discussion my group chose the glue gun because we thought it had a lot of design flaws that could be easily fixed. To figure out the best way to redesign the glue gun we created word lists, which is a type of brain storming technique where a group extensively discusses a project and writes out words that may be useful in creating new ideas and solutions to a project. This helped us create and refine new ideas on how to redesign the glue gun. After deciding how to redesign it, we were asked to create a 3D prototype/model of the redesigned glue gun, create a poster showcasing how we were going to redesign it, and create powerpoint showing the ideation sessions and prototypes.

Project 1: What Is Good Design? Ending Thoughts

Reflecting on the first assignment, I would have to say it went pretty well, and I am happy with my finished process book and poster. There was a lot of preparation and work, but I think it was necessary, and I am glad that I did it. I learned a lot about what goes into a good designed poster, and how to construct it and make a process book in Adobe Indesign. I have not worked a lot with Indesign, so I am glad I am learning how.

I think my poster fits a few of Dieter Rams principles for good design, including simplicity, or “as little design as possible.” My poster design is very straight forward, and the text is very minimal and easy to read. I believe that my color palette demonstrates good color usage because all of the colors seem to be easy to look at, and there are not many colors used. The color palette I chose is also an example of color harmony, meaning that all the colors are within three steps of each other on the color wheel.

If I was going to do anything differently, I would have used my time better. Even though I like how everything turned out, next project I am going to start everything earlier and keep caught up on my blog entries. I would have to say that the workload was a bit challenging, but next time I will start earlier on the assignments. I think that working with Indesign was a bit challenging as well, but I am getting the hang of it.

In general my idea of design has not changed but has mainly just been turned in the right direction. I think I had an idea of what good design is but after reading and trying to demonstrate Dieter Rams principles I can better understand and execute good design principles in my work.

Poster in Progress

Hand Constructed Poster

My first idea for the hand constructed poster was somewhat of an add explaining what the claw clip can do throught pictures. I also thought it might be fun to make a font out of claw clips, but it turned out to be sort of hard to read.

Initial Poster Revisions & Ideas

For my second idea for my poster, I thought I might play off the hairy aspect and go with a “hairy” font, but it ended up looking a little monster-like.

Final Poster

My final poster ended up looking nothing like the revisions! It was just a random idea, and I tried to make the poster look like an add you would see in a fashion magazine.

Types of Color Unity

Harmonious Color

ChromaThe elements of these photos are considered to have harmonious chroma because all the colors within the photos have weak chroma, meaning that all the colors are greyed out.

Hues

 The elements of these photographs have harmonious hues because all hues in the photographs are within 3 steps of each other on the color wheel.

Values

 The elements within these photographs can be considered to have harmonious values. In the top photograph the values are harmonious because both colors are bright. The values in the bottom photograph are harmonious because both colors are dark.

Contrasting Color

Chroma

 The above photos can be considered to have contrasting chroma because each color in the photograph is either pure or greyed out.


Hues
The photos to the left are said to have contrasting hues because the colors in the photographs are more than 3 steps away from each other on the color wheel.


Values
The photograph to the left and the photograph below have contrasting values because both photos contain colors that are both light and dark.